Simply Outdoor Experiences 2nd Annual Fall Banquette

Just want to thank Simply Outdoor Experiences for having me back to perform for the second year in a row. I had a blast.

What a night! Not to toot my horn, but the sound people make when they are clapping sitting down sounds so much different when they are all standing. Last night, the sound was different, I turned back as I was walking off stage to see the greatest payment of all — everyone standing and clapping. 


WHAT A COOL JOB! MAN, I love my job!

I-Pad Training

         As a person who loves, and I mean loves, watching stress melt away from people's faces, because, they just figured out a problem; or they found out someone can help them get through their difficult time, making life "easier," I must say that technology can be a scary thing but truly awe-inspiring.

        Last night I was apart of a "I-Pad" training session, put on by the UCP of Central MN, in conjunction with PACER, at the St. Cloud Public Library and it was fabulous! www.ucpcentralmn.org www.pacer.org


        Having never used or touched an I-Pad in my life, I learned on a very fast paced scale for the lack of better words, mind-boggling capabilities of this incredible piece of technology. People who have troubles with reading can learn to read on their own in the privacy of their own homes — any age!


       Parents who have Autistic children or severely disabled children can learn what their child wants, needs and is looking for because of simple programs that can be downloaded; it is unreal what possibilities are now right at our hands.


      Now some might be thinking I am not technologically savvy; yep, nor am I. However, if you want to learn, need to learn, or know people that could and should learn, ask! 


      Ask where? Google, You Tube (has free webinars —seminars on line which you can pause, replay over and over until you get the hang of it.) Ask the agencies that are to be helping and if they aren't doing what you need, look somewhere else. That might sound harsh, as I know, if you are like me, you want answers right now.


Let me leave you with some simple advice.


1) "Practice, Patience, and Persistence always wins out in the end." — Aaron Cross 


2) "You must try and do the things you think you cannot do." — Eleanor Roosevelt


3) "You don't have to be great to start, but you do have to start, to be great." — Les Brown


       There is a world out there to enjoy, start now, act now, it is right there.


If you have any questions on Assistive Technology, high tech to low tech drop me a line and let me see if I can help.

Technology for easier access

Hello friends and family,

Here is a great company allowing anyone to get to places with a little more ease.


www.rollaramp.com

Start Today!

I was once was told "You don't have to be great to start; but you do have to start to be great." For the last few months I have been overwhelmed with mild anxiety, work, training/lack there of, and wanting to be better on many different levels. It took the love of a dear friend, two very special books, and most importantly, one morning in which I woke, got dressed and went for a 3 mile bike ride. (it all started today, November 8, 2011) 

Make it your day, try to do what you have been putting off, the emotional high is incredible. 

Remember, "You don't have to be great to start; but you do have to start to be great." — Les Brown

aaron cross demo-H.264 LAN Streaming.mov

Assistive Technology Seminars

Hello all,

Today and tomorrow Motivation on Wheels will be doing seminars along with three other amazing professionals in the "Assistive Tech" field. Motivation on Wheels will be performing
"It's Just Duc -Tape" Seeing things from a whole new perspective; using it, whatever it may be to live a independent life.

Today the Team is at:
 "Industries"
Cambridge, MN
2p.m. - 3:30p.m.


Tomorrow the Team is at:
Isanti County Human Services Building
Open to the public
9:30a.m. - 12p.m.

Clarification of scores and what happened

Hello all,

     Some people are wondering why my math is so off, I could not for the life of me figure out what they were asking and why. They then said you had a score of 295 out of 360 at 50 meters and a score of 327 at 30 meter, which is total score of 622; so how did you get the total of 1218?

     Ahhhhh, I see, it is a two day competition an they take your first day total score (two distances, 70 and 60 meters) and then add them to your second day shooting (50 and 30 meters.) My first day total was a 592, my second day score was a 622. Yet that does not make a 1218 it makes 1214.

     Okay so I was excited to have the monkey off my back and I heard 1218 and it was actually 1214. I just checked my score card and it is correct, 1214 was/is my overall score. None the less you take both days and add them. Sorry about the miss-score type.

     Finally, at this time I do not have a slot on the US Team, I have earned the right to go shoot at the trials in April. April's shoot will bring in all the shooters going out for the US Paralympic Archery Team.  With that, there are many different classifications for shooting, I am in the Quad division AKA, the W1C division.

