Hi all, a big thank you to First Magazine for including me and my son in their Vision Board Article this month. Joyce Schwarz wrote a beautiful book, “The Vision Board: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life,” that I got to be a part of. It’s a helpful book on setting goals in the visual format rather than a list. Many people have done this from Walt Disney to Coolio. For me, it’s a visual reminder on what I’d like to accomplish. Anyhow, the book is featured in First Magazine March 2009 issue and I’m in the article. 
What I’d like to add that the article didn’t have enough room for is this:
I put two very important things on my vision board. 1. I find the perfect and right therapist for my son. and 2. I find the perfect and right school for my son. Those two things did not magically happen because I put them up on a vision board. I went through two therapist before finding Britt Collins, MS, OTR/L. The first I fired because I got a call that she was pushing my son in a stroller while shopping! She wasn’t doing any therapy. The second, I fired because I picked up my son and he had gone number two in his diaper and she didn’t change him. I know it’s not her responsibility, but at least call me to come do it instead of proceeding to let him sit there in his own feces. THEN I found Britt - who has become a very close family friend and business partner as well as therapist for my son. So eventually I did find the perfect and right therapist - but it was not magic. Although I’d like to think fate!
Secondly, the perfect and right school. We had a number of issues with our school district for two years. At one point, both my husband and I were standing on the school they had picked for our son and we both cried. It was horrible. We went to two private special needs schools that were wonderful - but the first only went to one age group and the second only went to pre-k - so after that we faught one last time with our district and then decided to move. We looked in several areas before finding the school that we wanted our son to go to - and then we found a place to live in that district. So we took pretty drastic measures to find the perfect and right school for our son. Again, not magic, but it eventually worked out.
So my point is. I do love vision boards. They work for me in the effect that they keep me focused and they keep my eye on the prize. My son is doing well and is being mainstreamed, but it’s not strictly due to a beautiful board, it’s due to four years of intensive therapy, intervention, supplements, education, and an amazing group of support from friends and family! It’s literally taken a village.
Without my boards, I don’t know if I would have followed through as much as I did. I also don’t know if I would have been led into forming the company and producing the DVDs. I think when you have a vision - the sky is the limit.
I do hope both the book and article help others the way it has helped me. But I wanted to add my ten cents! Joyce’s book is available in book stores as well as on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Vision-Board-Secret-Extraordinary-Life/dp/0061579084/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236961485&sr=8-1
THANK YOU, Jackie
