Day 1 AFRICA

It was 2:15 when my alarm went off. Thousands of things screaming in my head. Do I have everything,  do I need to bring this or that? Either way, Jason and I are going to wheels up @ 9:00 a.m.

Sometime in the next 27 hours we will be in South Africa - Johanesburg  then off to Windhoek where the long drive begins; however, at that time I will be sound asleep or barely functioning, or lite and bright and screaming with excitement.

Had a great send off with family and friends last night, stayed up a bit too late but that is what plans are for - sleep.

Next post, sometime Friday, Saturday or Sunday.


Always Sitting, Always in Motion

Aaron

  

Nice way to end the week — Summary of my performance

Nice way to end the week; this was in my E-mail this morning — especially wonderful going into the "Emcee" position tonight for Ms Wheelchair Minnesota event:

Nice way to end the week; this was in my E-mail this morning:

Hi Aaron
Thank you again for the wonderful presentation at the
Potpourri Conference - below is a summary of the comments from the evaluation forms.
We request participants to rate sessions on a 4.0 scale.

We will connect with you about the video.

Aaron Cross 3.79
●Very good speaker that held my attention.
●I loved the support stories.
●Awesome!
●I would give this a 5 if I could!
●Entertaining and interesting.
●Excellent! X8
●Best part of the day. X3
●Aaron Cross is a very inspirational speaker and makes you think about what is important.
●Aaron Cross was very helpful for me, to keep on my target; going through a few changes in life and struggling some, but his reminder was a very great impact on me at the moment. Thank you.
●Aaron Cross was super awesome, very motivational and got me ready for being here on a Saturday.
●Aaron Cross’ presentation and his extraordinary support stories were the best part of the day.

Cindy Owen
Executive Director
Arc Midstate

Sound check at 7a.m. Looking forward to making people laugh this morning. 

Start your mornings off with the following, and your stress will melt away faster than snow on a 90 degree day — and without the mess.

Great breakfast, Monster Hug, and a laugh that keeps you laughing through the day.

Fast Paced Days

Fast paced days can seem overwhelming, but they can also be the days you accomplish the most.

Today is, the little chores that you need to accomplish in order to make the tours successful.
Laundry, hotel calls, making sure your school addresses are correct, maps and back-up routes, double and triple check sound system and stage needs. Finally, start working on the home so that when you come back it is not so stressful and you come back to what you want; not what you have to do.

Always Sitting, Always in Motion

Aaron

Hugs — Mr. Cross is that you? — E-mails

Hugs — Mr. Cross is that you? — E-mails

So, it is difficult to speak at times, when it comes to younger kids (PreK-6.) Don't get me wrong they are hilariously funny and they can make your jaw drop with their insight. 

However, today, I was at a loss; I just felt like I was not getting to any of them until the end (question and answer time.) As I asked the group, "Does anyone have any questions?" This little boy, (4, 5 or 6 years old) stood up and before the teacher could whisper sit back down, he ran right up to me and gave me the biggest hug EVER! Okay, I got to one today. :-)

I get to my hotel in Bismarck, ND tonight and as I was getting out of my car I hear, "Mr. Cross, Aaron Cross, is that you?" I spun around and said, "Yes."

WOW, it's really you, I was at your school you spoke to three weeks ago, here, let me help you get into your hotel.

Sometimes, the greatest gift is to meet people you have reached.

In my room I open up my e-mail to find this;

"Dear Aaron Cross,Your presentation was very inspiring. You are brave, amazing, inspirational and cool. It was amazing watching you shoot the arrow with your teeth and your bronze medal was sweet! Most people do not get bronze medals. You are an inspirational athlete. We were surprised that you went skydiving, scuba-diving, and skiing. We think you should write a informational/motivational book for kids.

Sincerely,
The Students of 4L"

Same school I thought I bombed today, I got a incredible memorable hug, and now a letter.

Hugs — Mr. Cross is that you? — E-mails, sometimes life is just AWESOME!

Shoulders are a bit sore today as yesterday I shot 3 scores, totaling 210 arrows; little bit much, but i'll tell you what, the shots were going great! My closest friend was helping me out and it sure made life easier, not easy, but easier.

