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Keep Smiling Stay Positive

With daily reminders that the Geelong economy is in a slow down
And big businesses like Ford, Alcoa, and Shell leaving
You'd be forgiven for thinking there is nothing but doom and gloom.
Add to this the daily headlines about the growing ice epidemic
It's easy to see how people might think there is nothing to keep smiling and stay positive about.
But I'm here to tell you that you are wrong.
People often look at me in my wheelchair with scars all over my body
And say "how can you keep smiling and stay positive?"
The answer is I choose to..
Every day I wake up and my body reminds me that, yes, I still have Cerebral Palsy
But then I remind my body that I have everything I want.
A beautiful wife, artistic oppurtunities, and the ability to speak up about the things I believe in.
It is very easy to focus on the negatives.
 I have learned in my life, however, if you approach the day with a positive mindset
And something goes wrong it's never as bad as would have been had you started the day
With a negative mindset.
Now, I do not want to pretend that I am positive and upbeat all the time
Because that would be a lie but I have learned tricks to keep me moving forward
And stop me from getting bogged down in the difficulties of life.
You too can keep smiling and stay positive.
To learn more about my approach you come along to the Keep Smiling Stay Positive workshop
On the 16 October at 200 Malop St Geelong
From 6pm until 8pm.
But if you can't make it you can follow me on
Facebook at CVI Disability Consultancy
Twitter @cvidisability
Instagram @ travelling_minstrel

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