a person who is good at helping others in a group use their strengths is a(n) This is a topic that many people are looking for. newyorkcityvoices.org is a channel providing useful information about learning, life, digital marketing and online courses …. it will help you have an overview and solid multi-faceted knowledge . Today, newyorkcityvoices.org would like to introduce to you Finding Your Strength by Helping Others | Andy Shirtliff | TEDxWhitefish. Following along are instructions in the video below:
Welcome to the stage. Andy shirtless good morning as someone who grew up just down down the road from here with a life whos had a little a few and downs and twists and turns. Its an honor and a privilege to be on this stage speaking with you in this theater.
And with those of you watching online today. Im going to talk a little bit about finding your strength by helping others. I was born to a single mother in anaconda montana.
She worked hard to raise two kids on her own. But faced with the tough realization that either she could raise us both and barely make it by or make the tough decision and split us up. So we both had a chance so facing one of the most toughest.
Most difficult decision. Shes ever had to make in her young life and with a heavy heart. She chose the place me into adoption.
She had had faith that there would be parents that would find me that would take care of me that be kind compassionate and supportive and she knew she wouldnt have to look long in a place like montana. My soon to be mom and dad didnt know if they could have kids so they sought out to adopt they looked all across the state. They applied and they waited well they didnt have to wait long one day.
They got a phone call their new son was waiting for him and they came down and picked me up and so. Then my family took good care of me they were always there for me putting my needs or my sisters needs and others needs before their own. Which is something that stuck with me they were always there for me.
No matter. What they had to do with their job. They worked full time.
But they always seemed to find time to help us with our homework to go to our practices. Play catch and be at our games. Because they understood the importance of play.
But also they understood the importance of being present now going through school. I played sports. I got involved in student government.
I went to all the dances. But i didnt know what i was gonna do i didnt know if i was gonna go to college. My parents had always said to i should apply myself and i always encouraged me however i didnt know what i was gonna do i didnt know if i was gonna go to college.
So then one day my mother heard about a talent scout that was at the mall. I didnt have any plans so i said sure why not so i showed up. I said hey im andy.
I guess i want to be an actor and they said okay next thing. I knew i was being told they should go to california so 19 years old thats what i did my mom agreed to take time off of work. So she could help me move down to california.
I packed up my little honda. I said my goodbyes and i drove away from the only home i ever knew when i left california or when i left four months left montana as you can see here it was 30 degrees. And when i arrived in california.
It was a hundred and ten a little bit different so as i got there my mom helped me unpack. She helped me get settled. And i had to take her to the airport and thats when it hit me.
I was gonna be alone for the first time in my life. 19 years old three states away four states away and it hit me really hard as i dropped her off at the airport. I gotta tell you i was scared shitless and i called my dad and i said dad what am i gonna do and hes a me its okay.
Its okay home will always be here will always be here youre there give it a shot show them what youre made of and thats stuck with me. And thats just what i did i drove two hours for 5 minute auditions and networked with the parties. I met famous people i got to see all the sights and sound.
I worked on everything from music videos to commercials tv shows and movies. However i wasnt acting. I was going nowhere i struggled with friendships and relationships.
My roommate was a drug dealer. I struggled with money my phone was turned off my car was on the verge of breaking down. I had overdrawn my bank account by hundreds of dollars.
I was broke as a joke i struggled with depression. I felt like i was trapped with no place to go. But one day.
I received a pamphlet in the mail from the university of montana and i said look at all these people look at these people going to school. They look like theyre having a great time the beautiful scenery. And it was had something that i would been missing in california or in tinseltown true opportunity.
So i decided to pack it up pack up my little honda and move home so what was i gonna study well. I had always been interested in politics. But also when it has been said when i was a kid.
I mayve yelled at the tv. When i disagreed with what the politicians were saying. But also i remembered an american government class.
The teacher put a word up on the board apathy. What does that mean means that you dont care enough to do something about it i dont know its not my problem. But thats not me whether its in my genes or how i was raised.
I couldnt just stand idly by if something happened i had to do something about it i had to say something about it i had to join a cause so i went from studying paul or excuse. Me i went to studying and went to california to be an actor to studying politics. An actor in california to a politician.
If the man on tv. That i disagreed with sometimes could do it so could i so i went to so i went to the university of montana. I study hard and on my off time id either i was either acting or when i was volunteering.
I was acting in local commercials worked on an independent film and i was starting another. I was volunteering. I got to get involved because i didnt know anybody.
It was a great way to meet people and i realized i could do something good so then i also at night. I worked as a waiter. I learned that from being an actor in california.
So i worked and i get to be around people i enjoyed it i got to meet new people every day. I got to learn how to interact with folks the people i worked with were my friends. The guests that came in made it a great place to work until one day.
