Four words

Just wiggle your toes.

“I still remember the day very clearly. I was speaking in a theatre at a high school in Burnaby, BC. At one point, I told the audience how during my recovery from the crash I was laying in a hospital bed and unable to wiggle my toes.

I then watched almost everybody in front of me glance down at their feet and then peek back up at me. They all had a look on their face. I don' know exactly how to explain it, but I just knew what had happened.

I asked ‘did you all just wiggle your toes?’

I got somewhat of an awkward stare back from the audience, almost like they felt guilty that they had or maybe that they could and I could not wiggle my toes.

I quickly assured the audience that the entire point of me being there was to share this story and hopefully ensure that they could always wiggle their toes and do the things that they loved.

It was a moment that would change the trajectory of my speaking forever. Just Wiggle Your Toes has essentially became my catch phrase. The irony is not lost on me either since I cannot actually wiggle my own toes LOL.

Many post presentation conversations I've had or messages I've received will mention ‘Just Wiggle Your Toes.’ People even started getting tattoos. I get art made by audience members. I called my book ‘Just Wiggle Your Toes.’

What I love most about the saying is that it can really apply to anything. I have had people tell me that they were about to make a bad choice and then just wiggled their toes and thought better of it. One student was about to self harm and decided to just wiggle their toes and threw the blade away. Sometimes it's as simple as just being a reminder to appreciate the little things.

Lastly, I havr to give a shout out to Gord Couling from ICBC (RIP) for being the friend at that first presentation when I said Just Wiggle Your Toes who pointed out to me ‘I think you might have something here. Keep saying that.’”

— Kevin

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From someone who was there.

Daily Reminder: Just Wiggle Your Toes