     Normally, there are 3 slots open for the U.S. in this division, however, due to how they awarded slots for the countries the U.S. has two (2) slots open for the W1C division. In short, any shooter who has shot a qualifying score in the last two years (US Shooter only) can go to the trials in April and try for one of the two slots awarded to the U.S. W1C Team.

     I am very confident and excited abut the trials, so stay tuned to the blog for updates on training, scores and events, not only for shooting but also for Motivation On Wheels.

     Again thank you all for your wishes, prayers and good positive thinking sent my way, every bit helps. I am getting home late tonight and looking forward to being back at work in the A.M. — did I say that?


Always Sitting Always in Motion

Aaron

Pacific Coast Championship Update Take II

Hello friends & Unbelievable supporters,

          Well the final results are in, and I won't keep you in suspense as I personally have no desire to do so.  It is official, I am on my way to the 2012 US Paralympic Archery Trials at the Olympic Training Center in  Chula Vista, CA April 25th — 28th, 2012.

          50 meters, I shot a 295 out of 360 points, not my best score but certainly not my worse. At the start of 30 meters I needed a 263 or better to make the MSQ Master Qualifying Score of 1150. At the end of 30 meters, my score was 1218, I shot a 327 at 30 meters again not my best, but more then enough to qualify me to try out for the 2012 US Paralympic Archery Team in April.

          Thank you to all my financial supporters and to all my friends and family members that have made this part of my journey come true.

          It's amazing what you can do when you have incredible support and unreal friends and family. Thank you again. Stay tune for all the upcoming training and blogs.

Always Sitting Always in Motion

Aaron Cross

Pacific Coast Championship Update

Hello Everyone!

         Okay, so yesterday was mildly tough, but that is okay, I am still very much in the game. I had some mild issues (my brain got in the way) at 70 meters; which is frustrating as 70 meters is the distance we shoot at for trails, and the Paralympics.

         Note: 70 meters is 3/4s of the length of a football field, 75.6 yards or 229 feet.

         It was a beautiful day and the problem with archery is one minor glitch in your anchor (where the string touches your face and you settle in to aim and shoot) you can send a arrow "DFC" (don't ask) or out into a lower scoring ring; which I did. Now it happens once, you just forget it and move on. Twice however, you need to stop and take inventory, I didn't not three ends later; as my stepdad would say "BUTT—HEAD."

        Somehow, I was still able to pull out a fair score 287 out of 360; not where I want to be, but certainly not out of the game. (70 meter score 287.) My second distance, 60 meters, was better but not enough to raise my overall score much. My 60 meter score was 305 out of 360; fair but nothing to try and stand and walk for. :-) Total score yesterday for two distances 592.

        Today is the shorter distance and the final day, we start off on 50 meters and then to 30 meters. I will post the results as soon as I can.

        As I sit here at 5:18 a.m. writing this blog I remembered, I am not here to shatter any records, although that would have been nice; I am here to shoot my qualifying score to be able to go shoot in April and earn my slot for the 2012 US Paralympic Archery Team.

        Yesterday, I broke a "cardinal rule" of shooting, I focused on the score and I was trying to figure out why I was shooting poorly (in my eyes.) What I should have done is trust my instincts, change arrows, and stay focused on my shot and continued to have fun.

        Today's goal, trust my training, trust my shot, and feel the perfect shot every time.

        Thank you all for your support, it means the world to me. I also want to send out a great special thanks to the following; as if it had not been for them, I would not have made it hear this weekend.

Aspen Seating — Ride Design
Mike's Archery Center
Mike's Archery Center League Shooters
My family: My dad Tom who took time off from work this week to come with, in order to assist me; so all I had to do was shoot.
The Youngdahl family (Todd and Kristi, and their 3 distractions)
My friend Carisa who picked up my slack with the Assistive Tech Team Performance Team

          Yesterday, I sat out on line and for the first time in almost 8 years I remembered why I loved this sport, there are a lot of wonderful people and one thing is for sure, no matter what happens, I am going to enjoy this journey.

          Results later today.

