Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Ginnings.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
As a mom of a child with severe cerebral palsy, I have lived the life of a caregiver. The journey has been tough, but it has built my resilience and made me bold in speaking up for his needs. As I wrote about the challenges, others were encouraged to stand up in their battles. Being in six international best sellers, the door opened to host a radio program and interview caregivers to find out what lessons they learned we need to share with those coming behind us. Speaking and being interviewed has helped other families to find ways to solve their battles.
Recently, it became apparent that the high divorce rate in special families could be helped by teaching communication tips to families, but also help hospitals and doctors find ways to provide support from the diagnosis. In the past, the diagnosis was often delivered without hope and the family had no support to deal with the problems they would face finding resources and support to hold the family together. While returning to finish my degree in communication, my professor asked me to produce a video to find out why communication breaks down in these families and what we can do to help. I have written more, spoken about these issues and listeners tell me to help others because my story is full of hope. I became a coach to help others. If this touches you or someone you know, have them reach out for support and help.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
There have been many challenges that have often made us feel hopeless for a bit while finding answers. From birth to now, his life has been the center for my husband and me. We never gave up on him or each other. We realized we could not have done it alone. He has been given up on from doctors all his life, but learning how we as parents can overcome the challenges, he has a sweet life.
He never walked, but many others can’t either. He has learned to do things we never thought was possible. He has pulled through so many near death experiences. God has given us strength to keep on helping others while teaching those who watched us struggle to keep on. When a doctor recently said to sign a DNR right then and followed it with, “Look at him! He has no quality of life!” I became more determined to help other parents become bold for their children and learn to stand up for them. Parents feel alone, but they need to know others are dealing with the same problems. Support is critical for them. Families, educators, and medical professionals often do not know how to support them in the best ways. My goal is to help others understand how to support caregivers going through those challenges. If hospitals need a consultant, I have a plan to help them from the very beginning of a diagnosis that or the first encounter.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
Parents are caregivers with love without knowing what resources are out there to even search for. I help them learn why their communication and relationships are suffering and how to keep families together. Much of the problem begins by not understanding how each other grieves and is suffering without feeling supported. It helps the families by sharing emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial tips that can ease the tensions. Some mindset principles help them learn to lessen stress and improve their own lives while helping the family. Caregivers do not always know how to care for themselves or even ask for what they need. Since I have lived this life of caregiving for more than 50 years, there are things I can share from experience of mistakes and lessons learned. While caring for our son, we also cared for our parents near and far. Someone who has not been there and stayed together in the family cannot understand some of the same lessons.
These challenges can be met, even in very difficult circumstances. Giving up on your child or each other leads to other problems. Learning ways to cope can be the difference in your own health and living longer than the ones you care for. If you want to hold your family together and become a loving family, it is possible. Share this with someone you know is struggling. Reach out for support while you can. Protecting your own health is not selfish, but necessary.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
Learning to live one day at a time is a big step. When you dwell in “Why me?” land, you find no satisfaction. It leads to feeling sad and depression. Feeling sorry for yourself does not answer what you can do now. Will this challenge make you bitter or better?
Learn to focus on the one thing you have control over…your attitude. You can become a negative, self-centered person who is always critical and no one wants to be around.
Or, you can focus on what you can do. You have a choice. Is being bitter the goal you have? If so, get ready for a lonely life.
When you chose to become better, you can start with gratitude. There is always someone who is worse off. Find the small ways you have to focus on the strengths your child has and start helping build those areas. When you focus only on what they cannot do, you and they become discouraged. Find small wins and celebrate them.
When our son was little, he had no head or back support, so we held him a lot. We got a simple toy that had wooden circles that would ring a bell when they slid down a post. Since it took several minutes for him to lift his hand, and could not hold the rings, we cut a chip of wood off to balance the rings until his hand could touch it to ring the bell! Celebrating that was awesome!
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success is the ability to set the goals for your life, or your special needs child, and work on that until achieved. It does not have the same meaning for others.
If you keep your eyes on your goals, you find satisfaction and contentment. But when you are comparing yourself to others, you are sad and feel like giving up.
Success can be simple…or complex. What would make you happy?
Listening to some of the famous people who do similar work but make millions would cause most people to feel inadequate. Is that you?
