241 Cerebral Palsy; Turn Hardship Into Power With Win Kelly Charles

Win Charles is an artist, a speaker, a disability activist writer, a podcaster and a true inspiration to everyone she connects with. She has cerebral palsy, but she hasn’t let that stand in her way of achieving huge successes. She has a thriving Jewelry Design Business, she’s authored several books, she’s host of a terrific podcast called Butterflies of Wisdom and she has declared 2017 her Year of Warriorness.

Contact Info

• Website: Win Charles
• Podcast: Butterflies of Wisdom
• Twitter: @WinKellyCharles
• Email: AspenWin@gmail.com
• Books on Amazon: Search 'Win Charles'
• Newest Book: The Mosaic of CP by Win Charles

Most Influential Person

• My Biological Mom

Effect on Emotions

• My emotions stay steady. I have Cerebral Palsy and so mindfulness has affected my emotions in a good way.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Why are you asking me this question today when I had technology problems? I told myself to breathe and I still haven't got my technology issues solved.
• I told myself, take a deep breath and that's what I did. I took  a deep breath before I did any of my other stuff because I knew if I didn't do that, it would all go upside down.

Suggested Resources

• Book: I, Win: My Journey With Cerebral Palsy in a Non-Disabled World by Win Kelly Charles
• App: Headspace

Bullying Story

• I was not bullied by my school. But I have certainly been bullied by my own family. That's a sad story.
• Right after my mom died I was bullied and called horrible names by a person who knows better. And, I was emotionally abused at work; not the job that I'm at now but when I first started teaching preschool I was emotionally abused.
• My family knew what I was going through and they saw the circumstances and I actually lost my job in 2009.
• I bounced back and I actually got a job at the primary school I went to as a student.
• My original boss was my principal. That was just weird. The person who taught me kindergarten is still up there teaching.
• It's weird having colleagues who taught me when I was younger. I've been doing this job since 2010.