Preparedness
CAREER- ENDING, LIFE-CHANGING MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT INSPIRATION
From every wound, there is a scar , and every scar tells your story. A story that says, “I SURVIVED”!, Fr. Craig Scott
Just when we think we have a life that is full of great relationships, fun times, and a career that is full of possibilities! We have a life altering event that sometimes takes our life, or sometimes alters our life for ever. That is the story of Martin Jongejan this week on our weekly PODCAST. An incredible, uplifting, inspirational story of when Martin thought he had it all! A nice home, a marriage, a career that was full-filling and a great bunch of friends all around him. Then that “Blink of an Eye” moment happened that would ever change the pathway as well as the outcome of Martin’s life story.
Many things can occur in our life that is going to give us that AHH HAA moment. What you think after this moment will forever change your life! Do I have all my parts still? I know that was the first thing I thought of when I had my life-changing car accident, your body is one big painful lump of “I’m not sure” and that your life will never be the same. Once you wake up, you wonder what did happen? Where am I ? What’s next?
What comes from when you get out of the hospital is also life-changing. Because then you have to think about recovery and rehabilitation. You will need a whole rehabilitation program for yourself both physically as well as mentally. Sometimes even learning how to walk again, or even just get up off the bed! Yes it’s true! Sometimes some concussion testing, or brain injury testing. Some eye tests, and training. It’s not all cut and dry. You never know how fast the recovery time will be. Get ready! Because what comes next is the pivoting time for you. Devastation at it’s best!
How do you even know where to start this new life changing event? You may be in the hospital or in a rehabilitation clinic where you don’t come home for months. What happens then?
Who looks after paying for your monthly bills? Does anyone even know what to pay and how to pay them and when? Not usually. And that’s the difficulty when you are either single or married. Because unless you have completed our YOUR BACKUP PLAN APP, how will anyone know any of those things. And can they pay the bills for you? That’s the difficulty when it comes to living thru a tragedy of who can you rely on? Who knows where your key is? What food to buy for your pet? Do you have a Power of Attorney so that someone has the capability of going to the bank for you and completing any transactions for you? Do you have the mental capacity to do any of your monthly transactions?
For those that think it is bad karma, or bad luck not to be prepared! Try again! Because that is far from the truth. The truth is that things will be so much easier for yourself as well as those you love around you. Don’t we want to ensure a sense of safety, a sense of peace of mind that you can safely say, “You are ready”! “You are prepared”!
Perhaps reading some books on leadership, greatness, becoming that Better You!
Here is a link to the author of a paper of Servant Leadership by Robert Green Leaf
https://www.greenleaf.org/product-category/robert-k-greenleaf-anthologies-bibliography/
How does your life change? Well, we asked Martin a few of those questions.
Martin’s 12-year new-life-aversary.
- What was my relationship doing at the time of the accident? Was I in the right place during this time? Was I receiving support mentally and physically?
- I lost my home, and became homeless and decided to get back on my feet I would need to find a place to stay with a few other guys so that I can pick myself up again
- I lost my job, my career that I used to do with love and passion was no longer an option for me at this point. What will I do?
- What else is there to lose? I didn’t lose my LIFE but certainly came darn close to it!
Martin was struck from behind. He said, “no matter how technically strong you are when riding your motorcycle, you can never drive for anyone else”. You can’t have eyes in the back of your head, and sometimes you just come super close to a close call.
“It was 11 years ago today that I was struck while riding my motorcycle on the highway. I awoke several days later in Royal Columbian Hospital. Over the course of the following months as I recovered from significant physical injuries, I lost my home, my marriage, and my business. Dark days turned into dark weeks, then dark months, then dark years, and I ended up alone, living in a rooming house, with as many belongings as I could fit into my beat-up Ford Taurus. “
“It was one of the darkest chapters in my life. “
“But in retrospect, that accident was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Jumping ahead now 11 years , I have an amazing marriage to my best friend. I live in a wonderful home. I am in the best physical condition of my life. I have a thriving, award-winning business. I have amazing co-workers, some of whom I have the privilege to call friends. And I have opportunities through my enterprise to give back to people in my community. My world has literally expanded beyond my wildest dreams. None of which would have happened, or COULD have happened, had I not been run over by some guy in a truck. That one event set in motion a string of events that led me to now. Whatever I had lost, I gained back ten-fold… and then some! This is not intended to be a “look at me” post. God is good. “
“What I want to do is give hope to anyone who is struggling with life right now. I want to encourage you to stay the course, have faith, and press on. Rest assured that your story is not written. This is just a chapter – perhaps a dark one, and I’ve been there – but as long as there is breath in your body, there is hope for a better tomorrow… IF you press on! What if your breakthrough is destined for tomorrow, but you give up today? “
One day, you too might look back at this time and recognize it for the blessing it was.
You might actually be grateful for what you had to endure today, and that you persevered. Press on! You got this! Make it a great day!
Martin and his journey has been such an inspiration and aspiration for all of us. Whether you are struggling with a car accident journey, or mental health issue, or other cancer and stroke disabilities, know that there is hope for everyone moving forward! To enjoy the journey and not be scared of the change, no one likes change but this journey is truly a blessing. And you may not see the blessing in front of you, but it is coming! Just be patient and be positive, have faith, have trust in your recovery. You’ve got this!
Contact Martin Jongejan website link is:
martinjongejan@icloud.com – Langley B.C. 604-597-3900
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