Schedule of events for Pac Coast Champs 9/15 — 16th

I woke up today after sleeping for almost 13.5 straight hours, WOW, I am ready to tackle the day. Today is a recovery day from traveling along with UNOFFICIAL practice. The range/shoot is at DIscovery Park 5 miles form the hotel and is absolutely beautiful (have shot there before.)

Official Practice is tomorrow morning 8 - 8:45

Scoring @ 9 a.m. first long distance 70 meters

Scoring @ 1 p.m. second long distance 60 meters

Same times on Sunday, but shorter distances 50 meters first then 30 meters. I will need to shoot a score of 1150 or better to be able to try out for the 2012 team in April.

Note: Go into each shoot not looking at score, but looking to shoot your perfect shot over and over. When you focus on that, you are in-tune with what you are suppose to be doing.

Speaking At Dakota County Technical College

Aaron Cross will be speaking this morning, September 14th, 2011 at the Dakota County Technical College in Rosmount, MN @ 11 a.m. in the Dakota Room.

"I just can not wait to get on stage; I love what I do and I do what I love."

Aaron will be performing his award winning motivational presentation "FOCUS on Your Target."

http://www.dctc.edu/contact-us/visit-locations.cfm

Tidbits can change the world

       What you choose to do, think and feel will affect your day along with others around you. Try choosing to laugh uncontrollably, work as if it's your first day, love like it's your last and bring smiles to those who are struggling.

       Motivating is easy, actually doing it is a choice. Choose to motivate yourself and others today. Motivation is the one of the few infectious things in the world that changes you and others for the better.

       Today is your day to start fresh and new! Start today, Start now!

Update for Scores & "Where am I"

      No practice yesterday 8/22/2011.

      I finally got into the range at 19:15 hours 7:15PM. Between work, my car not starting and having to get things ready for today's presentation and my clients; it was a "No go."

     Normally, not training and having all those little things going on yesterday would have frustrated me. However, when training at this level, any level for that matter, you need to keep in perspective the extrinsic circumstances that are out of your control.

     No matter how hard you train or how good you really are in what ever sport, activity in life you are doing, sometimes it doesn't go the way you planned.

     ‎"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson 


      Well said Ralph.


Speaking today at 
"Industries"
Cambridge, MN


Meeting with Clients


Training tonight
1 score to be shot and tuning in my backup bow

Part IV Becoming a Champion — Why we do the things we do

Part IV Becoming a Champion — Why we do the things we do

 “Aaron, it’s time you stop dicking around. Start shooting scores, see where you’re at and hammer it down. You were shooting your best when you were in here everyday shooting 2, 3, 4 scores a day. I know you have other things going on right now — work, clients tons of other things, but if you want this it’s time to own up,” Mike said.

Personally, I liked Todd’s approach better; but on the other hand, a massive spiritual kick in the head and ass does the same thing. Ironically, that is one of the reasons I like Mike’s training tactics; he is a no bull kind of a guy — a pain in the @#%; but Mike is fantastic when it comes to training. 

Many of you know, and for those of you just starting to read these blogs  –– by the way welcome — many of you know, that I have decided to come out of retirement in the sport of archery and give the 2012 Summer Paralympics a run for the money.

To say the least, nearly half the people I told that I am getting back in the game, nearly fell off their chairs; some had to sit down and looked at me in total disbelief.

In fact, I was talking with a dear friend and they, looked at me with that, “Are you insane, and are you using your brain at all?” look after I told her about my choice to go back into the Paralympic arena. I laughed uncontrollably as she calmly and methodically looked at me and said, “Because you don’t have enough problems and issues right now in your life, you thought you would add a tremendous amount more stress! Seriously, what are you thinking?” 

Theses blogs were a multiple series about “Becoming a champion, why we do the things we do.” I can tell you what I was and am thinking. In fact, I can even tell you when I made the decision to come back, I can even tell you where I was when the spark ignited again, but really the only thing that matters is “I am a champion!” I do, we do, the things we do because it is in us to strive for greatness. It is in us to find the oxygen debt and go further, faster, harder, and when we get to the finish, we look at what we just did and say to ourselves, “Lets’ do that again; but with weights on, in the rain while running up a sand hill. “I am a champion,” and I want my individual medal. Writer’s note: There is a danger that needs to be discussed with this type of thought process/mentality, and it will be discussed in an upcoming blog very soon –– stay tuned for it.

