I Can't Not Spoken Here

“I Can’t Not Spoken Here!”rnI woke up the other morning very humbled and in tears by the message that sent to me by the universe via a former student of mine. rnIn the midst of my feeling overwhelmed, finding myself complaining, in constant pain, and thinking that I can’t do this anymore; I get an e-mail that spoke to me so deeply that I am forever changed. There is no way that I could share this story verbally right now, as the words would become crowded with cries of humility and gratitude. This message possessed powerful meaning to receive this at this particular time in my life and I share it with hopes that it might be encouraging to you as well. You need to know first that I consider "I Can't" as inappropriate language in my class and always have. I even offer consequences; as I suppose I did for this former graduate of a small private school where I once taught. rnThe message below goes to show that we never know how and when we impact the people we meet, interact with, or teach. Be encouraged and know that we do make a difference. > Subject: heyrn> > I have been meaning to write you this message for some time now, it is actually part of why I looked you up on Facebook. I know I gave you a quick blurb of what has been going on in my life recently, but I wanted to basically send you a thank you. I have been on this earth 22 years (yea I know I’m still a kid:) ) In that 22 years I spent less than a calendar year in your class, but I can honestly say that you have altered and helped my life more than any single person. > > On April 12, 2008 my girlfriend celebrated her 21st birthday. 2 days later at 10:20 in the morning I picked up the ring i was planning to propose to her with. Also at exactly 10:20 the ambulance my wife was working in was crashing. Later that day we learned that they could not save her arm and she might not make through the night. Her mother and I were the first to see her. Around her intubation tube she mouthed "I love you" and "I can’t do this". Instantly and without thing I told her that she wasn't allowed to say that anymore. Well she spent the next month in Trauma ICU; I slept in a chair beside her. The pretty much kept her sedated the next 35 days until she was released to a rehab center where she spent the next nine months, as did I, day and night in a chair next to her bed. Almost every day as her nurse and I prepared her for therapy she would say to me "I can't do this anymore" each time i would tell he that that word wasn't allowed. Well finally we came home, her family and friends (including her mother and brother) have all forgotten that she exists and I spend each and every day caring for her and doing her therapy with her. A month or so ago I was exhausted after a night of her being sick and having no one around willing to help us and I said to her "I can't do this anymore" she looked at me with her beautiful eyes and smile and said that is not allowed. > > Their many things in my life that you influenced me with, but I wanted to tell you the “I can't” story and again thank you for taking a part in molding me into who I am today. Ben Green, MEd., CTACC, CSRC ~ Teacher, Life Coach, Author, Speaker ~rnwww.personalsynergetics.netrn