Jan. 24, 2025

Survival isn't the end of the journey, it's just the beginning

Survival isn't the end of the journey, it's just the beginning

.:: By John B Grimes

 

Sometimes, life puts you back at square one. It forces you to face a reality you didn’t expect and challenges you to rebuild from the ground up. Progress might feel impossible, but it starts with one step.

When I woke up after meningitis, I wasn’t just starting over—I was starting with less than zero. My body was unrecognizable to me. I couldn’t see anything, couldn’t move without help, and couldn’t even smile. One of the first challenges was learning to sit up again. I remember the physical therapist helping me balance, the sweat pouring down my face from the effort, and the wave of frustration when my muscles gave out. But that small, shaky moment of sitting up wasn’t the end of the story—it was the beginning of progress.

 

The truth is, progress isn’t about massive leaps or instant victories. It’s about taking the first step, no matter how small, and building from there. Square one might feel overwhelming, but forward is the only direction that matters.

 

What’s one thing you’ve done that felt impossible at first but became your biggest triumph? 

 

"Survival isn't the end of the journey, it's just the beginning."

 

Meningitis Resilience
John B Grimes Profile Photo

John B Grimes

Host

One of the lucky ones, John miraculously survived meningococcal disease (bacterial meningitis) as a sophomore in college. John’s body endured considerable trauma that was mostly healed with physical therapy. But, neurological dysfunction and blindness are permanent reminders of his battle with meningitis.

To spread awareness John is an active advocate with meningitis organizations and shares his unique survival story and journey on his podcast, Destiny Is Debatable with a mission empower people to be successful regardless of their circumstances.

John motivates with a message full of impact that is universally understood. "The filter through which you view your circumstances is most certainly up to you. Whether you wake up in your own bed tomorrow, in a luxury suite at the Ritz-Carlton, or in a hospital, don’t wait to start building your life into the one you want. Waiting is like being at the DMV: your future seems to be in the hands of the apathetic (doctors with poor prognoses, bosses who don’t value you, and your own nagging self-doubt). Don’t wait. Just do the next right thing. Even if you end up taking two steps forward and one step back, that’s still progress. In Texas, we even call it dancing."

People are powerful—don’t wait to build your connections

.:: By John B Grimes   "A strong connection can bridge any gap—don’t wait to build yours."   No one gets through life alone. At some point, we all rely on the kindness, support, or wisdom of others. For me, that realization…

Waking up changed—don’t wait to change your own life.

.:: By John B Grimes  As I swam back to an uneasy consciousness after eight days in a coma, the first thing I saw was darkness. I was disoriented by the darkness. I could hear—beeping machines, a constant stream of doctors, nurses, and t…