Each and every one of us has a champion in side of us; it’s part of the joy of life, searching for your incredible strengths that are in you. Taking ownership of your choices, your shot, your run, your work, your family, your dreams and going after them is being a champion.

Choosing to get up everyday and beat back the stresses in life, answering the phone when you know it’s another creditor on the other end asking where is our money, then choosing to get yourself out of that situation and following through with that choice; or looking at the things you want and making the choice to put your kids first, that is being a champion.

I love the SEALs for many reasons, but the two biggest reasons, it is never about you as an individual, not fully. It is about the men standing next to you choosing to be better, stronger, faster, harder than anyone else and those choices brings me to the second reason, the inner desire to be there through the end, crossing that finish line and knowing you get to pick up your kit at the finish line and start all over again. Being a champion is a choice, not a sacrifice; there are no sacrifices in being a champion, absolutely none what so ever. We choose to live this life — you choose to make your choices. My dad, wrote me a note on my third anniversary of my accident, the note simply said, “Champions are not born, they are made.”

Being able to have that choice, a choice, is one of the greatest gifts we have. It excites us, drives us and makes us want to go for more.

Choose to be the champion, choose to go that extra step. You don’t need an award, or a medal to prove you’re the best; you need to just make the decision to better yourself and follow through.

We do the things we do because something inside us says, “I need more, I can do more. It is like me to make my life better than what it is.”

From here on out I am owning-up to my shooting and training. From here on out every week I will post my scores I shoot, indoors and out doors, great scores, and “Ahhhhhhh, what just happened?” scores.

As of today, August 21, 2011, there are eight months, roughly 230 days till the US Paralympic Trials. Follow me, push me, cheer me on, work together as a team and be part of a Paralympic dream. Champions become champions because of their inner strength, but also because of the people that surround them, and push them to continue on.

Vets, shooting again it's not always about hunting

Going out to Del-Tone Luth Gun Range today to assist, if I can, wounded Vets in getting a chance to try shooting again along with give pointers on how to do it with a bit more ease. Very excited


3322 12th St SE
St Cloud, MN 56304(320) 251-9873

Part III Becoming a Champion and why we do the things we do

Part III Becoming a Champion and why we do the things we do

Since 2004, I was reintroduced to the great sport of trap, doubles, skeet, sporting clays and many types of shotgun sports. I know, I laughed as well when my stepdad, who at that time was a friend of my mom’s, asked me if I would be interested in trying it. I laughed, and said, “Mike McIntosh, I can barely swing left and right without falling, and you want to put a loaded shotgun in my hands?”

Mike, as he started to do his hearty chuckle which I found very comforting and miss very dearly, said, “Oh Laddie, ha, ha, ha –– Yes!” To which my response was shock, with a long pause, then, “OH!”

Next thing I new, I was sitting out on the trap line, with my first shotgun, a Browning B-80, 20 gage (Baby Boom as I called her) a perfect gun to start off with; oh yeah, and a box of 100 shells.

Mike, standing over my shoulder slightly off to the side, started to explain to me this game I would immediately love, dream about, think about incessantly, and want to do all day long everyday. Mike, with his orange tinted lenses in his shooting glasses, wearing his shooting vest, his favorite pipe in hand gently wafting little puffs of smoke, all of which have seen and experienced a life in themselves, explained what to look for when I called for this clay target, this four-inch Frisbee-like orange object known in the shooting community as “The Rock,” “the Bird,” sometimes even  “Why that dirty son of a ”#%!@#;” or the infamous, “Are you kidding me — I was so on that damn thing.”

With his very watchful trained eye looking on, I called for my first bird. I could hear the machine working against the cool fall air. Out of the trap house this brilliant orange clay flew like the Chinese Bullet Train, screaming through the air at 150 MPH. I swung as fast as I could to keep up before it reached Super Sonic speeds, hammering the trigger the best I could, waiting for the ignoramus recoil of this howitzer I was barely able to hold on to, the gun went — bang. The clay screamed off over the horizon never to be seen again.

