Post on 22-Mar-2020
Media Kit“A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius”
Book
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2014©RMAX.tv ProductionsAll Rights Reserved
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Bruce McLaughlan (248) 249-2118
His Most Noble Fight: Martial Arts World Champ Takes On DyslexiaBELLINGHAM, WA: Five-time martial arts World Champion Scott Sonnon, whose recent TEDx talk on learning disabilities reached more than 50million people, has launched his new autobiography and a freespeaking tour designed to inspire young people who are strugglingwith what he calls the “gift” of dyslexia.
Locked Away For Being DifferentIn “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius,”Sonnon for the first time recounts publicly how he overcamedyslexia so severe that he was forcibly hospitalized in a children’spsychiatric institution.“My fellow dyslexics are ignored, neglected, and in many cases,abused and shamed for our unique neurological wiring, yet areamong the greatest contributors to our world,” Sonnon said. “Dyslexia is our genetic advantage – our suppressed genius.”
Turning Creative Genius Into SuccessIn addition to earning world championships in five differentmartial arts disciplines, the man known as the “Flow Coach” is aHall of Fame athletics trainer, award-winning video producer,professor, author, inventor and fitness industry leader, with hisbooks, DVDs and equipment in 68 countries worldwide. Sonnon, who challenges the notion of “learning disabilities,”used his own “unique neurological wiring” to create programsthat earned him recognition as one of the Top 25 Trainers in theworld by Men’s Fitness Magazine, “World’s Smartest Workout”Coach by Men’s Health Magazine, and one of Black BeltMagazine’s most influential martial artists of the 21st century.Sharing Painful Lessons So That Others May ThriveSonnon advocates for children and adults facing labels oflearning disabilities, as well as the ravages of obesity, the trials ofpost-traumatic stress, the dangers of bullyism and the challengesof accelerated aging in joints. He writes about these issues daily for his tens of thousands
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The book cover depicts Scott Sonnon with the sacred mountain, Kailash, that inspired the name bestowed by his yoga teacher. At a pivotal moment in his life, Sonnon drew on the mountain imagery to save a life.
Scott will tell your audience:› Why his own mother felt she had to have him locked up› Why suicide is frighteningly common among those, like Robin Williams, suffering from dyslexia› The link between dyslexia and genius› How the education system fails our children› How he handles the challenge of having a child with dyslexia› How bullies single out victims› The connection between movement and thought› Simple daily techniques to defusestress, including PTSD› Why first responders, police and firemen die young› Why the stronger he gets as a fighter, the gentler he becomes
of Facebook and Twitter followers.The speaking tour continues nationwide and even globally in conjunction with Sonnon’s extensive travels. Sonnon works with local chapters of the advocacy group Decoding Dyslexia and other non-profits to bring his message of hope to children with dyslexia, their parents and supporters.
Resources for your listeners:To Arrange For Scott To Speak To Your Group: Contact RMAX International at 678-867-7629, or email info@rmaxinternational.com. The RMAX mission is to develop a global peak performance community daring to “know, grow and flow.” Among its health and fitness systems are Circular Strength Training, which makes extensive use of the innovative Clubbell resistance training tool, invented by Coach Scott Sonnon, and TACFIT Tactical Fitness, which he designed for first-responders and warriors and now shares with the general public.
To Order “A Mountain Stands”: Scott Sonnon’s book is available online at Amazon.com or at AMountainStands.com.
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For more information: For a review copy (PDF) of Scott Sonnon’s autobiography, “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius,” contact Bruce McLaughlan, bruce.mclaughlan@gmail.com, 248-249-2118. For downloadable images, visit AMountainStands.com.
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Biography of Scott Sonnon
Scott Sonnon grew up in eastern Pennsylvania, where he faced the challenges of dyslexia as well as physical disabilities, including severe joint pain. Meanwhile, his mother was forced to work multiple jobs – including becoming the first female steelworker – to raise a family that was torn apart by the effects of post-traumatic stress. Ironically, Sonnon – advised by a counselor to set his expectations low due to lagging achievement in school – as an adult became a member and keynote speaker for the genius organization Mensa. His acclaimed TEDx talk
challenges the notion of “learning disabilities” through the creative genius of alternative learning styles.Sonnon sought martial arts as a path to escape the physical abuse of bullying, and rose to become a five-time World Champion and to coach Team USA. The health and fitness systems he created to conquer his own challenges transformed the industry and earned
him induction into the National Fitness Hall of Fame Museum, the International
Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Personal Trainer Hall of Fame. His TACFIT Tactical Fitness training, which Men’s Health Magazine declared is “the world’s smartest workout,” has been used by more than 50,000 military Special Forces and other elite units, including the U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Center, U.S. Marshals Service Training Academy and U.S. Army 3/160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Sonnon has been a featured speaker at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sport Festival, the National Strength Conditioning Association, and more. Black Belt Magazine named him one of the six most influential martial artists of the 21st century. Men’s Fitness Magazine
named him one of the “Top 25 Fitness Trainers in the World.”He now lives in the Bellingham, Wash., area with his wife, Jodie, and their two children.
