Inspiring a difference...We never know the impact we make

I got a call from a good friend of mine, Neal in Maine, yesterday. He said he had some good news for Benjamin and I. I talked to the board of directors of the Veterans of America, I believe was the name of the group, and they gave the OK for Benjamin and I to fly out for their annual skiing clinic. We were all every excited! Neal is very excited because we have never actually met! Let alone skied together. Benjamin is excited to meet Neal, too, and to go back east. I'm really excited because I've talked to Neal on the phone, gave him advice on his monoskiing, corrisponded with him via email...but I've never met him!

Neal found me at the 2002 Paralympic Games in Salt Lake. He was helping out there and saw an article about me. He went home to Maine and emailed me. I still cant remember how he found my email. Probably my website, Laceyheward.com . Anyway, he emailed me and told me he was so inspired he decided to give mono skiing a try. I was thrilled! I remember writing him back, dont remember what I wrote but... anyway- we've stayed in touch off and on since that time. Then last year Neal started asking me some more serious questions about fixing his mono. I told him I had a sister that lived out east and if I was ever in that neck of the woods we should go skiing together...I could give him some pointers. He was so excited. He called me some time later and had a great idea! He wanted Benjamin and I to come out and help with the Veterans clinic. This was our golden oppertunity to meet. I told Benjamin all about it and he was so asstonished that someone would want to meet me that bad. He kept asking me, 'now, how is this person?' I would tell him over and over again that Neal was a person inspired by my ski racing and we became fast friends.

Well, it didn't sink in until yesterday that Neal was absolutely serious about flying Benjamin and I out for a ski visit. Benjamin was beside himself with excitement. He got on the phone with Neal so Neal could tell him personnally all about it. When Benjamin got off the phone with him he had tears in his eyes and his voice was shaking when he said, " You know, you always say you didn't make that much of an impact when you went to the Paralympics in 2002. You know how you always say that? That sometimes you feel like the message didn't get through?" He was asking me with all seriousness. And it was true. I had my doubts about the impact I had on people in and around the Paralympic Games. I had always just thought the Paralympics didn't get enough reccognition to make any spell binding, hope bounding changes in peoples perspective on the disabled community or on humanity, for that matter.
Benjamin continued "Well, you did make a difference, Lacey. You make the difference in one mans life. Neal just told me that if it wasn't for you he would have never tried mono skiing and now he's getting out there and doing it because of you. No Gold medal could ever replace the difference you made in that mans life. You changed the whole world because you changed that one mans life." He then came over to me and gave me a big hug. "I'm so proud of you," he said to me holding me in his arms.

It was mind blowing to hear Benjamin say that. Of course I knew that Neal was skiing because I was the one who inspired him...but I always thought if it wasn't me it might be someone else that did. Neal is the one that decided to get going with the mono skiing...I didn't make him get in one and try it...he did that for himself. But the way Benjamin said it warmed my heart. It was me Neal chose to be inspired from and for that I am filled with gratitude. I am overwhelmed, even by Neals openness to be inspired.

I talk a lot about oneness. How we are all related. How we share everything that we are with one another. And it's totally true. We are not an island. We are all connected in an intricate web of life. And each of us inspire change each and every day in the world. I also talk a lot about being creators of our own universe. I truly believe this is true. We do create the world we live in. And we can either resist this world, or we can inspire it. I guess that's why it's so intrinsicly strong inside of us to go for our dreams and passions and intensions... because those feelings to act that burn inside of us change the lives around us and our own life. We truly learn who we are, the creators we are, when we inspire others to be the creators they are.
Neal has been a huge example of strength for me and a great mirror to see my own strength and desire. I do want to inspire. And if that means one man, in Maine, gets out on a mono ski and feels true freedom for the first time... than that is worth more than all the Gold medals I could ever win. So, I just want to say "Thank You" to Neal from Maine. For having the courage to be inspired!

I am really looking forward to going out east for this clinic. I think it's going to be so much fun! I'm going to get to meet a lot of really awesome amazing people, including my good friend, Neal. And the best part is Benjamin will be along side me. I love that! My husband is amazing and I am so grateful to him to his support of my life and his tender love towards me. Yesterday really felt like a "I see you" moment. It's moments like that I know I'm supposed to be married to this man. Benjamin, I see you too!

I'll keep you posted on my trip out east in January. It's going to be a blast!

Lacey