I looked at Mike and asked, “What the hell was that?” He looked at me and said, “What the hell was what?” I said to him it just went “Bang, not BANG, not BOOM, not even KA-BOOM or KA–BANG; it just went bang.” Mike laughed his memorable laugh, and said to “AH, Laddie, I am going to enjoy shooting with you. Laddie, it’s not a 50 caliber sniper rifle, it is a 20 gage semi-automatic shotgun; but it is going to treat you right.”

Then he also said several other important things:

“You’re moving too fast. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”

“You’re aiming. You need to understand, you are not shooting archery; trap is about pointing and swinging, not aiming; if you aim you are stopping the swing and that will make you loose the bird.”

“Your shot is leaving the gun at 1200 feet per second, the bird can not out run the shot; it might feel like it from time to time, but it can’t; if you miss the bird, it is because of your own mistake.”

“If you miss the bird, it’s because of your own mistake.” I have learned since that day that ownership of your actions, whether they are on the shooting field of any kind, in the work place or your personal life, you need to take ownership of what you are doing and what you are going to do.

Moreover, I heard those very same words recently, almost verbatim by one of my dearest friends Todd Youngdahl, and then again that very same day by my dear friend, mentor and archery coach Mike Allen. When I heard Todd say those words to me I froze in my tracks and realized it was time, time to change the way I was training, time to loose the “this is going to be easier this time around attitude.”

The amazing thing is, what Todd actually said was, “It’s time to man up and own up.” What I hear was, “It’s time to own up.”

Later that day I went to the archery shop and was talking to Mike and he said…


Part IV in three days everyone,

Becoming a Champion – Why we do the things we do Part II

WOW! I was going to wait for a week but due to many e-mails stating "Are you kidding me? Get on with it!" Lots of Laughs; here is Part II.

Training all winter long, and getting out in the cold mornings of Spring I have to admit, I was in pretty damn good shape for being 15. For those of you that are not 100% familiar with my story or dreams, I wanted nothing more in life to do two things; one, make the Olympic Cycling Team by the time I graduated from high school. Second, if my first dream did not happen or after I made dream one come true, I wanted nothing more then to enlist in the Navy and be apart of the US Navy SEALs – Endurance was my love.

 As I had stated above, I was in "pretty damn good shape." My dad and I had gone to a race down in the Twin Cities area, a criterium race, which is a mile lap, repeated 40-50 times. Two riders had gotten away; so now it was a battle for third overall. In the final sprint for third, it was between some guy, and me. My heart pounding in my throat, my hand’s turning ghost white from squeezing the bars so tight and the blood being pulled back into the lungs to supply what was needed. I can ever so clearly remember the immense burning sensation in my lungs, legs and arms begging me to stop — being at the point of oxygen debt and then it happened, all in a spilt second, even though it felt like 5 minutes, my mind started screaming “Go, GO, GO!”

My sight went to tunnel vision; I could hear the breath I was taking in as if I was in a soundproof room all by myself. What sounded and felt like a smooth steady breath was this monstrous intake of air, a power had started to flow right through my mind saying “Go, you stupid son of bitch, GO!” Dancing on the pedals, accelerating like an antelope does chasing its heard down in the open fields of South Dakota — once you think they are at full speed, nope, wrong, they have got two more gears to go. Jamming those pedals, rocking my bike back and forth leaning just above the bars looking forward and seeing the finish line approaching. Cresting the small incline and then it happened; I heard a sound, a most perfect sound, as clear as if he were sitting right next to me in that sound proof room, I heard the exhale of defeat from the other guy, the exhale that says — I have nothing left. Just then, I heard the whoosh of my wheels float over the finish line — I got him.

The oddest feeling of all occurred as I went down the backside of the hill, it felt like I was not breathing anymore, I mean not at all; it felt like my body and mind were on two different plains. Coming to the bottom of the hill, I gasped this insurmountable gasp of air, just like someone who has been under water too long and you break the water’s surface and inhale that breath of life and you know at that point — yeah baby, I am alive! Just then I realized I had over come oxygen debt, and it was quite possible, I never actually took in that deep breath in the final sprint, my body had remembered or figured out someway to pull every spare nanogram of air from my body. 

