Well this is obviously just one more example of how rewarding kindness, forgiveness and a positive attitude can be. Just months before I broke my back, I was lucky enough to obtain one of my favorite vehicles of all time, a simple Jeep Cherokee. I made some modifications to it right away and then completely fell in love with it. Short version, it was gone in the divorce.
In the past two years, I have refused to be angry, hate, live in misery or have self pity. Instead, I gratefully embraced life for what I have now. I have no negative thoughts regarding my ex, Autumn. Instead, I've developed what could very well be a better relationship with her than what was there before. We get along wonderfully and not just for the sakes of our amazing girls, but for each other as well.
I don't know if Autumn sensed that I would do anything for her just to see her smile as I would with any of my friends, or maybe she felt the same for me, but I am so very grateful for all the wonderful friends I have surrounded myself with throughout my life and for all those opportunities I've had in the past to use what's within myself to help all of them. There's no way I could have purchased a car on my own at this point in my life and Autumn came through for me in a very big way by returning the Jeep. What ultimately started as a toy in my mind has now come back to me as the final step towards my independence. Thank you, Autumn.
Kindness, selflessness and simply helping others is absolutely the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Not only have the ones I have helped in the past gone out of their way for me, but many others have as well. And it's not the material that is the most rewarding, but the wondrous feeling I get when I am able to help somebody else with something that is out of their hands at that moment. So, is that Karma, or is it just my positive attitude that draws goodness to me? Maybe both?
To update this situation, I just purchased some hand controls on eBay and with the help of my brother Rick I'm hoping to be on the road by Labor Day Weekend. Just in time for camping! :)
Comments
Becca said:
WoooHooo!! Can't wait to go for a ride with you Babe. The reason that you get positive energy back, my dear Jake, is because you are such a positive light in this oft gloomy world.
Bethany said:
you are both amazing and inspiring.... you've definately made your mark on my heart!
Marie said:
I am speechless,but let me try.I have lots of experience in taking care of para's.I have transferred,i have bathed.I am jus sooo touched by the inspiration Jake has.I 've know a few to give up an depend on society.An sad but true societyis very cruel.They dont have the education they need to understand that para's are people to.Their heart beats,They cry,they laugh,they hurt ,an they can love just like you or I.And they need to be loved jus like u or i.I just met Jake an like i said he took my breath away.in his courage an strenths.Next time u feel anger towards people look in the mirror an see how lucky you are!!!!!He is a inspriration to all those who is experiencing that life changing over night.Love u my new friend Jake
NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS said:
YOU DON'T DESERVE SHIT IN THIS LIFE MY OLD LOVE. LIES AND DECEIT IS WHAT YOU PUT OUT AND MAY IT COME BACK TO YOU TIMES TEN. OR MAYBE YOUR BACK BREAK WAS YOUR REWARD.
YOU STUPID FUCKTARD.
MAY YOU ROT IN HELL!!!!!
Jake said:
Woah! 14 months after I broke it off with her- Anyone can see why I did. It's not worth the time and energy to go through and take this off.
Thanks Mohtabon for the heads up. :)
NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS said:
I LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK I'M SOMEONE ELSE. YOU PROBABLY FORGOT MY NAME BY NOW. HAVE YOU REALLY FUCKED AND DUMPED SO MANY GREAT GALS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE FACES OF ALL THOSE THAT YOU FUCKED OVER? WHAT WE DESERVE IS A DECENT HEARTFELT APOLOGY. FORTUNATELY I'M ONE OF THE FEW THAT RAN WHILE I COULD AFTER SEEING YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE. YOU CAN ONLY PUT ON A SHOW FOR SO LONG BEFORE THE ACT BEGINS TO FADE. IF YOU ASK ME AND ALL YOUR OTHER EXES, YOUR BACK BREAK WAS YOUR BAD KARMA COMING BACK TO YOU MY LOVE. YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT THE WORST IN LIFE AND THAT IS WHAT I WISH FOR YOU DARLING. I PITY YOUR STUPID CHILDREN FOR BEING RAISED BY SUCH AN IGNORANT ASS. YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY TEACH THEM HOW A REAL WOMAN SHOULD BE TREATED BY A MAN WHEN ALL YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IS TREAT THEM LIKE SHIT. I CAN SEE WHY AUTUMN LEFT YOUR ASS!!!!!
