LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – About 200 people attended a presentation by John O’Leary at the Overton Conference Center on Thursday.
O’Leary is a two-time best-selling author for his books “On Fire” and “In Awe.” He was burned at 9 years old over 100% of his body and says he should have died.
The childhood tragedy was an accidental explosion after playing with fire and gasoline. O’Leary was given a 1% chance of survival. He made a physical recovery, but the scars are there forever.
Challenges beyond physical recovery
“The difficulty for burn patients is once they are released, it gets even harder because every time they look down, they’re reminded. Every time they look in the mirror, they’re reminded,” O’Leary said.
The John O’Leary story turned into a movie called “Soul on Fire” after O’Leary realized there is beauty in the scars of life; he began sharing that message as a motivational speaker.
He was brought to Lubbock by the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health. From the stage to the floor, he made the audience cry and laugh.
John made it clear he has dedicated his life to inspiring others to accept imperfections and celebrate the life they were given.
“It’s amazing what happens when we begin looking beyond ourselves. The more I focus on my weaknesses, my struggles, my strokes, the more they multiply. The more I move through them, embrace them, ask for help in enduring them, the more they begin to fade,” O’Leary said.
John O’Leary is married with four children. If you’d like to see the movie about him, “Soul on Fire,” it is streaming on Netflix.
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