Just after that realization, this cool super hero power I had just found in myself had another side to it; yes, the other side to oxygen debt, this new sensation I was now feeling was vomit coming up and out of me like a freight train at full speed through a small town shaking every house within five blocks. Writer’s note: when on bike, racing chair, whenever in motion and you need to vomit, make sure you are leaning to one side and not looking forward. It can get messy.

Although there are days that you are in the zone and you know you can not be defeated, there are also days that the gods of whatever sport you are doing say in their own little way something to the effect, “Today, we are going to show you how to stay humble.”

Some of you may know that after 13 years of being on the U.S.Paralympic and U.S. Disabled World Archery Team, I decided to step down and retire from the sport of archery. I did it for a multitude of reasons some of my very close friends know all the reasons; but for the most part I had lost the love of the game. In fact, it took almost two years before I could even be in the same room with my archery equipment — unless we were talking hunting.

After the U.S. Team came home from the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games with the Bronze Medal in the Team Round, I knew I needed to do something different, a new sport something that took my mind completely away from archery and I found it –Trap Shooting.

Stay tuned for Part III

Becoming a champion - why we do the things we do PART I

Over the years I have had the ability to train with many people, with many different types of skills and with many different types of teaching methods. Thinking about it, even as a young boy, I remember coaches putting in better players and thinking to myself and asking myself, I want to be in playing; why am I not playing?

As I got older I started to understand about skill levels and how, for some kids, certain things came easier. For example school, I struggled in school even through college, but as I got older I used what I learned in my athletics and found my own little way of focusing on my schoolwork and getting it done. Now, I was in no way, shape or form an “A” student, I mean I got some “As;” but I can tell you that some of my “Cs” felt like Congressional Medals of Honor. Sports weren’t easy for me either; they were easier but not easy. What did come easy for me was the ability to be able to focus on my sport, find ways to make myself stronger, faster, and most importantly being able to endure.

I will never forget my first SEAL Training Adventure back in 2005. There were 32 assigned, 32 present, 32 accounted for at muster (call to order/formation.) SEAL Instructor Mann made an announcement and made it very clear that there was no way I was going to get any special treatment of any kind. In fact, (as his voice became more clear, as if he was a proud lion standing on a rock over looking his pride) what I would be getting is a wonderful induction along with everyone else here —  to the world of pain! It occurred to me at that very second that I wanted SEALs and I got SEALs; not to mention we were all in for one hell of a night.

Instructor Mann continued on by saying, “Your pain, is our pleasure.” To this day, that voice, along with the voices of six other highly decorated men of honor will forever drop me to the deck and make me push out 20 just when I hear the sound of their ever so charming voices.

After two hours of our so-called “Warm–up” and my best friend Shawn looking at me saying, “This is your fault QUAD, you got me into this,” we headed into the pool.  There were now 32 assigned, 30 present and 30 accounted for — two people had rang out.

When we got to the base for the “PT” portion, there were 32 assigned 28 present and 28 accounted for — two more had dropped from the program. A sense of pride flowed throw me just like a parent feels when they see their child born, or watch them grow up and graduate and do the things they wished they could have done. Moreover, a memory rushed through me at the very second, as I realized I have just outlasted not two but four able-bodied people.

Memories of a bike race filled my mind; I was 15, one of my first races of the season.


Stay tuned for the second half of this story.

Making your day fantastic

A new day a new dawn and life is great - challenges are going to arise and set backs are in the future; however, knowing that, and accepting that makes it so much easier to move on.

Become the success you want to be.

Today, see all the positives in your day and life. Taste your morning coffee, hug your family, call your kids, laugh with your parents and friends; surround your self with positive emotions and thoughts.

"Thoughts create emotion and emotions create your attitude."

Where I am this week!

Aaron's Seminars this week

Monday June 20th
Hampton INN Bemidji, MN
Assistive Tech conference Speaking and booth
Speak at 9:30-10AM Booth until 1PM

Tuesday June 21st
Holiday INN St. Cloud, MN

Assistive Tech conference Speaking and booth

Speak at 9:30-10AM Booth until 1PM

Wednesday June 22nd

Rochester, MN

Assistive Tech conference Speaking and booth

Speak at 9:30-10AM Booth until 1PM

Starting Over Part One

Blog June 19, 2011

Starting Over – Part One

            Starting over is never easy and whoever says it is, is lying. Within the last three years starting over has been a common factor for me, a failed marriage started it out, then to a job that was actually a wonderful job but not entirely me. Of course lets not forget the primary fact of me getting back into a career and sport I vowed never t do again.; but yet here I am doing what I once did and finding not only the desire to do this job and sport, but finding that passion which fueled me the first time.

