Ep. 123 J.R. Martinez: From Wounded in War to TV Star
J.R. Martinez joined the Army after graduating high school and was sent to Iraq soon after completing his Basic and Advanced Training. He was just 19 years old when the Humvee he was driving hit a roadside bomb and exploded. He had severe injuries, including burns on his face and more than one-third of his body. J.R. spent months recovering in San Antonio, Texas and has had three dozen surgeries. Out of that tragedy came a journey of inspiration, motivation and many opportunities.
During J.R.'s recovery, a nurse asked him to speak to a burn survivor and he realized the impact he could have on others and that inspiration is a two-way street. J.R. became an actor on All My Children, the Dancing with the Stars season 13 champion and a New York Times best-selling author. Now, he travels the world to share his story and lessons of resilience and overcoming challenges.
In this episode of Flip Your Script with Kristi Piehl, J.R. talks about the accident that changed his life and how he teaches people around the world to adapt and overcome.
CHALLENGE FOR LISTENERS:
“You have the opportunity to be that one person, just think of a point in your life when you needed one person to be that for you. Remember that. So when you interact with somebody else, remember that you can be that one person for that individual in that moment, you may never realize how your impact affected them.” - J.R. Martinez
CLOSING QUOTE
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”