Rachel bernstein said:
i have been hurt and have hurt others but i still would never wish harm on another.. so to the person above me... to expend so much energy and hate onto another, via his webpage to HELP others.. is truly appaling and hypocritical... your harsh words have secured your own fate and chair in hell...
thank you jake. i found your page via google search posting questions as im dating a 22 yr old male t4, and as time passes and it grows more seriious, i wanted some answers to some things i didnt yet feel comfortable asking him. so we read your page together!.. and are now closer than before :) thank you and would love to hear an update.
NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS said:
RACHEL BERNSTEIN IS IT? WELL RACHEL BERNSTEIN, I BET I CAN FIND YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DRIVERS LICENSE NUMBER, BIRTHDATE, BIRTHPLACE AND MAYBE EVEN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER IN ALL OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I KNOW JAKES THATS FOR SURE. KNOWN IT FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS NOW. FORTUNATELY I WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT STORES THAT SHIT IN THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH I MAINTAIN. OR MAYBE IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR YOU.
THIS SAPPY SHIT MAKES ME VOMIT AND NO ONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD FALL FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS ANY TYPE OF DISIBILITY. WHY SPEND THE REST OF YOUR FUCKED UP LIFE TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE ELSE? WASTE OF FUCKING TIME. I SUGGEST YOU GO GET YOURSELF A BETTER HOBBY MY DEAR AND MIND YOUR OWN GODDAMN BUSINESS
BY THE WAY, I DON'T BELIEVE IN HELL THEREFORE I CAN'T POSSIBLY SPEND TIME IN IT. AND IF I EVER BECAME DISABLED, I WOULD BLOW MY FUCKING BRAINS OUT BEFORE ANYONE HAD THE CHANCE TO "TAKE CARE" OF ME.
YOUR POLITICALLY CORRECT COMMENTS ARE SAD AND PATHETIC. STOP SAYING WHAT SOCIETY WANTS YOU TOO AND BE THE PERSON I KNOW YOU ARE INSIDE. YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT THEN ME DARLING. I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU. NO NEED TO HIDE.
Jen Smith said:
Listen here "NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS"
You obviously have some deep issues that you need to deal with yourself. So instead of shitting all over this informative page go do something productive with your life and get over the fact that your not wanted or acknowledged by him or ANYONE for that matter.
And if this "sappy" shit honestly makes you vomit..then dont fucking read it...plus vomitting would probably be good for you....you fat piece of shit.
\"WHY SPEND THE REST OF YOUR FUCKED UP LIFE TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE ELSE? WASTE OF FUCKING TIME." Please don't ever seek help at a hospital ever again, because I hope when something really horrible happens to you (which it will..) that everyone (including myself as a future MD ) embraces your pain and suffering at its greastest and laughs. You heartless soul.
I found this site to be empowering and very knowledgable thank you for your insight and I wish you all the best- no matter what your past is.
Jen Smith said:
Listen here "NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS"
You obviously have some deep issues that you need to deal with yourself. So instead of shitting all over this informative page go do something productive with your life and get over the fact that your not wanted or acknowledged by him or ANYONE for that matter.
And if this "sappy" shit honestly makes you vomit..then dont fucking read it...plus vomitting would probably be good for you....you fat piece of shit.
\\"WHY SPEND THE REST OF YOUR FUCKED UP LIFE TAKING CARE OF SOMEONE ELSE? WASTE OF FUCKING TIME." Please don't ever seek help at a hospital ever again, because I hope when something really horrible happens to you (which it will..) that everyone (including myself as a future MD ) embraces your pain and suffering at its greastest and laughs. You heartless soul.