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Q&A With Scott Sonnon
Q. Why did you write “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed
Genius”?
A. Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s most fascinating dyslexics, once wrote, “If, at first, your idea isn’t absurd, there is no hope for it.” Five years ago, I had an absurd idea: Each morning, I would write a story about my life. In that story, I would find the positive benefit it had brought, even if I didn’t understand it at the time. Beginning with my darkest moments, the most traumatically piercing events, I exhumed a life of suppressed damage to determine the positive coping skills I adapted as a result.The stories would eventually form a book that even someone like myself - a dyslexic - could read and absorb. The concept of “micro-chapters” evolved: Short stories (some lessthan a page), but each of which unfolding a “Hero’s Journey” as Joseph Campbell describes: an obstacle, a failure to overcome it, the finding of a higher purpose, the collection of allies and assets, a successful but surprising reattempted victory, and the sharing of the decoded discoveries previously locked within them.
Q. In simple terms, what is dyslexia and how common is it?
A. Dyslexia is often perceived as a language disability, and this is accurate: When forced into most traditional educational approaches, a “dyslexic” has difficulty with language. But this is because of a specific way that a dyslexic’s brain is organized. A simple explanation is that they have more “grid cells” (on the hypothalamus) and so their brains interpret two-dimensional language into three-dimensional shapes, causing reading, writing and even speaking challenges. But that same 3D nature of their brain allows them to see the world from incredible faceted perspectives and gives rise to their innovative, entrepreneurial, creative mind. It isa gift with trade-offs, like anything. We must make our goal to help dyslexics realize theirgifts, and provide them with strategies and support to mitigate the trade-offs.As much as 20 percent of the population has it: that’s over 60 million Americans, and 1.4 billion people worldwide.
Q. Who are some famous dyslexics in history?
A. Some of our greatest contributors had dyslexia: from both Edison and Tesla in electricity, from both Wright brothers to Richard Branson in the power of flight, from Alexander Graham Bell to Steve Jobs in telecommunications, from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking in physics, from Da Vinci to Disney in art, and Washington to Kennedy
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in politics.
Q. Your book describes how your mother was your greatest advocate and
defender, yet you felt betrayed when she allowed you to be institutionalized.
How did that happen?
A. I was disruptive in my classrooms. I didn't try to be. As Albert Einstein cautioned, “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, you will always be frustrated, and that fish will always feel stupid.” I had assumed I was stupid, especially when called so, and my teachers always felt frustrated, especially since their teaching and testing methods fixated on approaches which amplified my “trade-offs” as “learning disabilities.” I objected and attempted to self-advocate. I rebelled. I felt the world was against me. This neither excuses nor indicts my behavior. It was what it was ... a socially manufactured psychological environment that was preventable.My mother was my strongest advocate, and she did a superhuman job of rearing me in a time and in circumstances where it should have been impossible for me to survive and thrive. She did that, despite my inability to recognize that I was worsening the situation with my rebellion. It’s taken half a lifetime to unpack that experience, and feel neither blame nor guilt.
Q. How does your childhood experience affect you as a parent?
A. My children suffer from a condition known as “childhood.” They get into arguments. They make blunders. They say and do inappropriate things. Like every human who ever endured “childhood” does. The negative effects that my children experience involve me reading into those natural experiences of growing, and seeing something other than it is. Sometimes, I have to step back and let my wife teach me what “normal” is.So, I let myself just be a big kid with them. Within that age-appropriate sphere, we play together. I make mistakes, and I try to forgive myself and realize that I will not break them with a parenting error. And I try to exhale and step back, as they grow out of one sphere, and are ready - all too soon - for the next larger one. Someone please write a book!
Q. We recently lost the great comedian Robin Williams to suicide. He described
himself as having severe dyslexia. Is there a possible link between dyslexia and
suicide?
