Today, I interview Sheldon R.S. Crocker who grew up in a very, very small town in Newfoundland, Canada. He was born with Arthrogryposis, which causes muscle atrophy and contractions at most joints. From birth he was challenged with not being able to walk. In order to become the inspiring speaker he is today, he has a story of abuse but also one of resilience and strength. 

Sheldon was unable to crawl as a baby. He wore braces on his legs, and doctors thought he would never be able to walk (although he did teach himself). Despite plenty of surgeries, he also could not straighten or raise his arms, which prevented him from doing many things we take for granted, like the ability to open a door or brush our teeth or lift things. 

As if that didn't fill his life with enough challenges, Sheldon's father was also an alcoholic and would come home and assault his mother. There were no siblings, so Sheldon was on his own. His father abused him as well, saying he would never amount to anything and that he should've never been born. Despite hearing those heartbreaking, hurtful words, Sheldon pushed forward. But his mother also abused him, beating him with a belt and criticizing him, comparing him to other people. 

He isolated himself and never really developed communication skills. This was his best way to protect himself from the meanness all around him. But this was no way to live. He didn't want to avoid people or be avoided by them. He didn't want to lash out or bottle up his feelings anymore. At 18, he had become addicted to drugs and alcohol. He wasn't coping well. He was forced out of the town. He moved to another town, drank his way through college, and though he had nothing, walked himself all the way to the addiction rehab center. 

Deep down, he knew he had a purpose. He went through a trauma program, where he learned to process his experiences and understand his own story. He'd always known that something great would eventually happen in his life, and he finally found a way to understand his journey and feel a new sense of hope. In sharing his story with others, he has found his purpose in life. He has written a book and loves to pass his story of hope on to others. 

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Despite being born with Arthrogryposis, Sheldon Crocker inspires his audience with his distinctive style and unforgettable humor. He has appeared on several national news programs. His inclusion in the MerB'y Documentary and Calendar made history as the first disabled person to appear in such a publication. The Dale Carnegie Human Relations Award was awarded to him. Compassionate, empathetic, and humble about his message, he has lived the issues he speaks about. He has published "KEEP on WALKING - A Transformative & Inspirational Journey." 

His goal is also to help make a difference in someone's life that he wishes he had received when he was young. Sheldon says, "For most of my life, I felt like I had no voice, too afraid to speak up." 

Find Sheldon here: 
https://www.sheldonstransformativethinking.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Sheldon.R.S.Crocker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldon-r-s-crocker/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCITIPJL_xgk0SGKeM5Acc8w https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheldon-helping-others-perhaps-someone-you-know https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089LN85G6 
https://www.instagram.com/sheldon_r.s._crocker/ 
https://twitter.com/SheldonCrocker1 

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I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. 

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I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.