I got sick. I noticed there was this difference. I noticed i just felt like this wash of cold just wave the wave of cold wash over me.
And i didnt know what was going on it felt like i just have his achy and sore like i just got in a car wreck and thrown into the lake i felt weak and hollow my joints were sore my muscles ached my hands i looked at my hands and they couldnt even move they had gotten swollen and i couldnt even make a fist. Id laid awake at night sleepless confused not sure what the heck was going on with my body tossing and turning. I ate i couldnt even sleep.
I tossed and turned not knowing. What was going on with my body and so the next day. I went to the doctor and they did blood tests they checked my vitals and they were just this confused as i was so then i went to a specialist.
They ran even more blood tests check my vitals my skin was so tight because of what was going on when they tried to put a needle in my arm. It had a difficult time getting through my skin and i thought im bulletproof no but seriously. What is going on with my body and the doctors were confused.
They didnt know if it was scleroderma rheumatoid arthritis lupus leukemia staph infection. They were just as confused as i was so they put me on some prescription drugs. They they they didnt know what it was and so they loaded me up with chemotherapy drugs and steroids it took me from being me to a person who only had three gears to be glad sad or mad at the drop of a hat.
These drugs if i wasnt at work. Id be doubled over on the couch in pain or in nausea. So the only thing i could do was focus on my schoolwork.
So i could study hard i could graduate and hopefully find a job that would cover me that would have health insurance well they finally found out what it was yo sino philic. Fasciitis also known as shulman syndrome. When they found this out thats when the insurance company dropping and and so when the insurance company dropped me.
I had to look for that job. And i did some more research about what you sign of philic fasciitis. Was also known as shulman syndrome.
Found out that its really rare found out that theres only 250 cases that have been diagnosed since 1975. And so i luckily in my last semester of work i found a job one that had help that had health benefits and ironically this job was to talk about or talk with people about their health care stories to talk about dealing with doctors dealing with insurance companies dealing with medical bills. I said hey thats just like me so this job allowed me to go all across the state talking with people sharing our stories.
I went from glasgow. To glendive lame. Deer to wolf point billings to livingston it all points in between i got to hear heartbreaking stories of what people have been going through its i felt really bad about complaining about what losing sleep over some of the stories.
I had heard and then in these travels. I learned that my illness. It wasnt meant to punish me like i had thought before it was meant to teach me it was meant to inspire me it wasnt meant to keep me down.
It was meant to show me to be more understanding to learn from other people to learn those lessons. So i vowed from this point. Forward that i knew my calling wasnt show business or politics.
As usual. No i wanted to serve people. I wanted to support them encourage them and empower them the show folks what theyre made of so last year on this stage.
We talked about defining the last best place. What does that mean. Its the slogan for the state of montana.
Its also like living the american dream. It means something different for all of us whether its starting. A home building a home starting.
A family or being a successful business owner. My job now consists of sponsoring supporting and promoting montanas entrepreneurial ecosystem. I help startups in all nors follow their dream to help find that strength of who in themselves to show them what theyre doing really does make a difference.
I also do it in my off time i try to help people find that what they do does make a difference. Whether its that girl who gave up her kidney to a family friend who desperately needed it she didnt think anything of it. She said.
You know i would anyone would have done that right. But to that family it meant everything they have one more christmas with that dad or for that political organizer. Who worked on various campaigns.
All across the united states and in montana who got burnt out who lost his way and he moved here to whitefish and rallied. The community in the name of love against hate speech. He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do and in in return.
He found his calling now how do you find your path. I had no plan. No goals.
I took a path that took me all the way to california. It took my life falling apart define what i wanted to do and i found my path. How do you find yours you can find it through service by helping others.
You can find your strength in helping others find theirs. Thats how i found my strength. I realized that i found purpose in helping people.
I found my strength and while helping others find theirs. I found my path guiding someone down theirs as well so i ask you to be brave follow your dreams. Follow that path dont be discouraged follow that dream of yours nothing can hold you back not even a few wrong turns be patient dont be discouraged.
When sometimes that path that you take isnt the life you want. And thats okay find a good worthy cause be bold step outside of your comfort zone. Support.
Other people helping them find their way. Whether its a good cause or a campaign or whatever it may be it doesnt have to be big. It can be a community garden.
It can even mean saying hi to a stranger on the street grow in order. These things can help you grow. But also you gotta tend to the roots and realize and focus on whats important to you in my life.
Its my friends and family when the like the chinese proverb says when the roots are deep. Theres no reason to fear the wind. So imagine imagine a world now imagine your world in your world.
Where you could overcome anything that life throws at you finding the strength to persevere in other people. Because folks life is like a 12 round championship match some rounds you win in some rounds you lose youre gonna take some hits. What youre gonna get back up and keep moving so now get back out there and show the world.
What youre made of thank you and may the fourth be with you .
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