Sunday, 18 November 2012

Why write a book - who should read it?

In the next 2 weeks my book "Attitude Is Everything - My MS Story" will be released worldwide through Amazon.  It will be available on Paperback, Kindle and also Ebook.  I have to say that it has been a great and interesting journey putting it together, but to be honest not overly difficult for me.  I don't mean this in an arrogant way however when you are writing about yourself and your experiences in the last number of years, as long as you can remember what happened to you and how you felt, putting it down on paper seemed to come natural to me.
I started thinking about writing this book around the Summer 2011.  I was dx with Multiple Sclerosis in August 2007 and found the next few years very difficult, but since i worked out how to beat it i have been doing well since 2010 and getting stronger with the passing of each month.  As i began to talk to other people about my experiences, i found that they felt i had a very strong story and message to share with people.  When other MS sufferers started to contact me looking advice and asking me questions, i felt empowered at that point to take some action and put my very difficult but rewarding struggle down on paper in the form of a book.  So all the hard work in the past 12 months is finally at an end as the book release is imminent:)

So what is the book about and who should read it?  Well obviously the book is about me and what happened to me and how a very fit young man can come to get this thing called MS completely out of the blue at 28 years old.  I explain in detail what happened to me that first day on honeymoon in Mauritius, the following week and next 12 months right through to diagnosis.  The book captures a 6 year period from the onset of the illness to today - when i am in a much stronger fitter place, able and willing to share my experience. 

I share in the book my 3 point plan which i implemented enabling me to beat the MS, and i also share with you some other nuggets that i embraced that gave me the strength to overcome my illness.  I go into detail regarding the fact that i believe everyone of us hits a wall at some point in our lives - it could be financial, a relationship, bereavement, an illness - no one escapes challenges and in my case the MS was my wall that i had to try and overcome. 
There is an old saying that if you are in a room with 10 people and you all throw your problems onto the floor, you would take your own back as the other 9 people seem to be much worse off.  There is probably a lot of truth in that.

My message is that if you have and apply the right Attitude, it doesn't matter what your problem is or height your wall is.....you can overcome it.  I am very passionate about this, as i know the struggles out there right now.  Every household has issues and problems to face, no one escapes - but it is how you deal with these challenges that will determine your success and fulfilment in life. Its so easy to give up, throw in the towel and wallow in self pity - but hopefully through my story and the other people i have detailed in the book, you will see that you can change things if you do one small thing - Tweak your Attitude.

I wrote this book in such a way that i feel most people will enjoy it and also get some benefit from reading it.  I talk about a thing called personal development, and i don't care who you are but if you embrace this concept alone and commit to it, you will find your personal circumstances change for the better.  People suffering from MS will obviously find my book very helpful as i share with you lots of information that has helped me fight and win the battle.  Others with illnesses or challenges i also feel will certainly find some of my philosophy's interesting and engaging.

So there you go, i hope you get a copy and thoroughly enjoy it.  If you do please let me know as i would love to hear your feedback.

Remember all #Attitude Is Everything and #Never Give up





Monday, 5 November 2012

Unofficial NYC Marathon 2012 #Smashed

We arrived at 2pm local time on Friday and it was a great feeling being back in New York.  I first visited this great City in 1999 and have some wonderful memories playing football for Cavan in the legendary Gaelic park and working for an Irish construction company in Manhattan.  I think my first experience of the City really had a great impact on  my development as it was my first real spell away from home, and you had to fend for yourself.

Anyway as we checked into our hotel on 42nd Street East Manhattan, we decided to head down to the EXPO as we had to register fro the marathon on Sunday and pick up our goody bag.  When we arrived the place was bunged with excited runners and there was a great atmosphere which certainly wet my appetite for the race a couple of days later.

We picked up our gear and decided to go back to the hotel.  As we got out of a cab, news started to filter through that Bloomberg had cancelled the marathon - i didn't believe it at first, but after spotting some TV's in and electrical shop - the news was true and NYC 2012 marathon was off.  We got back to the hotel and there was an urgent meeting called by the travel company to explain what was going on.  Without going into detail too much - the race had been cancelled.  The bottom line was there was over 100 deaths the previous week in New York and there was more carnage and bereavements being reported in Staten Island daily - we were all pretty shocked and my own personal feeling was it was the right decision, but the Mayor should have made the call on the Monday or the Tuesday of that week.

