| Many people think that their life is a disaster that for | | | | was totally muddy and had to get to school so I |
| some reason they cannot go on, they allow | | | | jogged to school ten miles in the rain. Talk about |
| depression to creep in and continually give themselves | | | | Rocky, no wonder I cry watching that movie. I figured |
| negative bio-feedback. But you can over come and | | | | my truck would be there when I got back. It was not. |
| adapt and achieve anything you want in life. I did, let | | | | The farmer towed it because even though I left a note |
| me tell you a real story from top of the world to the | | | | he; had to pick up the fruit off the ground before it |
| bottom and back on top again. It is a true story, one I | | | | spoiled and had to get his tractor in between the trees |
| will never forget. I hope to give you some inspiration | | | | to pick up the crates filled with lemons and get them to |
| today if you will allow me too. | | | | market. The farmer called the local police and asked |
| When I was in High School, I ran a business, one, which | | | | them to tow it. They did and since they could not |
| I started at age twelve. In high school I was a | | | | contact me it was impounded. |
| four-year varsity track star, Class President, and voted | | | | Well off road tows were $400.00 and I did not have |
| most likely to succeed. I had a track scholarship to a | | | | time to get it out for another day andthen the fees for |
| 4-year and at the last minute changed my mind, | | | | storage started. The four-hundred dollars was about all |
| because I wanted to run my business, so I went to a | | | | I had to get thru the last two-months cramming for up |
| 2-year college instead. I wantedto take 17 units but the | | | | coming finals and I had put so much into that semester, |
| dean wouldn't let me. I am not the 12-unit type of guy. I | | | | I could not go there. I convinced the tow company to |
| made a deal with the track coach that I would run for | | | | allow me to get my remaining books out of the vehicle. |
| him, if he convinced the dean to allow me to take 18 | | | | Since I was on the track team I figured I could live in |
| units. He did pull some strings plus 3 units for track; 23 | | | | the high jump mats storage shed. So after practice I |
| units. I then went to another community college and | | | | volunteered to put away the High Jump Pits in the |
| signed up for 12 units more at night school. I wanted to | | | | shed and put my own lock on it, so I could sleep there |
| get school over with and please my parents, get that | | | | after the library closed. I did this for two months and |
| piece of paper and run my businesses. | | | | convinced the tow company to allow me to detail their |
| Well taking that many units means classes for 7:30 | | | | trucks to work off the storage fees and tow fee so |
| AM to 2:30 PM no breaks. Then a 30 minute break | | | | every weekend I went and detailed the trucks. |
| and then track practice; then a 2-hour break and then | | | | Meanwhile I kept collecting medals in track and |
| night school, five days a week. With track meets on | | | | studying and going back to my storage shed. Each |
| the weekends some weeks I couldn't work enough to | | | | morning I would run a couple of miles and hit the |
| pay the bills, especially when it rained on Sunday, my | | | | showers and go to class. I finished my classes got a |
| only day to work. Well it became apparent that I could | | | | 4.0 at the night school classes at the second college |
| not pay my bills, during that El Nino year working only | | | | and 3.6 at the daytime college and aced my finals. |
| one day or no days per week. | | | | I promised myself that no matter what I did in life from |
| So I moved out of my apartment into my truck with a | | | | that day on, I would never give up! I would strive to be |
| camper shell. I closed the library every night and then | | | | the best in the world at whatever I did. I promised to |
| parked my truck where I wouldn't be bothered and | | | | always help others as long as they were worthy and |
| studied until I fell asleep. Well one night I was in my | | | | were committed to help themselves and to never take |
| truck and parked in a Lemon Orchard studying and fell | | | | my victories for granted. I learned about commitment |
| asleep with the dome light on. | | | | and doing what you say you are going to do from that. |
| When I woke up it had been storming all night, the | | | | Everyone has a story of a time in their life, use this to |
| orchard was flooded and the battery was dead | | | | your advantage as you find the inner strength to reach |
| because the dome light had been on all night. I could | | | | your dreams. Nothing is impossible. |
| not push start my vehicle in the mud and rain. I tried but | | | | |