Defy All Odds

The Opening Word

LIVE unconquered's mission is to change people’s lives, for the better. To help everyone breakthrough to a brighter day, no matter their background, situation, or circumstances. Live Unconquered is about restoring and injecting positivity and optimism into your life – all day of everyday so that you can make the most of it. It’s about having faith; in a better day, in what you’re doing, in where you are going, and most importantly yourself – no matter your religious affiliation. Lu will also take on psoriasis/ psoriatic arthritis advocacy under its umbrella as well, in the form of E. A. R. S. - to educate, create awareness, promote research, and develop support in anyway possible.

Daily Mission Checklist
Develop as a person everyday.
Help someone else grow as a person, everyday.
Be a source of constant inspiration in your environment.
Provide light to areas mired in darkness.
Lead by example and with constant integrity.
Continually bask in education and knowledge.
Appreciate all things – good and bad.
Be respectful not only to others, but to yourself.
Establish and maintain a position of forgiveness.

Six Pillars of Development
Wisdom
Strength
Longevity
Hope
Tranquility
Desire

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for we entertain angels unaware.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Defy All Odds

When you set out to live unconquered, you must realize that you will face obstacles, distractions, derailments, and difficult conquests around every corner you turn. Your personal will can, and will, always be put to the test. There will be situations where your character is pushed to the limit, and that you’re asked to keep moving even though it seems hopeless. You never know what hurdles and obstacles will be thrown at you in your lifetime, but what you can do is make a dedication that no impediment placed in your way will be a deterrent to you continuing along the path of life you set.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’ll turn your attention to Eric LeGrand. For those of you who don’t know, he was a collegiate football player at Rutgers University who was injured this past season. He suffered a severe spinal injury, and was paralyzed as a result. Since his injury October 16^th, he has consistently made it his initiative to defy the odds, stating numerous times that he will walk again. In his latest update, he tweeted pictures of himself alongside his mother in therapy – standing upright. This is the same person in mid-October of 2010 that doctors – for all their intelligence and medical expertise – incorrectly stated he would never walk again. Those same doctors, who predicted LeGrand would be attached to a ventilator the rest of his life. Another misdiagnosis. Whether it be fate, a miracle, or by his sheer will, he has already defied the odds – and continues to every hour, every minute, and every second. Can those of us who complain (myself included) about the simple things, do the same, without complaints or negative attitudes? When I see people such as Eric, or the cancer patients I work with on a daily basis – individuals are defying the odds every second – it gives me the motivation and dedication to hurdle my own hindrances which are minuscule in comparison.

Click for link on Eric LeGrand's progress....

Whatever route through life you choose - always be aware that a detour is available around obstructions if needed. Even if you storm through rough patches like a bull in a china shop – just ensure that you make it through. The saying that “nothing is impossible” is spot on. You are only defeated by a circumstance when you wave your white flag and surrender. Remember – don’t let something conquer you; and in the same token don’t have the mindset that you’ve got to conquer everything in sight. The goal is to be unconquered by your environment, and then being more than a conqueror all-the-while being an example, a leader, a protagonist, and a role model for those who surround you. Don’t feel like you are required to conform to stereotypes or statistics, go against the grain and be a standout.

The odds you experience will vary, but none are too great to be defeated. Have strength, and never succumb to your milieu. Whether you’re in what seems to be an unending and grueling battle with cancer, seeking to walk again, kick that decades long addiction – whatever it is – don’t give up your fight. The road may be hell, but I can assure you the light at the end of the tunnel is there. Always persist, and know that some journeys you depart on may not come to an end. Moreover, if you never reach whatever “destination” it is, it is better to be in the act of traveling, than have given up along the way. Cherish the moment, cherish the journey, and cherish the struggles. A day of struggles is better than no day at all…

Root for those around you to defy all odds too. Do the unthinkable, do what no one believes you can do. I personally believe in vicarious victories. Always support and push forward those in your life with a positive and well intended agenda. All it takes is one person to experience their breakthrough to trigger an avalanche of encouragement, success, and accomplishments. Live united; it’s even better to defy the odds as a posse.