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A. There’s no physical link between dyslexia and suicide. There may be a link
between abusive shaming of those who are different, and the lifetime burden of
estrangement this forges.
When I was much younger, I attempted suicide, but a friend intervened and help
arrived, thank God. The thought went through my mind, “If I am alone, truly alone,
then what does it matter, especially if it hurts so much?” My mother, my mentors, my
dear friends helped me realize, despite the story I had accepted as a true self-‐
identity, I was not separate.
I am “alone, together” with everyone in the neurodiverse world. When I lacked
courage, they helped me turn around and encourage others. And that has made all of
the difference.
Q. Your book mentions that your son seems to have dyslexia, but not your
daughter. How can a parent tell if their child has dyslexia, and what can they do
about it?
A. My daughter has her own unique brilliance, equal but different than my son. She's
an interpersonal, auditory and musical/rhythmic learner, so she repeats everything
she hears, thinks and reads in order to “latch it in,” and all the while she twirls, Ulits
and taps. It’s like a cacophony to a kinesthetic, intrapersonal, spatial thinker – like
her Dad. So, we have an interesting family dynamic.
For the parents listening, especially those whose children may be struggling in the
school environment, there are deUinitive tests for dyslexia that will offer conclusive
evaluation. I highly recommend contacting the local chapter of the advocacy group
Decoding Dyslexia for support and guidance.
Q. One of your quests has been to help battle the kind of stress that killed your
father and continues to kill our police and NireNighters in their mid-50s on
average. What techniques did you develop, and how can our listeners use
them?
A. The exhale portion of breathing is tied to the “relax and recover reUlex,” just like
the inhale is tied to the “Uight or Ulight reUlex.” So, the obvious tool to use is our
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exhalation when facing stressors.
However, it sounds easy to think “just exhale” until a sudden, new, different type of
stressor hits us, and instead we inhale and brace in response. This dumps a chemical
cocktail into our bloodstream, embedding into our fatty tissues and causing
cumulative damage.
How we breathe under stress is determined by how we have trained ourselves to
breathe. Therefore, I interweave breathing techniques into exercise. Unfortunately,
most exercise programs unwittingly reinforce distress, adding to the problem.
Q. You have invented several unique Nitness programs and earned the
nickname “The Flow Coach” based on the links you discovered between
movement and brain function. How do they work?
A. Movement is an “idea” in your mind. How you think you can move determines
how you actually can move. The corollary is that if you improve your movement, you
expand your neural network.
Like Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “A mind once stretched by a new idea cannot
return to its original dimensions.” This is because the brain is plastic. It’s actually the
scientiUic term -‐ neuroplasticity. The brain isn’t like a rubber-‐band where you stretch
it with a notion, and then it rebounds when you stop thinking about it. It’s like a
plastic bag, where once you stretch it, it stays that way. Once you see things from a
different vantage point, you can’t unsee them. Your brain always has that alternate
viewpoint available.
Movement allows us to expand our mind’s eye, so the more we play, the more our
brain bolsters its function.
The goal is to get underneath the reUlex of fear, of disbelief. If you don’t believe you
can move a certain way, and you’re afraid to do it, not only can you not move that
way, but your body defensively braces against it, causing pain and injury if you
attempt to do so.
I had very strong beliefs as to my potential, but great aspirations as to what I wanted
to achieve, so I had to create escalators of baby steps, micro-‐advancements that
would stay underneath the radar of my fear and disbelief, stretching my mind one
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micro-‐movement at a time. It is the steps forward, and the recovery steps when our
pain and injury cause us to back-‐pedal, that are the truly revolutionary strategies in
body-‐mind integrative development.
Q. Do your programs help with weight loss?
A. Yep, and abs too! Weight loss and muscle gain are natural byproducts of
expanding your movement potential, and expanding your mind’s eye of your
potential.
Q. How many previous books have you written?
A. I have written 7 books, and 11 manuals.
Q. What is the target audience for this book? Who can apply these lessons and
stories to their own lives?
A. My book is for anyone who faces challenges and seeks support, inspiration and
strategies for transforming obstacles into opportunities. And face it, we all need help
from time to time.
Q. Are all of these stories based on Nirst hand, real-life experiences?
A. There are a few stories told to me by others, but primarily they’re my personal
experiences, from which I've sought to glean insights, through the lens of the great
thinkers and philosophers referenced throughout the book. (Some names and
details have obviously been Uictionalized out of respect for their privacy.)