I will never forget December 2010, sitting in a staff meeting, listing to what was being said and feeling an empty hole inside myself. Almost like I had just lost my best friend or going through your first broken heart. I could not help but keep asking myself, over and over and over again, what the hell am I doing, what are you doing here? Then of course I would answer myself. Writer’s note: it’s okay to talk to yourself, it’s okay to answer yourself, but, if you loose the argument, that is when you really need help. I remember answering my question with something like, yes, you are helping people, but is this really how you want to do it? Aaron, what the hell are you doing? You know what you want to do, just say it; say it now!

Ah yeah, this is normally how I get my wheels into a bad situation.

It was right then in there in that staff meeting/holiday party that I realized I was going to start over yet once again. I took a deep breath, fear of the unknown racing through my brain and the strength of my parents and family inside me and the beliefs and truths they have instilled in me since I was a little boy – I am giving you my notice; it’s time for me to move on.

Being a Motivational Speaker & Life Coach, was what I really wanted and need to do. Now, I do not suggest that you follow in my footsteps, especially, how I left my former employment, as I have had and my family has had to deal with a great amount of stress because of it. However, one thing I will always take from that job is Health Realization – positive thinking is one of if not the most effective ways to be a personal success. Think positive you feel positive, thus giving you positive emotions and a positive outlook and ideas. Follow them!

Since then, I have had a great amount of incredible experiences, found passion about a sport that I had vowed never to compete again in; enough so that I have started to train for the 2012 team. Ironically, the games are in England – I know sometimes irony can be very hard to take. I have met new friends and found a network of people who have and are assisting me in taking my speaking and life coaching career to whole new levels. Starting over is a good thing; see it as a step forward you know now how to do it better this time.

I believe and follow many mantras, but my two favorites are as followed:

“You must try and do the things you think you can not do.”

–      Eleanor Roosevelt –

“Life is about living, not wondering.”

–      Aaron Cross –

Since January, I have sat back with a hot cup of coffee, put my earplugs in to block out sound and just sat in silence, letting my thoughts come back to me good and troubling.

During this time it occurred to me that no matter how I didn’t want it to happen, I am my father and mother’s son. I am following in their footsteps and learning from them as I go along. It then also occurred to me that yes, I am doing a lot of the same things they did and do for a living; but I have also done them with a completely different style and I have also done many things they wish they could have done or could do.

When you start over, it is a scary yet very liberating emotion, like the first time you realize your riding your bike without training wheels; or the first time you ran a algebra problem straight through without struggling. As an adult, it is the feeling when you sit down with friends and or family members at the table and someone asks you for the first time “Can I get your opinion/advise on something?” Moreover, I will never forget the feeling when my friends little girl asked if she could sit on my lap and she fell asleep in my arms. Moreover, I will never forget how it felt to see my friends from high school have their kids come up to them and say “Mom, dad, so and so is having a get together tonight and they have asked me to come over can I go?” It was so cool to know that the kids I grew up with, the very same kids who were at my side getting into – well I am not going to finish that sentence with the premise I might incriminate myself and others; but none the less, they were now guiding their children. How cool is that!

There are to many joys out there to not give yourself the chance to start over; it doesn’t have to be what I did to start over, in fact, I don’t suggest it, but do remember these two quotes:

“Life is about living, not wondering.”

“You must try and do the things you think you can not do.”

All I am saying is, take the time to refresh yourself, make sure you have your time to just start over.

The next blog is a continuation of “Starting Over, ” titled, “Shooting archery at the Paralympic level. Remembering why you stopped in the first place; yet what keeps you focusing on.”

"Its Just Duc-Tape"

Hey friends of Motivation on Wheels and Aaron Cross!

Aaron will be presenting "It's just Duc-Tape" taking the mystery out of Assistive Tech - what it is, how you can use it and realizing, "It's just Duc-Tape." A humorous, informational seminar on Assistive Technology.

See attachment for information.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150629894405531