This blog post was originally published on thebrainpossible.com in 2019 as a reflection on the Second Annual Who Is Carter Foundation Gala, which took place on November 15, 2019; the original post can be viewed here.

Emily Abbott speaks at the 2019 Who Is Carter Gala

When it comes to having dreams and putting them into action in life, there's an easy part of the process and a not-so-easy part of it. The easy side is the dream itself -- that vision of a moment in the future where all of your best-laid plans have finally come to fruition, and the thing that started as a "What if?" notion in your head actually exists and all of your wildest expectations have come true.

But then there's that not-so-easy thing -- the notion of actually getting there -- and more importantly, how we're going to get there. And it's the "how" that often winds up squashing so many dreams before they even have the chance to get off the ground because sometimes it just seems way too overwhelming ... or even impossible to conceive of.

The same rings true for challenges and obstacles in life. When we're faced with an event that makes it seem as though the world has stopped turning and we aren't sure where to turn or how to proceed, it's our thoughts that dictate which direction we're headed in, in terms of what kind of outcome we're going to get.

Last Friday night, the Who Is Carter Foundation hosted its second annual gala and auction in Kansas City, Missouri. There were hundreds of people in attendance who were all there because they support Who Is Carter and The Brain Possible's mission, which is to change the conversation around children with brain injuries from one of limitations to one of hope and possibility.

Ah, yes ... possibility. That's the key factor when it comes to what separates us from having feelings of empowerment and positivity as opposed to those of fear and hopelessness. It's also the key factor that helps us work around challenges and overcome them, instead of feeling like we're up against a wall with no way to turn.

Let's state again that this was only the second annual Who Is Carter gala, as the foundation was started in 2017 -- just two years ago. In just two years' time, it went from being a dream of Emily and Matthew Abbott -- as a means of honoring the life of their son, Carter Abbott, who passed away when he was just 20 months old -- to a mission that is so important to so many people, that there are hundreds of those people who came to a gala in Kansas City just to voice their support. It was the magic of possibility, inspired by Carter, that made this possible.

Emily gave a speech at the gala, and in it, she described how The Brain Possible came to be as a result of witnessing just how much of an impact the concept of possibility had in Carter's short life

"This empowering resource for parents and caregivers holds a wealth of useful information for families seeking knowledge and inspiration, with articles on a broad spectrum of conditions and even more on holistic treatments. In short, it's what we wish we would have had a little over nine years ago after Carter was born. So, we created it for others.

All told, TheBrainPossible.com is an oasis of hope and inspiration. We're so proud of this digital space that holds what we hold here with us tonight:

The magic of possibility."

Emily strives to find the magic of possibility in every situation, and continued:

"When Carter got sick, it was an opportunity to get closer to God. When I was faced with a lifetime of healing my son and supporting him in his development, I was given the opportunity to grow in my own health and wellness. I was reminded to slow down and cherish the here and now with my family and my children. I was empowered to become a leader in my family, a warrior for their wellness. I was given 20 more months with my firstborn son than I ever thought I’d get. What a joy, what a gift."

The beautiful thing about possibility is that believing in it allows us to focus on the here and now and the "what might be" instead of the "how are we going to get there" part of the process. It allows us to welcome all of the options that might be available to us instead of accepting a "there is no other option" type of philosophy -- no matter how large the obstacle might appear to be.

By inviting the magic of possibility into our lives, we're creating space for so many things that might not have had the chance to exist otherwise. When you look at it that way, isn't it kind of ... exciting? There is so much joy to be had and so many possibilities to be scouted out if only we have the courage to look for them.

If we open ourselves up to the idea that the twists and turns that come as a part of our journey just might be exactly what we need to lead us in the most promising direction, we just might find more inspiration, hope, and of course, magic, than we ever imagined.

The Magic of Possibility Is All Around Us If Only We Have the Courage To Look

FINANCIALS