Q. Where does the inspiration to write a particular story come from?
A. Inspiration is a Uickle muse: you either wait for it, or you systematically create the
environment for it to happen, and then practice it until it does. When you’re beset
with negativity, inspiration might never come, so I learned -‐ through my teachers’
guidance -‐ to set a clock every day, and begin writing an answer to a question: Take
this negative experience, and reUlect upon the wisdom of the great minds and hearts;
how then would you re-‐frame the experience into a positive one?
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After 13 years of practicing this process every day, there are now few times that I
cannot realign the value of a difUicult moment. They still happen, of course, but
they're manageable, and I am not long from recovering to a positive perspective.
I captured the best stories over this decade plus of reUinement, and compiled them
into a chronological anthology. This is the value of the book, more so even than the
adventures of the stories: the PROCESS of each story offers the reader an alternative
approach to facing their own challenges.
Q. What is your message? Is it only limited to one thing or group of people?
A. My message is simple (but not easy): You either succeed, or you learn. And I've
learned much more than I've succeeded.
Although many people will advise you to celebrate successes, and to a degree I
agree, I've learned to be error-‐focused, to become enamored with my mistakes, and
to revel in my shortcomings, for hidden within them is our capacity for growth.
Often, hidden in our misperceived Ulaws, we Uind our true genius. Only our skewed
perspective keeps us blind to our innate gifts.
My book is an allegorical mirror to reUlect to my readers not my story, but their
own ... and inside of their story ... their own suppressed genius.
Unearthing that brilliance will take courage, patience and persistence, not because
of the difUiculty of sharing it, but in the internal and external resistance to believe
you’re not brilliant. We are taught to be “normal” -‐ a term used in sociology for the
median, the average ... the mediocre. Shining is discouraged because it makes you an
outlier.
You weren't meant to Uit in, though. You were meant to stand out... to Stand like a
Mountain. My book is meant for anyone who wants to stand up for themselves and
for others.
Q. What is the greatest challenge you have overcome as a dyslexic in order to
become a published author?
A. The most difUicult part of that self-‐acceptance came in knowing the difference
between my language difUiculties -‐ the “trade-‐offs” of being a dyslexic -‐ and my
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neurological innovations in thought and expression -‐ the advantages of being
dyslexic.
What I do to editors should be classiUied as torture. Joking aside, writing style has
been deUined by rigorous guidelines of accepted grammar and story development
format ... despite the radical dyslexic genius of writers such as William Shakespeare,
Agatha Christie, WB Yeats, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jules Verne and George Bernard Shaw.
It’s simple to think that when you have these literary giants as examples, you must
immediately feel conUident in your own innate style. But that simple rationality isn't
easy to embrace.
Growing up being labeled as “stupid and slow” carries generational weight: it not
only lasts your entire lifetime, but it can be passed on to the next. At some point, you
have to muster lifetimes of courage and just... own who you are and how you express
it.
Q. What would you say today to your teachers and doctors who encouraged you
to aim low when you were just a child?
A. I would apologize to my teachers and doctors for not being self-‐conUident enough
to show them a new reality, to provide them with the cognitive dissonance strong
enough to wake them from their dogmatic slumber.
They only suffered from the ignorance of that generation. We now know differently.
NOW there is NO excuse for what they did then. Now, it should be considered
criminal, knowing what we know of neurology. But then, it was just the highest
expectation of education. Those rare few who advocated for me were outcast as
heretics, and would be now considered our innovative educators reforming our
educational system.
I would also thank them, for they became motivation for me, to prove them wrong.
Rebellion isn't always helpful, but sometimes ... especially against wrongdoing, it is a
necessity. Unfortunately, I made many mistakes in ill-‐focused rebellion, which
further imprisoned my freedom to express myself.
Teachers and doctors have a much broader and deeper educational experience
now ... and can understand the nature of childhood rebellion: we are not attempting
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to be disruptive; we just can't Uigure out, in our young minds, how to Uit our round
peg into the square hole. Today’s professionals are helping us Uind holes that Uit us as
individuals. We should help them as much as humanly possible!
Q. How do you choose what you write about each day? And, how do you Nind
time to write with your busy schedule?
A. Life chooses what I write about, because there is never a day that passes without
a wealth of lessons, even in the most seemingly mundane domestic task, like
weeding the garden.
