Today’s guest is the remarkable Chris Norton. His story is one that you simply must hear. A split second on the football field changed his whole life forever. He was told he would never be able to move from the neck down again. Determined to beat the odds, he found a way to focus on progress and set big goals for himself. He has proved them wrong twice - first by walking across the stage at his graduation and then again down the aisle on his wedding day.
During our conversation he shares with me what the days following his accident were like and how he found the strength and mindset of gratitude to move forward and ultimately see this as something that wasn’t setting him back, but setting him up for a whole new life. He tells me about what an instrumental role his wife Emily has played and his hopes and dreams for the future. Chris is such a kind and generous soul, focused on how he can keep inspiring others and lifting them up. He and his wife have fostered 17 children to date and are the adoptive parents of 5. He has also started the Chris Norton Foundation to support others in a similar situation as him.
“I’ve turned my pain into my purpose. My lowest moment has become my greatest gift.”
~ Chris Norton
Chris is a beautiful example of turning our pain into purpose and focusing on what is possible - it’s often much more than we originally believed. He told me that even if he could, he wouldn’t go back and change what happened because he is so grateful for all that he has and the man he has become.
I can’t wait for you to listen to this conversation and to be inspired. I hope that it reminds you to take care of your future by taking care of today and by focusing on gratitude. I’d love to hear what you think of this conversation. Be sure to comment below or connect with me on Instagram to tell me all about it.
More About Chris Norton
Chris Norton is a speaker, author, adoptive & foster parent. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury playing college football in 2010. However, years later he walked across the stage of my college graduation capturing 300 million views and a few years after that joyfully conquered the challenge of walking his wife, Emily, down the aisle of their wedding. They recently adopted 5 girls and released their newest book The Seven Longest Yards.
You can connect with Chris via his website, Instagram, or Facebook.
Things We Mention In This Episode
Website: chrisnorton.org Book: The 7 Longest Yards by Chris and Emily Norton Book: Where Did You Go? by Christina Rasmussen Book: Second Firsts by Christina Rasmussen Newsletter - Message In a Bottle: Sign up for Christina’s weekly letterApple podcast reviews and ratings are really important to help get the podcast in front of more people to uplift and inspire them too, which is the ultimate goal. Thank you!
