How do you move forward in life when you have a disability? How do you move forward if that disability is cerebral palsy?
Ask Cassi Baird, a gifted speaker and therapist that has been moving forward with cerebral palsy for over 26 years!
Cassi is a living, breathing, forward walking miracle. Watch part of her incredible story below.
I met Cassi in college and have always been impressed with her (she is one of the most tenaciously optimistic people I have ever met!). When I first considered making original videos for Forward Walking, I immediately thought of Cassi. After sending her an email to see if she would be interested in an interview, she wrote back, saying:
It’s actually quite interesting that you have messaged me about this. For a long time now I have wanted to write a motivational book…I feel that [God] gave me this disability so I can share a message of hope. I would love to help you in any way I can!
I have often felt that everything that is given to us in life is either a blessing or a curse; it is the strength of one’s heart that determines which. Through her attitude and persistence, Cassi has transformed something that many would consider a curse into a source of pure hope and inspiration.
“If we are not moving forward in our life, then we are just being wasteful—and it’s disrespectful,” says Cassi. The gift of life—the ability to move forward every day—is a precious gift that we are given every day. Don’t disrespect that gift. There is so much more to life than our perceived limitations would have us believe. Yes, we have weaknesses, but we are also filled with overwhelming, overpowering potential.
So whatever your limitation (your “disability”) don’t quit. Like Cassi, keep moving forward. You may stumble and fall (Cassi says she falls at least once a day) but just get back up and keep moving forward. There are so many lives you can bless!
Cassi’s favorite quote comes from Theodore Roosevelt:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
If you would like to contact Cassi about any possible speaking arrangements, please visit http://www.CassiBaird.com
