i have been extremely lucky to have been able to network to so many people through Facebook.  It's sad to see the growing number of brain surgery survivors, but at the same time it is so amazing to see how large of a supportive network is out there for them!  Some of these people are the strongest men and women I have ever known in my life, and I have been extremely lucky to meet a select few in person.

As much as I love maintaining this blog and posting things on the site, I am doing that and much more through Facebook.  I have a lot more videos up and full speeches as well.  I don't care if I know you because I want to get to know you!  I want to be there for as many people as I can and I love sharing what I have been doing and what I'm trying to do.

I just posted my full speech that I gave on Sunday, so if for no other reason you should Add me on Facebook! for that very reason.  It's always great to meet more people.  Each day I learn more and more from my friends and to have such a large network of friends that is as close as I am to them is incredible to see and experience.

That's right!  I heard back from one of the 20+ jobs I had applied for all across the Montgomery County and DC-metro area...and guess what!  The job is in Gaithersburg right down the way from where I live.  No more 90-minute commute to work if I impress them enough to hire me!

The man I talked to sounded impressed and very happy while he talked to me on the phone.  It didn't take him long at all to tell me that he wanted to bring me in for a face-to-face interview.  The job might pay a little less than I was making when I left my last full-time job, but I will be spending so much less money on commuting costs by driving 20-25 minutes versus taking metro at rush hour that I will be perfectly content if I have to take a pay cut.

The man who called me told me he will call me tomorrow about scheduling an interview, but has already asked me how my day on Monday looks.  I'm really excited about this opportunity, not only because of the proximity to where I live but also because the job itself sounds like I have an opportunity to give back in a way, which is something I realize I need in my career.  I want to feel like I am making a difference in some way and this might be the chance I need to start somewhere that feels right.

More to come when I hopefully hear about when my job interview is.  I hope everyone else is having a great week as well!

My hours are completed!  Now all I have to do is get my parallel parking down, which will be so much easier based on that method that my driving instructor taught both me and my mom.  The only other manuever I need to work on is backing into a parking space.  (Instead of doing a 3-point turn, the MVA has confined you to a parking space to back into evenly.)

I may have my driver's license as early as next week!  I will keep everyone posted.  I'm going to go out and get some practice in, I think =)

What a day, what a fun, fun day.  Not only did I get to meet some incredible families with their own inspirational miracles (their kids and my fellow Children's Miracle Network Champions), but I met incredible people who have supported these kids, and many others, with their incredible contributions.  And to think, I was able to help.  I came in and I gave my speech to cap off the night, which is exactly what I want to do.  How great that I get to end an event by putting the spotlight on other people and helping them by making each of them part of my speech.

Last night showed me why I do what I do.  I got streaming compliments from everyone who attended the event.  People came up and shook my right hand, and I remember the woman who was adamant that I shake with my left hand.  The compliments weren't what it was about though because I have pursued this with such confidence that I knew the compliments would come.  The best part, the goal that I have aimed as a result in every speech I give and intend to give, is providing others with nuggest of knowledge and perspectives on life they haven't thought of yet.  Being able to turn on a new lightbulb or cast it in a different color is an incredible sensation.  Their compliments reinforced that I did just that.

And to the one man who tried to remember my one quote, "Without doubt, impossible remains an undefined term."  It kinda sums up the night I had.  I saw people's doubts lift away and even saw hidden fears calm a bit from families as they realized that their kids can overcome the barriers in front of them because the barriers are only what you make them out to be.  One step at a time, they realized, those supposed barriers don't need to remain unattainable goals.

Last night confirmed just how far I have come.  I've known for a while, but it's not about me anymore and that is exactly how it should be.  I've battled my limitations and have developed my determination into a lifestyle.  Now, my role is to help other people progress with their own battles as they learn to transform their own determination into a daily lifestyle.

That's what I did.  I gave other people hope and shared what I have learned as I made my journey to not tell other people how to make their own journey, but to guide them on their own and show them that there is indeed a light at the end...and that light only extends into uncharted territory once you start taking one step more than you did yesterday.

One of my favorite motivational songs just came on my iTunes, Hearts On Fire from Rocky IV.  It sums everything up beautifully because the song is entirely about determination and having the perseverance (2 R's, Tracy =) ) to push yourself into uncharted territory.  That's a gift you get to give yourself and the gift that I found is helping people further realize the attainability of that effort.

I've always said that big things will come for me, and they will.  I am well on my way.  It makes me so much happier that my return to Hershey seems to have sparked that same outlook for so many other people, Champions and non.  Now I can't wait to do that for even more people, while I continue doing that for the people I met yesterday and figure out how this journey will develop for me next.

Big things to come.  You'll be on board next =)

I'm the keynote speaker for a Giant Food VIP event in Hershey, PA tonight at 8 PM.  This is more than just a speech though, this is a very unique homecoming for me.

I began going to Hershey when my neurosurgeon transferred to Hershey Medical Center from Children's Hospital in DC, which is the hospital who initially coordinated this event.  The last time I was in Hershey was when my neurosurgeon discharged me.  My first trip back after being discharged is to give a speech on perseverance at an event partially sponsored by Children's.  Very eerie, but extremely awesome!

And there is really nothing more to say about this.  Just going to go up, be confident in myself and give the speech I know I can give.  I'm just going to be true to myself since that is what has gotten me this far, and speak from the heart because you get farthest in life when your heart guides you.  Your mind deludes your determination by throwing logic and plans into the mix.  I'm just going to go up and speak.  Each day is a chance to get yourself further than you got yesterday and this speech is merely going to be today's step forward in my journey =)