To Larry and Staff at Larry North Fitness,

This is my annual birthday letter to all of you. For those of you who have come on board at Larry North Fitness during the past year, this is my 14^th letter of thanks to Larry for saving the quality of my life.

It has not been an easy year due to our business challenges in our country and to my chronic shoulder problems and spinal stenosis. But it has been far better than it would have been if not for Larry.

Fourteen years ago my life took a radical turn in less than 24 hours. I woke up on July 4^th, 1995 and all hell broke loose physically with no prior warning.

Within 24 hours, I was totally paralyzed, could not close my eyes, had double vision (2 years), could not swallow or speak, was on a respirator, and was on morphine – detached from the real world. When I finally left Baylor Hospital many months later, I still had a food tube in my stomach and could not raise my arms.

I had never heard of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, much less the Miller-Figher variant, and my morphined mind did not grasp it for months.

I almost died twice – once from pneumonia and once while on morphine, when I pulled at the trache in my throat and ruptured the major blood vessel.

When I was released from Baylor Hospital, I was skeletal for the first time in my life. All of my years of conditioning was gone.

I survived the 6 month ordeal due to the 13 hours a day that my beautiful Beverly was there with me, the support of our children and my mother, and without question, the personal involvement of Jesus Christ.

As I was going through outpatient rehabilitation, Larry North came to see me to ask me to let him rebuild my body and strength. He worked out a transition plan with my doctors.

I have been here ever since. If not for my foolishness in doing far too many pushups and ruining my shoulder two years ago, I would still be in the best shape of my after football life.

I particularly want to thank Tyler Herrin, my trainer for the past four years and Hash Raja for his work on my very bad shoulder.

I want each of you to know the debt I owe Larry. Jesus Christ and my family, and my doctors, and the staff at Baylor Hospital saved my life. Larry helped me get back my quality of life. You each work for a great man.

Sincerely,

Charles T.

Early on it was evident that I was a dreamer. My first grade teacher and many teachers that followed wrote on my report cards that I have a tendency to drift off and day dream during class. I guess I am who I am and I don’t think I will ever change. I actually visualize so hard sometimes that I actually believe I can see the future or should I say I have the ability to think and focus on certain ideas until they become my reality. Over the years I’m sure I have caused some frustration to many people that I am close to such as family or friends. For example when I was a bodybuilding bouncer in the late 70’s to the early 80’s I would practically tell anyone who would listen to me that I was going to have my own gym. Not just any gym but the best gym, in the best area, with the best staff and the best equipment. It would be so clean that you could eat off the floor. I had such a clear vision in my head yet at the time I was relying on rides to work because I couldn’t afford to have my broken down car fixed. Eventually people either would roll their eyes or I would stop sharing my dreams with those who I didn’t think cared one way or the other. Go to www.larrynorth.com to check out my gyms.

In the 80’s talk radio started to become very popular. I loved talk radio because I love to learn and be informed and was fascinated by the live interaction. I was a fan and much preferred talk over music radio and still do to this day. One day I woke up and decided I was going to get my own talk show. I had a vision for a show where I would share my wisdom and help encourage those folks who tended to struggle with weight control issues. I would be driving down the road and imagine that I was taking calls on my “Weekend Workout Show” (I even had a name for it). Then I built up the courage to walk in unannounced to the # 1 talk station in the 7th largest media market in the country. I asked if I could speak to the program director. The next thing I know I’m sitting in the boss’s office and he says; I’m very busy, what do you want? In less than 60 seconds I shared my thoughts, passion and vision and explained why I was the perfect guy for this new kind of show. I had never even talked into a Mr. Microphone yet alone done any form of media. The following week I was booked as a guest on a popular show. The week after that, I was offered my own show at the worst time slot on the worst day, 7:00 am on Sunday morning. I get chills of just reflecting back on the biggest game changer of my life at that time in my life!!! WOW my own show! At this point my gym buddies and friends were starting to believe I just might do what I say I will do. Within 3 short months I was on weekend primetime doing a show from noon-2:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Very similar scenarios have played out with my books, infomercials and even in my personal life. The reason for this is that I am a believer in myself and have mastered the art and power of visualization and so can you.

Now it is your turn. When it comes to you and your health nothing is more important that learning to visualize your success and most of all believing in yourself. From this day forward no more negative self talk. No more saying that you are fat and out of shape, no more saying you don’t have time or will power, no more self deprecating comments regarding your body or your health. I have been blessed with a wonderful gift and I see beauty in each and every person I meet. This isn’t brain surgery and I have never met a person that couldn’t go to a higher level if they chose to. Visualizing your success is more important than nutrition, vitamins, exercise, etc. Above all no more ridiculous excuses, after doing over 1000 radio shows and taking tens of thousands of calls I hear your excuses as if they are playing in my head like a tape recording going over and over and over again. I’m not listening and neither is anyone else. I tend to be empathetic with a sincere face but what I’m really thinking is: You have got to be KIDDING ME!!!

Mastering the art of visualization isn’t hard but it does take practice. First get a mental picture of what you want to achieve. Next write it down and then start to verbalize your thoughts and dreams. Follow this up with a series of smaller and more specific goals that are like tiny little steps leading to the top of a stairwell. Fist I wanted my own talk show. I then imagined what the show would be like and who exactly would benefit from it. I then wrote an outline of what the show would look like on paper. I then started telling people of my new endeavor. I also knew I would need to be knowledgeable so I started studying and seeking out higher authorities on every subject from nutrition-rehab. The final thing I did was create the opportunity as opposed to waiting for it to come to me.

Over the 25 years on radio I received hundreds of testimonials from listeners, book readers and those who have attended my seminars. There is one testimonial that stands out in particular that I would like to share with you. It touched my heart then and still stands out as a nice memory of what positive words can do for and open minded person.

I was well into my second year on the radio and my show was developing a grass roots following. The year was 1986 and I received a letter from a man I did not know and have never met. His letter started off explaining he had hit a real low point in his life. He lost his job, his family and as a result of drugs and alcohol addiction became homeless and lived on the streets. The money he made while panhandling all went for booze and junk food. One of the few possessions he owned was a battery operated AM radio. One day he stumbled across my show. Initially he was uninspired but he enjoyed the way I treated people whom he felt asked rather stupid questions (his words not mine). He soon became a regular listener and before he knew it he was following the advice I was giving to other listeners. He went down to the Salvation Army and obtained a pair of tennis shows. Before long he started walking and soon after that would go to the park and started doing push ups, crunches and stretches. He started eating canned tuna and chicken, canned veggies and instant rice. He entered a rehab program and gave up the drugs and booze. Within 4 months he lost 30 lbs he didn’t even know he had to lose.

His physical appearance changed dramatically but he never really noticed it but others did. What he did notice and why he chose to share his story with me is the changes he felt psychologically. He went from fat to thin, from jobless to employed and homeless to having a roof over his head. All his words not mine! His heart felt thank you will stay in my heart for the rest of my life. He had no excuses and no regrets. He chose to make a difference in his life and I would like to believe that because I chose to go and pursue my dream of having my own show that I made a difference in his.

It really is your turn and even the fact that I am your voice of wellness can be attributed to a vision and deep rooted relationship I have had with ACS that spawns over 18 years. I hope you have a spectacular year and remember I am hear for you along with the entire wellness team to help guide you to your desired higher level.

Larry