Anyway the organisers had come up with a plan B, which was we would have a solidarity run in Central Park on the Sunday which would be a half marathon - i suppose it was better than nothing and we all had trained pretty hard for this.  Sunday came and we headed over to Central Park.  The weather was fantastic although a little bit cold.  There must have been over 20,000 runners in the park and the atmosphere was incredible.  Lots of New Yorkers stood around the route and offered all the runners water, sweets, fruit and most of all fantastic heart warming support. 

Central Park is one of the most famous parks in the world and one lap is 6 miles of incredible scenery.  As i was running away on my own with the music in my ear i decided i would complete 26.2 miles and run 4 laps of the park plus 2.2 extra.  I had trained too long and too hard to come all this way and not do a marathon. 3 hours and 59 minutes later, a tired young Irish man had finished his run.  I was exhausted and my legs were really aching.  What made it that bit more gratifying was that during my training i was unable to run more than 14 miles as i picked up an injury, so i was pleasantly surprised and delighted that my body held up over the course.  I wont lie to you it felt good - that's my 2nd marathon in 2 years and that's 6 years after the onset of my Multiple Sclerosis in 2006.

MS is pretty annoying and difficult to have to put up with, day in and day out.  Whenever you decide to do a challenge you must have a goal in order to succeed.  Some say a dream is a goal with a deadline, I agree.  I have to tell you that my MS diagnosis was the reason i completed my marathon on Sunday.  I suppose i wanted to prove to myself that i could run 26.2 miles again.  I hope that other MS'ers get some strength from the fact that i was able to achieve my goal.  Its a really nice feeling.

In a few weeks time i will sit down and write out my goals for 2013.  12 months ago i did the same exercise and i can tell you i hit most of the goals i put down on that page.  Its a super feeling all.

In two weeks time my new book ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING will be released and i am looking forward to seeing the finished product.  I never thought in the month of Sundays i would ever write a book.  Well i have, and i suppose i will have to edit my Twitter Bio that I'm now also an author:)

All good fun, so try and stay positive all and remember #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

Sunday, 21 October 2012

Attitude Is Everything....

When i started thinking about writing my new book last year about my MS battle, i very quickly worked out the title.  It is amazing how important your attitude is in your life.  The sad thing is that many go through life i feel and just do not realise the power they have within themselves to achieve their potential if they just realised one thing..... get your attitude right and you have a chance.  Whether it be an illness, marriage problem, financial problem or bereavement - if you approach your challenge with the right attitude you will make progress.

Have a read of this story below - i thought it was interesting and gets the mind working. !

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathised with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbours together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, you will progress. 

Remember all #Attitude Is Everything

The Important Things in Life

Below, i have set out a story i came across this weekend, which struck a chord with me.  Life is moving so fast right now, that i find alot of people are going from day to day just existing in the daily rat race which is life.  Sometimes its good to stand back and think for a moment of the important things in life.

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

#Attitude Is Everything

Sunday, 30 September 2012

New York - 4 Weeks to go

This past 4 weeks have been extremely frustrating as i have been nursing a hamstring strain and haven't been able to get out running.  In exactly 4 weeks to the day i will be running through Manhattan taking part in my 2nd Marathon since my MS diagnosis in 2007.  My training was going well to i got injured and this past few weeks i have been doing some strength and conditioning work, trying to get my body strong so it will carry me around the best city in the world.

I have been getting some physio this past couple of weeks and fingers crossed the hammy will have recovered and i will get round in one piece.  I had a time goal to target since i took on this challenge however with the injury i have had to review this.  i will decide where i am time wise in the next few weeks - injury pending.

This year i am running for Action MS and also Cancer Focus NI.  If you would like to sponsor me please do here www.justgiving.com/conor-devine

I hope a few good things come out of this challenge and the message i want to keep spreading is that everything is possible and a diagnosis or illness does not mean your life is over.  Attitude is everything people and if you get that part right, you will enjoy the rewards.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)

#AttitudeIsEverything

ps  My new bok will be out on 1st November 2012 - #WOW

Sunday, 16 September 2012

Life is a Gift

This last week in NI has been a very testing one for all of us.  In the last few days we have seen how cruel, callous, shocking, and deeply tragic life can be with the sad deaths of Brian Og Maguire and three members of the Spence Family.