One of my most impacting teachers, whom I write of in my book, Dr. Jonathan
Ellsworth Winter, talked often about the dyslexic Vincent Van Gogh’s preoccupation
with one of his masterpieces – “A Pair of [Peasant] Shoes.” Dr. Winter explained that
these simple, dirty, battered shoes represent more art and life than the most opulent
cathedral. He taught me the elegance of the simple things. So, I look for them, and
see lessons everywhere, even in the simple, dirty, battered shoes of my children.
What joy looking at them brings me! Time is another illusion which writing has
allowed me to dispel. The more that we practice on a regular schedule any skill, the
more efUicient it becomes, and the more time we GAIN. So, with any skill, you have
the appearance of the least amount of time at the beginning because we are the least
efUicient at that -‐ and many other -‐ skills.
Setting a time, beginning to write, stopping when the set duration is complete, trains
you to become more efUicient. Over a decade of practice at this method has allowed
me to choose any moment to tap into the inspiring body of ever-‐present simple
beauty of life, especially the misperceived negative moments, and reUlect the lessons
with which they are saturated.
Q. Does your family support your publication of these personal stories?
A. My poor wife endures a thousand retellings of the same story. She does so with a
patient smile (and an occasional eye-‐roll).
My children are still young, so not all of the stories are appropriate for their ears. I
strive to learn-‐on-‐the-‐job how to parent in a way that assumes my own childhood
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experience is not necessary for them to thrive. My growth has not been as a
compensation for how difUicult my childhood was, but rather my growth has been
because of embracing the innate gifts I (and we each) have to offer, and dedicating
my life to sharing them.
That has not been an errorless journey, even as a husband and parent. They have
suffered my growing pains... and yet, they still love me. How amazing is that?!
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Endorsements
“Scott is an inspiration to all he teaches with body, mind and spirit approach to fitness and life through his story.” Donna Karan, Founder and Chief Designer of Donna Karan, DKNY and Urban Zen
“I have known Scott for over 15 years. When I Uirst read his work I realized its
uniqueness. What grabbed my attention was fact that he was a gifted teacher far
beyond what you see in the Uitness industry. He walks a different path.
Recently I received his latest book, A Mountain Stands. I thought I knew everything
about him, until I Uinished the book. Scott had become a member of Mensa and had
been labeled a genius. Mensa got it all wrong. Scott is not a genius. ... He is brilliant!
Genius has a dark side. ... Brilliance has no dark side. It's illuminating.
Reading his body of work will make you a lot smarter, and after you do so you will
know the difference between genius and brilliance.”
Fairfax Hackley, International Sports Hall of Fame, Global Advisory Board
“The book is a fascinating account of Master Scott Sonnon’s rise from childhood disability to martial arts super star and fitness expert, championing the cause of self-reliance and belief in oneself to overcome the flaws of society’s disdain for those who do not fit the norm. … Truly one of the gems in this world of fitness and martial arts.”GM Frank E. Sanchez, Founder/ Executive Director, International World Head of Family Sokeship Council http://www.WHFSC.com
“Scott Sonnon is an original: athlete, warrior, scholar, champion, family man, businessman, inventor ... and more. It is estimated that only 1,000 human beings participated in the original Renaissance. Here, one suspects, we are hearing the inspiringand challenging story of one of the most important voices in our own.”Steven Barnes, N.Y. Times bestselling author, life coachwww.diamondhour.com
“Scott Sonnon is an amazing individual. … I would recommend his story to anyone interested in a true testament of discipline, spiritual and physical dedication for human character potential and development.”
