From Dreaming to Succeeding
Norman Vincent
Peale's famous book, "The Power of Positive Thinking," may not
have been the first such motivational book, but it certainly achieved fame
as one of the most popular and enduring testaments to a positive attitude.
As Peale put it, "Change your thoughts and you change your
world." If one person's life can illustrate this concept, it might be
that of Eric Castillo.
As a young man fresh out of high school, Eric started up his own business,
a personal training studio. Bright eyed and bushy-tailed, he easily
achieved his early financial goals, and his business seemed destined for
success with Eric still at the tender age of 18. He was on top of the world
before things began to unravel.
Eric was already married with two young children, and addicted to a
fast-paced lifestyle that came with the success of his business. The
pressures of raising a family while running a business took their toll on
someone perhaps a bit too young to handle the situation. Eric descended
into depression and alcohol abuse. His early successes now haunted him like
spirits. He lost his wife and children. Then came the day Eric punched his
fist through a glass window and almost permanently lost the use of his hand.
He knew he had hit rock bottom and needed a change in his life.
He thought he had lost the use of his hand, but being well versed in
personal training concepts he rehabilitated the hand himself. That was the
first thing he dedicated his efforts toward, and it worked. he knew he
needed more, however, and he went after it. As Norman Vincent Peale wrote,
"There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between
mediocrity and accomplishment."
Eric decided to try out for college football even though he had never
played on a team. Eight dreary years had been wasted in depression and
alcohol, and the 26-year-old version of Eric was deemed too old for college
football. Everyone tried to discourage him.
He released 40 clients and closed his studio, cutting off his income. Eric
tried out for three college football teams and applied to enter two others.
Only on the strength of a letter from San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza was Eric
accepted by the University of the Incarnate Word. He made the team as a walk-on.
Four years later, Eric was a 30-year-old senior ready to graduate, having
lived his dream of being on a college football team. While he had not
played a single play in all that time, his dream was fulfilled by simply
running onto the field with his team for every game. He had reached for the
stars and succeeded.
One of Eric's inspirations had been the film, "Rudy," about a
walk-on with limiting disabilities who made the team. Eric's only
limitation was his age, and having overcome it he earned the respect of his
teammates and coaches. In the last game of his career, his teammates called
out to the coaches to put Eric in for a few snaps. Just like in the movie,
"Rudy," the guys were calling out, "Put in Castillo!"
It was like icing on the cake. Eric got more than he ever expected. He had
already realized his dream and had decided to use the drive and ambition he
now generated in another way, toward another objective. While still a UIW
student, Eric started up a non-profit organization called A Walk in My
Shoes. He solicited and received donations of new and slightly used pairs
of shoes to distribute to needy people for free.
To date, they have distributed thousands of shoes to organizations such as
the Boys and Girls Club of San Antonio and the American Red Cross. There
has even been a documentary film of Eric's drive to overcome adversity
entitled, "The Power of a Dream" that was released in 2015.
Through his continuing efforts, Eric's success has become the success of
others.
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