The Sunshine Report One Step at a Time Karen and Jay share thoughts on the excitement of ‘Making Progress.' Success has been defined as the ‘progressive realization of a worthy ideal.’ And one of the interesting things about achieving success is that despite what some may think, it rarely happens ‘overnight.’ Success is truly a process. One that requires setting a goal, then mustering up the belief or faith that it can be achieved, and then, taking the persistent action, day by day, step by step, to move forward making progress. Consider the story of Cole Thomas. A few years ago, Cole was on his way to a job-site outside of Chicago when a deer ran out in front of his truck. Cole swerved to avoid it, but when he did, his truck ended up going down into a ditch and then back up onto the road, rolling over three times before it came to a stop. When he came to and tried to get out of the car, his legs wouldn’t move. He realized then his life had truly changed forever. A good Samaritan came to his aid and helped him out of his truck. He was flown to a hospital in Chicago where doctors shared that he’d shattered his vertebrae and that sadly, he would never walk again. But in his own words, Cole was determined to dance with his wife and wanted to one day walk his daughters down the aisle for their weddings. Only a few days after the accident, he began physical therapy. When asked by his therapists that his goal was to one day walk again, they attempted to manage Cole’s expectations for the future. Yet he was determined and his therapists, knowing anything is possible, started him on a program that focused doing specific tasks, like getting out of bed without any help. Yet after a month, during a touch test, Cole still couldn’t feel a thing. He began to feel like there was no hope, and that perhaps the doctors were right. Yet a few days later, he closed his eyes, and said a little prayer to himself over and over again. When he opened his eyes and looked down at his toes, he could see the slightest of movements. It was all the motivation he needed. Over the course of the next few months, he would continue making small amounts of progress. From the big toe on his left leg, to the big toe on his right leg, every little movement was a sign that he could overcome this traumatic injury. As his therapist said, “every single week, Cole would reach a new milestone. Every Friday, he would do something new.” Only 4 months after his accident, Cole was with his family on New Year’s Eve when he made the biggest progress yet: he stood up on his own for the first time. And then, only 3 months later, he would graduate from therapy by walking out of his therapists under his own power. Today, Cole is a physical therapist, using his experience to help inspire and motivate others in their therapy journey. His story is nothing less than a miracle, but even more, is an inspiring testimony to the power of believing in our own progress, even when it feels incremental or unsubstantial. As Cole’s story shows us, when we make even the smallest steps forward, it’s important to remember one thing: we’re still moving forward. Over time, you’ll begin to realize that what may have felt like only small changes suddenly become dramatic ones. We see this with children as they learn and grow, graduating from elementary school, to middle school, all the way through to college. We’ve also seen this with the Sunshine Initiative, as our communities have taken small steps in a positive direction, they are now beginning to flourish, day by day. We saw it with Cole, once paralyzed and now walking and using his story to help others. Our progress, no matter how big or small is under our control – within our power! We achieve positive outcomes in direct proportion to our belief and our persistence. So, I urge you to hold fast in your belief and ‘keep taking one more step forward,’ very much in the same manner as Cole – and inspiring and motivating role model for us both to admire and emulate. Read The Report Learn Everywhere – A New Hampshire Model for Success Read More Claremont Municipal Airport – Progress!   Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Jack Potvin – Project Happy This week we are delighted to highlight an inspirational young entrepreneur and leader – Jack Potvin. If you don’t know Jack, we guarantee that you soon will. He is the founder and leader of an exciting new initiative called Project Happy. Project Happy is a non-profit tech startup on a mission to reconnect young people to their community and help them lead happier, more connected lives. It is an app-based program allowing young people to easily and seamlessly, sign up to volunteer at a wide variety of nonprofits in their community. The app provides options, tracks progress, and makes the entire process not only rewarding – but fun. It’s inspiring. It’s really a marvelous concept and is in the process of gaining wide adoption across the Granite State. Project Happy is working closely with the Department of Education and is already being introduced into high schools throughout New Hampshire including for example, Portsmouth High School, Spaulding High School in Rochester, and Pinkerton Academy in Derry. And, while Project Happy is on its way to ‘rock New Hampshire’ in a positive way, Jack’s interests and activities go way beyond this specific initiative. A recent graduate of UNH, Jack was already working at a startup while still a student when I first met him several years ago. He was a key member of the team at a company called Shtudy, while also a full-time student – and of course, while also developing and launching Project Happy. Having graduated earlier this year, he is now deeply involved – working ‘full time’ at yet another startup, called SportsVisio – a truly innovative New Hampshire based company. I could go on and on about this young man’s achievements and interests – but the truth is that his positivity, energy, and spirit are even more impressive than his achievements. Not surprisingly, we at the Sunshine Initiative consider ourselves to be so very fortunate to be partnering and working with Jack on multiple projects. His vision and infectious personality will undoubtedly make a positive impact on our state and go far beyond. Thank you, Jack Potvin! Quotes of the Week “Optimism is essential to achievement, and it is also the foundation of courage and true progress.” Nicholas M. Butler     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]