Mind Over Matter: If You Don’t Mind, It Don’t Matter

In 2010, while I was riding my motorcycle to be a guest chef at our city’s annual feast for the needy, a texting driver broadsided me and dragged me two blocks as he attempted to hit and run. This caused the grinding off of my lower left leg. As I lay on the road in a pool of my own blood, I was conflicted with the thoughts of how easy and nice it would be to surrender and die versus fighting to stay alive. I could not imagine my twins having to go on without me and burdening my wife with this as well. So I chose to fight to live. To this day, my primary amp doctor reminds me that all are surprised I survived at all. I refused pharma painkillers in the hospital and relied on my Shaolin Kung Fu training, which includes deep meditation that can slow my heart rate and breathing to the barest minimum. I also performed acupressure on myself. From then to now, I have had none of the usual pains associated with traumatic amputations, no phantom pains, nor residual ongoing pains. I resumed playing competitive tennis and won a sanctioned tournament in 2013. I still ride my motorcycle, bicycle two hours twice a week, lift medium-weight free weights three times a week, and play tennis all year round. In Kung Fu, we believe if you can’t feel it you can’t heal it, and mind over matter. I am a Screen Actors Guild talent, professional chef, and executive coach.