I found this site to be empowering and very knowledgable thank you for your insight and I wish you all the best- no matter what your past is.
Lord Xeb from OCN said:
Hey Para, I just read this article and it is nice to see you have a pair of wheels. You are truly inspiring. Also, I think Karma definitely helps out. Every day, there are least 3 things someone should live by:
Do 1 good deed a day (even something as small as giving a homeless person 5 bucks for food).
Don't sweat the small stuff (so what you tore your favorite shirt. It is not like it is a limb).
Live each day as if it is your last.
Continue living man because that is all we can do.
Lord Xeb from OCN said:
Hey Para, I just read this article and it is nice to see you have a pair of wheels. You are truly inspiring. Also, I think Karma definitely helps out. Every day, there are least 3 things someone should live by:
Do 1 good deed a day (even something as small as giving a homeless person 5 bucks for food).
Don't sweat the small stuff (so what you tore your favorite shirt. It is not like it is a limb).
Live each day as if it is your last.
Continue living man because that is all we can do.
Nate said:
To NOT YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS:
Why so mean? What is the reason behind your hate? Move on and live. Do not relish in the past as you are doing, because all your doing is turning bitter.
We all have had shit happen to us, but who cares? Life is life. If you want to be bitter toward Jake, then so be it. But why attack him on his own site?
Also, what is wrong with paralyzed people? So what, they have trouble taking care of themselves and they need help, does that make them a bad person?
Mijo said:
I think your site is awsome! I'd like to hear an update. I like that you are so matter of fact... I am glad to hear you have your "shit in order"... site went a little wierd when I stumbled on the log but I am going your web address to a guy I know who recently had an accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. He's our age and is having a hard time (the accident was from his drunk driving). Maybe some straight no frills discussion will help him out! Thanks.
Thomas said:
Not Your Fucking Business, Ok so ur pissed, cool. SHUT THE FUCK UP! I don't much care if Jake killed your dog mother and burnt your house to the ground. The shit your saying is just outrageous. and to do it where everyone else can see is pretty much bullshit. You have only shown your true colors. Did you really threaten Rachel and Jake? wow really? If you are telling the truth and think you can ruin their lives buy doing whatever with whatever info you can get your hands on. fine but you realize your going to rot in some cell somewhere. do you not realize that as fast as you can look them up I can come through here track where your coming from knock on your door with the popo? But check this out right, to have that much hate in your heart, doesn't that hurt? I've had that, feels like an elephant sitting on your chest. Go talk with someone let whatever go. move on. your hate for disabled folks is ludicrous. you think we asked to get put in a chair? so now you hate me just cause some other lady didn't know how to drive? blow your brains out? we both know that's not the truth. if you think your "paying him back" realize that its pretty much the opposite. besides don't hate the playa hate the game! I don't believe in karma but for you I might...
Thomas said:
Oh yea and btw if I ever herd you say some shit like that about my kids I'd straight knock you the fuck out! and for Jake I hope someone hooks you up!
Charlie said:
Hey Jake... Found your site on google. Found it interesting... I went through the same thing almost twenty years ago with my burst fraction T4-5. The only difference is I broke with my toyota 4x4 instead of the bike. My dad always said I would get hurt on the bike but he was wrong it was the truck instead. Well although the truck got a little messed up by the accident I got my buddies to put the sludge, jack all and a few wrenches to it and put the roof in place enough to be driveable. Got an old set of hand controls for the gas and clutch (yep it was standard) and grabbed another stick for the brakes (breaking is overated). I drove this truck around in the bush just about everywhere especially during hunting (handy with no doors or windshield to blast out from). This was my first experience and the freedom was so nice. For anyone else out there if you can transfer to it you can drive it. Nowadays I have a new CANAM 800, Touring 700 sled and drive a minivan that I could afford. Keep up with the cruisin take no BS from anyone as we all make mistakes and can learn to live life in a positive way. Hope to see an update to your site.
