On Fire

Zusatztext If you haven't heard John O'Leary speak from the platform of a sold out arena! you're missing out on an incredible message. But you're in luck! John has put his inspirational and life-changing message into this brilliant book. His story and words of wisdom will not only encourage you! they will ignite a passion to live your life to the fullest. Informationen zum Autor John O'Leary shares his expertise on overcoming adversity and how to live inspired with more than 50!000 people at more than 120 live events each year around the world. In 2006! he was inducted into the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame. He was selected as Saint Louis University young alumni of the year in 2008! was voted Speaker of the Year for Vistage International! and was recently chosen as one of the Top Ten Most Interesting People in Saint Louis! Missouri. He is also a lifestyle contributor for ParadeMagazine.com. He considers his greatest success to be his marriage to Beth! their four young children! and his relationships with friends and family. On Fire 1 DO YOU WANT TO DIE? Life is not about avoiding death; it's about choosing to really live. The nurses seem frantic. They keep telling me everything is okay. That I'm going to be fine. They say they'll stay with me and there is nothing to worry about. So why are they racing around me? Why do they seem panicked? Why do they continue to poke me and stick me and whisper about me? I watch them buzzing around me. Then I look down at my body; it doesn't look like me. I look at my hands, but they don't look like my hands. I look at the remnants of my green sweat suit and tennis shoes; they've become one with my arms and legs. The pain is intense. The fire this morning changed everything. Everything. A nurse says again that it's going to be okay. I know she's wrong. I really messed up today. Today, I blew up my parents' garage. I didn't mean to. It wasn't even my fault, really. It's just that earlier this week, I watched some older kids in my neighborhood playing with fire. They dripped a little gasoline on the sidewalk, stood back, and then one of the big kids from seventh grade threw a match on top. The puddle sparked to life. It was amazing! I figured if they could do it and get away with it, so could I. So this morning, with Mom and Dad out of the house, I went into the garage. I lit a small piece of cardboard on fire, walked over to the five-gallon barrel of gasoline, and tilted it to pour a little gasoline on the piece of cardboard. Just like the older boys, I wanted to make the flame dance. But the big red barrel was too heavy to lift. So I set the burning piece of cardboard on the concrete garage floor. I knelt down, bear-hugged the can, and carefully tilted it toward the flame. I waited for the liquid to come out. It never did. What I remember next was a big boom. The explosion launched me against the wall on the far side of the garage. My ears rang. My body hurt. My clothes were drenched in gasoline. I was on fire. I was on fire! I felt dizzy. Everything around me was ablaze. The only way I could get out of the garage was to go back through the flames. Yes, I remembered being taught to stop-drop-and-roll. But I was so scared. I was in so much pain. I needed someone to save me. So I just ran. I ran through the flames. I ran up two steps and opened the door to the house. I ran struggling and screaming into the house. Running around downstairs, not sure what else to do. Yelling for someo...

If you haven’t heard John O’Leary speak from the platform of a sold out arena, you’re missing out on an incredible message. But you’re in luck! John has put his inspirational and life-changing message into this brilliant book. His story and words of wisdom will not only encourage you, they will ignite a passion to live your life to the fullest.

Autorentext
John O’Leary shares his expertise on overcoming adversity and how to live inspired with more than 50,000 people at more than 120 live events each year around the world. In 2006, he was inducted into the Energizer “Keep Going” Hall of Fame. He was selected as Saint Louis University young alumni of the year in 2008, was voted “Speaker of the Year” for Vistage International, and was recently chosen as one of the Top Ten “Most Interesting People” in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is also a lifestyle contributor for ParadeMagazine.com. He considers his greatest success to be his marriage to Beth, their four young children, and his relationships with friends and family.

Klappentext

John O'Leary tells his personal story of recovering from the devastating fire that almost killed him, offering a rousing 7-step plan to motivate anyone to succeed better.

Leseprobe
On Fire

1

DO YOU WANT TO DIE?

Life is not about avoiding death; it’s about choosing to really live.

The nurses seem frantic.

They keep telling me everything is okay. That I’m going to be fine. They say they’ll stay with me and there is nothing to worry about.

So why are they racing around me?

Why do they seem panicked?

Why do they continue to poke me and stick me and whisper about me?

I watch them buzzing around me.

Then I look down at my body; it doesn’t look like me.

I look at my hands, but they don’t look like my hands. I look at the remnants of my green sweat suit and tennis shoes; they’ve become one with my arms and legs.

The pain is intense.

The fire this morning changed everything.

Everything.

A nurse says again that it’s going to be okay. I know she’s wrong.

I really messed up today. Today, I blew up my parents’ garage.

I didn’t mean to.

It wasn’t even my fault, really.

It’s just that earlier this week, I watched some older kids in my neighborhood playing with fire. They dripped a little gasoline on the sidewalk, stood back, and then one of the big kids from seventh grade threw a match on top.

The puddle sparked to life.

It was amazing!

I figured if they could do it and get away with it, so could I.

So this morning, with Mom and Dad out of the house, I went into the garage. I lit a small piece of cardboard on fire, walked over to the five-gallon barrel of gasoline, and tilted it to pour a little gasoline on the piece of cardboard.

Just like the older boys, I wanted to make the flame dance.

But the big red barrel was too heavy to lift.

So I set the burning piece of cardboard on the concrete garage floor.

I knelt down, bear-hugged the can, and carefully tilted it toward the flame.

I waited for the liquid to come out.

It never did.

What I remember next was a big boom. The explosion launched me against the wall on the far side of the garage.

My ears rang.

My body hurt.

My clothes were drenched in gasoline.

I was on fire.

I was on fire!

I felt dizzy. Everything around me was ablaze. The only way I could get out of the garage was to go back through the flames.

Yes, I remembered being taught to stop-drop-and-roll.

But I was so scared.

I was in so much pain.

I needed someone to save me.

So I just ran.

I ran through the flames.

I ran up two steps and opened the door to the house. I ran struggling and screaming into the house. Running around downstairs, not sure what else to do. Yelling for someone, anyone, to help me.

I stood in the front hall, screaming.

I was still on fire.

Two of my sisters came down the stairs. They looked at me, covered their faces, and screamed in horror.

Then I saw my older brother, Jim. He raced toward me. He picked up our front doormat and started hitting me with it. He just kept swinging that mat into me. Then he tackled me to the ground, wrapped me in the rug, and carried me outside.

The fire wa…