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Jody Fazzano
- Female
- Riverside, RI
- United States
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Profile Information
- Survivor Status:
- Survivor (In treatment or post treatment)
- About Me:
- Born and raised in the nation's smallest state, Rhode Island, I knew as a child that my responsibility and mission was to celebrate the gifts God had given me, while discovering and honoring the gifts and talents in others. To that end, I've been blessed with a journey of many eclectic stops, respites and pauses, including acting, writing and television news producing, non-profit leadership and clinical practice as a licensed social worker. I've even summoned the courage to write the book I was born to write.
It's amazing how life can stop you in your tracks, with no care about prestigious posts or lofty ambitions fortified by accomplishments too numerous to count. Less than a year after completing breast cancer treatment, I was struck by a speeding car while walking across a crosswalk at a busy Providence intersection; it was yet another life-altering event, leaving me lost in a coma with a broken brain, evidenced by skull fractures and injuries invisible on the outside. Add to that a promise of scars from facial lacerations and an uncertain prognosis.
Upon awakening days later, I was slammed with the realization that I was forever changed having emerged from a place so personal, so hollow, and as close to my soul as I'll ever get. And with that recognition came lessons aplenty accompanied by a steadfast assurance there would be enough to last a lifetime, a pledge I was willing to accept as collateral for an actual "lifetime."
I've learned that life's un-announced surprises oft arrive with immediacy and a spot-on demand for attention. I'm no longer in too much of a hurry to speed by another's pain or joy. In fact, I now stop and listen to others from the depth of my heart, offering the recipient my concern and compassion in exchange for their trust. In the aftermath I'm left wondering, “Is it a fair exchange?” While the unburdened may find solace in my rapt emotional embrace, it is I, the honored beneficiary, who reaps the greatest returns of the day and a tangible reminder that the quickest way to assuage one's self-centered fears is to tend to the joy and woe-filled hearts of our fellow life-voyagers.
I'm also reminded that a sage philosopher once said, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." The acute impact of one precious lesson is ever present in all my waking hours, absolutely.
I no longer wait to say the nice things or the important things. And though I may share with others my celebration of another's magnificent contributions and worth, I make certain to tell the most important person, the one individual directly worthy of my acknowledgment and genuine gratitude first. If I did not, and chose instead to withhold the gift of high esteem, well-deserved appreciation and validation, I'm certain my life would be the poorer for it.
In the title words of my soon-to-be completed book:
"It's a One-Shot Life."
So...the way I see it - we, as in ALL of us, may as well be outstanding!
- Inspirational Quote:
- "If you're going through hell, keep going."
Winston Churchill
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__________________
Dan Wood
Executive Director, National Christian College Athletic Association
“AJ, I'm buying the first 100 for my ministry with the team. This is an excellent resource -- clear, applicable, well written! You and Vera have written one of the most significant and useful devotionals I've seen in a long time. Ravens players and coaches will love this tool for training camp! I'm excited to see it go to print and I'm honored to be a friend of one of the co-authors, a true champion indeed.”
Pastor Rod Hairston
Team Chaplain, Baltimore Ravens
“ Take action and take the Challenge! This book is the answer to your prayer”
Evan Money
# 1 Online Life Coach and author of “Take Action Now”
© 2010 Created by A.J. Ali.
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I just read through your profile again and just wandered how you are doing? Are you working?
Please help us grow this site, by telling everyone about it. We would love to get to 1000 members. I'm hoping we are connected people and everyone seems to be enjoying the site.
Thanks,
Jane