If so, take your eyes off others and decide what would bring satisfaction in life. What do you enjoy doing that brings the money you need but also brings joy to you?
Is there a better way to meet your needs and spend time with family?
Friends who help with hospice have shared that people who know they will soon die feel regret not spending more time with family. They don’t regret not spending more time at work. You cannot take it with you. Don’t get caught in the trap of just making money to be rich. What are your plans for the money?
We all need it to live. But just living for getting wealth is not success. Sharing what you have brings satisfaction and enjoyment for others. Doing for others brings the happiness and feeling of success. Be clear about your own goals and reaching them. That is real success.
What’s next for you?
My moto is to be the voice for those who have no voice. That is my goal to continue teaching, speaking up for families, writing and encouraging others to support every family caring for loved ones…especially these precious children with special needs. There are many ways to support others, so teaching people to live in gratitude is important.
I want others to hear my podcasts on many platforms. “Courage2overcome” has been the theme.
I have lots of interviews and plan many more to encourage others.
There are some courses ai am writing for caregivers and teachers of special education. My plan are to help by consulting hospitals in ways that give understanding of those who look like they may not understand, but clearly have the same feelings as others. They need to be treated with respect and encouraged to speak, if possible, but be heard by listening to the caregivers or parents who do understand them.
I love coaching families to be strong for each other and show their love to each other.
As long as someone needs support, I will continue to offer that while encouraging others to reach out to neighbors, to those churches to understand these needs, and each other.
I have books coming out and others already in print. I am available for any platform that can reach families with special needs. Let’s change the world one family at a time.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
You can find me several places.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-ginnings-908b2083/
I have newsletters on LinkedIn.
cginnings@icloud.com
cheryl@cheryl-coaches.com
https://Facebook.com/Cheryl.ginnings
Https://Cheryl-coaches.com
Free gifts on this webpage.
Quora.com/ I answer questions about caregiving and special needs
I am a certified health and email copywriter who is always looking for ways to encourage others.
Links for my places.
Issue VIII, 31317.pdf Talk Nation digital magazine
https://www.pray.com/series/courage-to-overcome-channel/ddbedaa0-db84-11ea-a302-67b009f34024
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thought-leader/id1571121960?uo=4&i=1000535994408
NOV 28, 2021Influence Club Cheryl Ginnings 5 Tips on Life – Depictions Media
bit.ly/3lfcpAq
NOV 20, 2021Dataczar – Spotlight On: Cheryl Ginnings Consultant & Coach
bit.ly/3Czyuji
NOV 17, 2021Gothic scribe
bit.ly/npZEVu3
NOV 12, 2021BeeKonnected
bit.ly/3c3LKSt
NOV 3, 2021BeeKonnected
bit.ly/3bFEcoM
OCT 25, 2021Find Life Coach | Meet Cheryl Ginnings: How to Overcome your Challenges in Life with 5 Wise Lessons?
bit.ly/3Cf2eT1
OCT 12, 2021https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B34WpVrPPtBOM3VSaDdaOGdkX2M?resourcekey=0–lGfOzCCZsu96_oPOPqf0w
bit.ly/3FFdUR4
OCT 12, 2021Talking About the Future with an Aging Parent
bit.ly/3DFGqk1
SEP 23, 2021Ad when I started a radio podcast NY group asked me to host.
bit.ly/3zDPiE2
SEP 23, 2021 Cheryl+Ginnings results on SoundCloud –
bit.ly/2XT37lo
SEP 23, 2021https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-best-questions-to-ask-when-interviewing-a-live-in-health-caregiver-for-a-loved-one
bit.ly/3lRV68n
APR 12, 2021https://www.amazon.com/s?k=It+Takes+Courage+To+Be+a+Caregiver&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss
amzn.to/3g4nu5V
JUN 22, 2020(5) Messaging | LinkedIn
bit.ly/2V5VymT
JUN 22, 2020Courage 2 Overcome – Bold Brave Media
bit.ly/2YXRxSv
JUN 22, 2020(3) FEARLESS PARENTING
bit.ly/3eqB7sa
If someone wants a media kit, contact me by email or LinkedIn messages.
Check out caregivers connect on:
https://cherylginnings.BeeKonnected.com/
watch a video about this site and sign up free for messages.
Voxer.com Cheryl Ginnings (send a message)
I look forward to connecting and supporting you.