Sometimes just knowing that a friend will always be there is one of the greatest gifts in the WORLD!!!! In fact, it beats any medal, any score and any award.

The best thing in the world is when the put their arm around you and say, "I'm right here and I am not going anywhere — i've got your back." Today, thank a friend, your child, your wife/husband and or mom and dad; it's a great day to do that. Thanks Carisa Andy Rasmussen for all your support and help; you are truly a blessing.

Thanks Shawn Woods, without you my life would be "WTF"

Thanks to my brother and mom and dad (step dad and step mom) All the people who have said to me "get up," take one more push Aaron; without that, it would have been so much harder.

Thank someone today for the gifts they bring to you.

School hosts Motivation on Wheels by Del Bartels

School hosts Motivation on Wheels

by Del Bartels

      An assembly at the Philip school gymnasium called Motivation on Wheels was held Monday, September 10, at 9:00 a.m.

      Philip senior Thomas Doolittle volunteered to hold a small clay pigeon to be shot from his fingers by an arrow shot from a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic who had to draw back the bow with his teeth.
As part of the Dakota Assemblies program, Aaron Cross gave a motivational presentation about staying positive and going after one’s dreams. Cross is a three-time paralympian in archery. According to his Dakota Assemblies program promotional, he has visited schools in many states, giving a down-to-earth message that is meant for all ages.

      Cross first told of the bicycle race in which a support van stopped directly in front of him. At a speed of approximately 38 miles per hour, he struck the van and snapped his neck in several places. A medivac helicopter ride, an emergency room, a surgeon, his father ... all blended together. On that day in 1991, the doctors told Aaron and his family, “The best thing you can do for him is get him a good color television and a good remote.” He was a 15-year-old Olympian bicyclist hopeful who could run a mile in 4:50. “Just like that it was all gone.”

      “You cannot feel your best friend’s hug, you cannot feel any hug ever again,” said Cross. Admitting that he was probably depressing the audience, he related that his friend reported back to his school, “Don’t worry. Aaron is a little shorter and gets better parking, but he’s just fine.” Upon returning to a reconditioned home, he found out that his own school wasn’t going to have him back and he would be going to a rival school. His friends got 375 signatures of fellow students who would transfer as well if Cross had to. His school allowed him to stay. Later his friend stated during a school concert that honored Cross, “You’ve brought us together. We are closer as a class than we have ever been.”

      After the accident Cross began working on getting his arms to function. Back then, it took him three hours to get undressed, showered and redressed. Now, it takes him 28 minutes to do that and get in his vehicle to drive somewhere. “Twenty-one years of focusing on your target; twenty-one years of believing in yourself,” said Cross.

      Using humor, Cross told of his learning to swim, “It’s pretty simple; sink and swim.” Because of his friends, he has learned to parachute, scuba dive, hunt and do other activities. He told the audience, “Leading the pack or coming in last – it’s about finishing.” He also stated, “Remember, someone always cares about you.” One day his friend even thought it was a good idea to put a weapon is his hands. Cross has been shooting the bow and arrow since.

      As well as the Olympics, he dreamed of being a Navy Seal. A while back, the Seals invited him for a visit. “The Seals brought me into a training course. Beat the living snot out of me! It was beautiful!” said Cross.
According to his website; Aaron Cross, born in Waterloo, Iowa, in 1975, graduated from Augsburg College in 1997. He competed in the 1996 Summer Paralympics and in the 2000 Summer Paralympics, but did not medal either time. He went on to compete in the 2002 wheelchair archery world championships in Nymburk, Czech Republic. Finally, as a member of the American team he won bronze in archery at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.

      Cross told the Philip students of his FOCUS – friendships, obstacles, caring, unity and self-esteem.. His website states, “Always sitting, but never not in motion” and “Because life is about living, not wondering.”

-30-

Newsweek (09/13/12)

Photos by Del Bartels

Special Thanks goes to Philip H.S. Staff and Students

Always "FOCUS on YOUR TARGET"