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Ron Van Clief, UFC veteran, actor, Grandmaster, and author of “The Hanged Man” “When people meet Scott Sonnon, they might figure he was born as that impeccably fit and sharp intellect trainer who has helped so many people build vibrant lives. It is important to learn that Scott struggled to earn his way to all he is today. Read and enjoy Scott's story, and let his journey inspire your own.”Stephen K. Hayes, Black Belt Hall of FameStephenKHayes.com
“After reading Scott Sonnon’s new work, my heart is open and my soul refreshed. I have been on a journey from the pain of past trauma to the thrill of reclaimed authenticity and empowerment. My guide, as if a composite of Einstein, Hercules and Yoda, has nurtured my mind, body and soul though his personal stories and parables. Thank you Scott for doing what you do so well, questioning the status quo and modeling real solutions for mysteries of the human condition. I am inspired!” Cindy Brooks, Wellness Coach, Director: Lifestyle Program at thealinker.com
“Scott Sonnon delivers a series of powerful messages, both heart and gut wrenching, which will remain with you long after you turn the page. His collection of 1-4 page ‘confessions’ clearly show the love and respect he has for humanity, and will leave the reader breathless and reflective upon their own past, present, and future. “A Mountain Stands: Confessions Of A Suppressed Genius” is a must-read for everybody and anybody whose potential has ever been placed in doubt.”Christina Keppie, Associate Professor, Western Washington University
“I am a Dyslexia specialist and a member of Decoding Dyslexia Michigan. I have workedwith many dyslexic students for the past eight years. Scott Sonnon’s recent talk in Michigan was an inspiration to us all. Everyone there, whether they were dyslexic or not, benefited from hearing his heartfelt words. He was truly engaging and sincere. As a professional who works with dyslexic children every day, I found his message ‘to stay strong and not give up no matter how hard it seems’ to be invaluable. For those audience members who are dyslexic, his experiences and struggles as a child were so relevant and moving. Especially significant was when he talked about his special ‘gifts’ that often accompany dyslexia. It was especially touching to hear about his close relationship with his mother, his one true supporter. The Q&A session at the end was wonderful. But what was most encouraging was how he turned his challenges into strengths and ultimately
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Excerpt from “A Mountain Stands: Confessions of a Suppressed Genius”
BELIEFS CAN BLOT OUT POSSIBILITIES “If you didn’t act like such an imbecile, maybe other kids wouldn’t hate you so much,” my fourth grade teacher said after I returned with recess’ scrapes and bruises. I retorted, “Maybe I’d do better in class, if you stopped the other kids from beating me up.” His face turned red and he pulled out a waffled paddle. Bending me over his desk, in front of the class, he began to hit me with it, yelling, “No child is going to tell ME how torun my classroom, especially the class idiot!”“Grades don’t measure intelligence and age doesn’t determine maturity,” my grandfather told me. He continued, in a way that provided comfort, “Keep learning things your way, even if no one gives you credit. But to survive, learn why they do things their way. So maybe when you’re bigger, you can figure out what belief caused them to do things so wrong. A belief can sometimes be worse than ignorance, because we’re convinced we’re right, and blind that we’re not.” His words validated my own unique, but untapped, learning styles; acknowledged the possibility that even authorities could be wrong; and encouraged me to start down a path of illuminating beliefs which were limiting the growth of others, in addition to myself. That one key event catalyzed the course of my career and empowered me to challenge any injustice I observed or experienced.Without that event: I would not have pursued alternative educational methods through movement, as a dyslexic, kinesthetic learner, and challenged the domination of verbal/linguistic methods in the school systems. I would not have developed my own approach to reading, my own writing style, my own form of public speaking. I would not have begun research on strengthening my connective tissue against joint disease, explored the “myofascial matrix” as a movement model for functional fitness, and traveled the world seeking modalities to make me truly healthy and strong. I would not have revisited beliefs about nutrition and hydration over and over, to challenge the heavily marketed processed synthetics that led to my childhood obesity, norreturned to the simple eating approach of my grandparents, and therein found an abundance of vitality never known throughout my life. I would not have invested decades in training in efficient forms of martial art, and
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debunked the attrition mentality of force against force; for I found in the abuse of my youth, a flaw, and only in absorbing and retranslating the aggression expressed toward mewas I able to create a true solution to it, and be free from fear. I would not have poured myself into the science underpinning stress, to decipher the riddle of my father’s tortured rage after returning from war, how our family disintegrated,and how the disorder not only could have been prevented but could have been transitioned, supported ... even cured before it spalled out of control. I never would have developed the systems, tools and technology to address this spectre ofdistress; tools that now have become incumbent in government agencies across the globe.And I never would have become the things that I feared most: a writer, speaker and teacher. I never would have written a single book, produced a single video nor taught a single course. My grades didn’t predetermine my direction in life. The immaturity of some of my adult authorities couldn’t deter me from following it, no matter how many times I surrendered and submitted in hopeless desperation. If you don’t follow your own path, no matter how frighteningly unexplored, others’ beliefs will conscript you to follow theirs, even if in an unjust, wrong, but popular direction. Find teachers who will help you clear the underbrush on your own path, allies who will walk next to you, friends who will help you up when you pitfall, and the courage to do it alone when you must. The bad news? There is no key to your success. The good news? It isn’t locked, though we’re often distracted by convincing, inaccurate beliefs to look in the wrong direction. Look within. And keep going.
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