“Standing tall, we can’t fall….”

- Eric LeGrand

Defy & Live Unconquered.

JJR II

7/19/2011

More Information

I encourage everyone to visit http://www.psoriasis.org/ - homepage for the National Psoriasis Foundation, to learn a little bit more about psoriatic disease. This chronic disease not only highlights why should we aspire to live unconquered, but we should live for a cause, live everyday, and live for now. The National Psoriasis Foundation is the United States' leading patient-driven, nonprofit advocacy organization that serves the estimated 7.5 million Americans affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Currently, I serve on the inagural editorial board for NPF and our quarterly publication - Psoriasis Advance. As an active advocate with and supporter of this organization, our objective is the same - to strive for better treatments, access to care, and ultimately a cure for all psoriatic diseases.

Since joining Nationwide Insurance in 2013, I've strived to become more active in advocacy and general community involvement. Working for a company that has volunteering and goodwill branded into the culture has really strengthened my "live unconquered" belief, and I look forward to announcing further ventures and activies before 2014 concludes.

Weathering The Storm

Weathering The Storm is an inspirational, motivational, and faith inspiring book that will work to move you from any and all storms in your life. It will serve to move you out of the rain and help you breakthrough to brighter days. I wrote Weathering The Storm in a down to earth way so that everyone can easily relate, with everyday advice ranging from forgiving to moving forward with your life after tragedy. If your life always seems to be in the midst of turbulent weather, my goal is for Weathering The Storm to serve as a shield and a guide to get you through, and towards the fringes of the light. Written from my perspective as a psoriasis sufferer, I want to use my background to inspire you and invigorate you so that you can step away from storm clouds hovering over your head. Life is too short to be mired in constant stress; Weathering The Storm will move you away from the mess and instead help prove you are blessed – no matter your circumstance or situation.

The road to being a published author has been an exciting and rewarding experience, and I've garnered more support for this than I ever could have imagined. The book was officially released by Tate Publishing on August 28th, 2012. As with any book, we will work hard over the next year to increase the profile and momentum behind Weathering The Storm; remember, the life of a book never ends! When signings and presentations are scheduled, I will post updates and information here. The time has flown by working with this project, but I am looking forward to wrapping up new and more in-depth works going forward. Another thank you to all those who’ve been there during this exciting and groundbreaking process!

The Next Few Steps...

The LIVE unconquered Project
I plan for this LIVE unconquered blog will be transformed into a manuscript and book of its own. Serving as a follow-up to Weathering The Storm, I plan for the book to focus on continuing the progress once you’re out of the storm. It will focus on growing, developing, and molding yourself in the aftermath of tribulations. It will help you focus on living each tomorrow better than today and continuing to have success no matter the circumstance, situations, or environments you did encounter, and prepare you for any troubles that may arise in the future. As I work on the follow-up manuscript to Weathering The Storm and determine the appropriate publishing route, I will give updates and insights just as I have on Weathering The Storm. I have already started putting together the manuscript, and planned to be finished over the summer of 2013.

Psoriasis: A Life Changer
Once completed, I know that this will be the pinnacle accomplishment for me because of the effect psoriasis has had on my life. I started on this manuscript before Weathering The Storm was released, and while I have made some end roads, it certainly has not been an easy manuscript to place. As I become more actively involved in psoriasis advocacy and undergo some changes in my own treatment plan in 2013, I expect I will make significant progress and hope to have the manuscript complete and ready to send off for publishing by my birthday in June. Though it isn’t easy writing about something as difficult and traumatizing as psoriasis and the ripple effect it can cause to your life, I believe those same struggles have helped (and are helping) me grow in the proper direction, and that it gives me a tremendous story that I can share to potentially help others realize that while psoriasis is a chronic disease, it isn’t the end of the world unless you allow it to be.