What's a Rishi and Why is He Here? Michael Schwass 101

One character that will become familiar to you if you spend any time at my blog is my dear friend and mentor, Michael Schwass.

Michael was an outstanding high school hockey player with dreams of going pro when an accident in the 1975-76 Illinois state championship series left him quadriplegic at age 16. While in the hospital, Blackhawks great Keith Magnuson came to his bedside and asked him what he wanted to do.

"I want to walk again."

No quadriplegic had ever done that before but "The Chief" liked what he heard and became Michael's good friend and champion, cheering him on until he took his first steps six years later.  Michael was the first quadriplegic ever to walk again without the aid of braces. Here's his story as narrated by Chicago sportscaster, Mark Giangreco:

I had the pleasure of meeting Michael in 1990 and we became fast friends. It has been my great pleasure, these last few years especially to have the opportunity to see Michael on a regular basis.  I suspected from our very first meeting that he would have much to teach me and he has certainly proven himself to be the single most influential person in my life.  He's taught this formerly hot-headed Type A Greek girl a few things about patience, dignity, grace and humor.  I owe him a debt of gratitude and indirectly so do my clients as he helped me cultivate the best parts of myself so that I could be of greater service to others. 

How did he transform me? By talking frankly with me about facing our mortality and how to live powerfully during my "Fridays with Rishi". A Rishi is a wise man, or sage, and I can without hesitation say this title fits him well. He has had to learn to face death head on due to the severity of the medical issues he faces and the accelerated aging that quadriplegics face.  He's invited me into his world, giving me a view on life that I think very few able-bodied people have, simply because they don't have to. Even while I have shed many, many tears at the thought of saying good-bye to him one day, he has increased my capacity to experience joy one-hundred fold. Nothing is more life affirming than to be in the presence of one who is dying well.

I will share with you essays on our relationship and what he has taught me, as well as how I am processing what being present for this ill-defined last leg of his life means to me and how I am managing to cope with it.  It will be a study in paradox as joy and sorrow travel very closely together as Kahlil Gibran would say.  Michael himself is paradox. The strongest man I have ever met as well as the weakest. A spiritual pillar of strength and sometimes pure "hockey puck."  Part monk, part skunk.

Because he is such an integral part of who I am, as my beloved teacher, I try to do what I can to help him bear the considerable burdens of his life. It is a way of my showing gratitude and many of my readers and clients have generously reached out to him in a show of solidarity and thanks for the inspiration he has provided them, even if indirectly, through the stories and lessons I share here. If you are touched by Michael's story and message, and would like to give something back, there are a number of ways you can help:

1. Post the video above on your blog so that his story can be an inspiration to your readers as well.
2. Visit his website and order his autobiography in which he shares how he gained the strength to achieve the impossible. While you are there, check out his coaching and speaking services, too! 
3. Sign up for my newsletter (upper left sidebar of this blog). Periodically I host fundraisers for Michael, raffling off coaching packages and more prizes.Great prizes for you and we all give Michael money for needed medical treatment… everybody wins!
4. Buy something from the All Is Well Collection of fine art prints and cards at the NoSafeDistance Gallery. All proceeds go to Michael.
5. Purchase a copy of All is Well, a book of my contemplative photography, or one of the Remain Open journals based on the book. I originally created All is Well for Michael as a birthday gift, and all the proceeds from it will go to him.
6. You can also make a donation, and you’ll get the joy of giving! I will cover any processing costs, so that 100% of your donation goes to Michael. (If you want to send money directly to Michael to help us avoid transaction costs, that would be wonderful. Just contact me for information.)
7. Help spread the word… Digg, Stumble or spread the word on any posts you find particularly meaningful or blog about them or email your friends. His story is worth knowing, absolutely and even if you can’t do anything to help financially, maybe someone you pass this on to someone who can.
8.   9. Join the Keep the Rishi Rolling network. Just contact me and I'll get you details and a button for your own blog.

Thank you for your support!