When i heard the news at the end of last week about the accident in Fermanagh that claimed the life of a rising young fantastic GAA star, i was shocked and saddened and found it tough to think about anything else for the next few days.
Last night around 8pm the news started to break on twitter of a tragic accident on a farm in Hillsborough.  As i continued to watch my time line over the next hour the sheer scale of the tragedy started to develop, and i could hardly believe my eyes with the news of three from the same family being killed and another very seriously injured in hospital.  Of course we are talking about the Spence family, whom i do not know, however feel like i do following reading the news and listening to this disaster of a story all day. 

I was at the gym this morning, trying to prepare for my up and coming marathon.  This past few weeks I've found it very difficult as i have a hamstring strain and haven't been able to get out running.  As i was trying to do my training this morning i couldn't stop thinking of the accidents which have claimed the lives of these four people in the last few days.  When things like this happen, it really rocks you, puts life into perspective and tests everything about your character.  We start asking ourselves all sorts of questions, trying to make sense of it all, with little to no answers.

As i was on twitter last night i read a tweet that Nevin Spence posted yesterday at about 2pm, saying he was out for a cup of coffee in a Belfast restaurant and having a good day.  I bet he never in a million years had any idea of what lay ahead for him and his family later that afternoon.  What a sad sad story and an example of how so cruel life and this world can be at times.

Sometimes you just have to stand back, stop what you are doing, take a few moments to yourself and thank God about all the positive things that you have going for you in your life.  Life is a gift and i know that this coming week i will be a little more thankful for all that i have in my life.

Young Brian Og was laid to rest today in Co Fermanagh where thousands attended the funeral mass to pay their respects.  Later this week thousands will arrive at the Spence's funeral to pay their respects to a great family and support the remaining members of their family.  What a sad time this will be and i just hope that both the Maguire family and Spence Family get the strength from somewhere to get through this week and also the next few months.

Death is terrible at the best of times but in these two separate incidents its even much harder to take as it was a result of accidents at work that were likely very preventable - if only you could turn the clock back a few days.

I felt compelled to blog about this tonight and pray for both sets of families to get the courage and determination to carry on.   RIP Brin Og and Nevin, Graham & Noel Spence

Thursday, 13 September 2012

Attitude Is Everything

So i am nearly there, in 7.5 weeks i will be in New York City getting ready to run 26.2 miles in what will be a spectacular day of festivities.

I spent most of January this year in Australia on holiday with my family  were my training started for my big day in November.  As i was running down to Bondi Beach on my daily training runs taking in all the sites of that beautiful place i was imagining myself running through Central Park, down into Manhattan, past Ground Zero and taking in  all the sites that fantastic City has to offer.  I was excited back then so you can guess that i am pretty excited now we are so close to the event.

My training was going great to about two weeks ago when i tweaked my hamstring and unfortunately i haven't been able to get out on the roads since.  However i have been doing some gym work and getting treatment, so with the rub of the green i will be back pounding the roads next week, putting the final touches to my preparation.

This will be my second marathon after i ran the Belfast one last year which i found extremely tough.  When i finished the Belfast marathon i told myself that i would never run another one again.  However i suppose i really enjoyed the challenge and also the fact that people with Multiple Sclerosis are not rally supposed to be running marathons - or that's what some people think right??

Well what a load of rubbish that is.  When i was diagnosed with MS in 2007, most of the so called medics told me to pretty much stop all physical activity and just take it easy - for the rest of my life.  I listened to these so called experts for about 2 years - then i woke up thankfully and decided i was in control of what i wanted to do, not the MS - i put the building blocks in place over the next 36 months which has given me a platform right now to push on and set and smash whatever goals i set myself.  I have an unbreakable attitude and  looking forward to the challenges the next number of weeks have in store for me.

I meet people every day, loads of people, all with their own challenges, problems and difficulties to overcome.  Some people handle pressures better than others.  What i would say is those people who have a fantastic attitude, are generally always the ones to win their battles and never give up.  If you apply the right attitude to any situation, there is more chance of a positive outcome than a negative attitude.  That seems a very simple philosophy but its amazing the amount of people who haven't worked this out yet.  You attitude will determine your altitude, so work on it, embrace personal development, get around positive people, bin the dream stealer's and you will be on the right road.

New York New York...... here i come #Dreamers Move Mountains

#AttitudeIsEverything #NeverGiveUp

www.justgiving.com/conor-devine pls donate to my charities here :))