I decided that 2016 was going to be my year to shine. On January 6th, 2016, I left my job to never look back. I landed, what I thought would be, my dream job. I was doing marketing and development for a podiatrist in Fort Collins. I was finally in the medical field and was able to avoid blood, medical school, or broken ‘things.’ While doing something that came natural to me, networking. I was totally in my prime!
I decided to step away from this position because it was no longer fueling my soul. I was to burned out when I got home from work that I could not set my passion free. I would eat and go straight to bed. I didn’t want to live this life anymore, it was becoming way too comfortable, I was becoming way too comfortable. While I was in Craig Hospital recovering and relearning, I was told that in order to get comfortable you have to get uncomfortable first. This quote helped me overcome everything, and it is why I am not scared to take leaps of faith.
I took a leap into the unknown to get uncomfortable hoping to find my true purpose. I knew that god and the universe had already mapped out an amazing plan. However, it was my turn to seek and enjoy the journey.
I wanted to help others, I just didn’t know the how or what. Two important components. I played around a little with finding a part time job and after a few months of doing this and changing jobs, I decided that this was a distraction. Reminding me of the decision I made. -I committed to greatness and 2016 being my year to shine.
The first week of March, 2016, I went snowboarding in Canada with my best friend, Jeffrey. In Canada, I realized a lot about myself and what I wanted out of life. I met amazing people, gave away SMILE #UWokeUp stickers, laughed my butt off, snowboarded, drove across British Columbia, but most of all I found out who Molly is. When I got back to the states my vision and path was more clear. I knew that I wanted to help others fall madly in love with themselves bringing them to greatness, I just did not have the how.
The week I returned an opportunity arose and was presented and placed in front of me… I would present my business on stage at the Global level in front of Bob Proctor, Susan Gallagher, Oprah Winfrey, and other professionals like this. As I worked my butt off trying to attend this conference, I made myself sick and had chronic loss of sleep over it. When I finally made it back home to Illinois to attend a wedding and speak to a Marketing class at St. Ambrose University, did I mention that all of this happened to be the same weekend too, I had a plan to make it all possible in case I was able to attend. Sunday, the start of the conference, I felt like a failure. I did not feel good about going back to the corporate world, I had not had a job since January 6th, I had to figure out another source of income was all that was on my mind. Blah, blah, blah. My mother sat down with me as tears ruptured from my eye lids. I was a hot mess. I balled my eyes out and my mother was so great and held me the whole time. It reminded me of the book “Love You Forever” which put a grin on my face. I was sad and confused and I had already invested a lot of time is this dream. I thought it would be silly to throw it all away. That night I had dreams that gave me more clarity on this puzzle piece called Molly’s life and I wasn’t about to stop now. I felt so close to reaching my goals and dreams without knowing what was ahead of me.
I returned to Colorado after being gone for a week with more direction of passion and fight for life. I started with speaking to the city about how I could make an event happen. Katie, the woman who oversees this portion, asked profit or Nonprofit? At this time I had know idea, so I got information on both. I decided to pick friends brains on what they thought about the information that I was presenting. Which was, I am going to put on a race and be able to bring awareness to our community about traumatic brain injuries, getting everyone involved, and financially help a local community member who is a TBI survivor. I asked one of my buddies who is an accountant about profit and Nonprofit races, what this will look like coming from a banking/accounting aspect, rules on how I can have an income with this idea, ect. They all told me to speak with a lawyer.
That day I called a lawyer who I found on Google who was in Fort Collins, Colorado. I asked his receptionist if I could schedule a consultation, knowing that this would be the best way to get his FREE advice. He gave me his opinions on the best way to go about this and the verdict was to start a Nonprofit. He consulted with me as to who I would ideally want to be a part of my foundation and on my team. I left his office feeling more driven than ever, knowing that this is exactly what I am suppose to be doing. Start a Nonprofit!
I reached out to a few different groups letting others know that I am starting a Nonprofit asking for opinions and advice. The support I received was unbelievable! Simply incredible and made me love life even more. Not even 24 hours later the majority of my team was established and SMILE #UWokeUp was in motion.
God and the universe came through once again and plastered my vision all over my inner being. Providing me with enough tools to make my passion and dream become my reality!
I personally am a traumatic brain injury survivor. I was a 4 on the Glasscow coma scale, if you are unfamiliar with this I urge you to look it up. SMILE #UWokeUp was my anchor becoming the phrase that allowed me to get up and out of bed every morning to keep fighting this amazing fight for life. I was in a coma for 17 days and the right side of my body was paralyzed. SMILE #UWokeUp screams from every part of my being and soul. I want to help others overcome a similar tragedy that I am more than familiar with.
Our mission is. SMILE #UWokeUp is a Nonprofit organization designed to bring more awareness of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) to our communities; while providing support, tools and tips and TBI prevention insight.