Choose A Lane

By Ken Reid

In 1977, at the age of 13, Ken became passionate about the sport of bowling. Ken continues to excel in his skill, focus and competency bowling a 300 in 1984. He then joined the Professional Bowlers' Tour in 1987, cashing in the last 4 out of 5 tournaments. His highest league average was 234. In 1990 Ken was severely injured in an auto accident. One year later he bowled again. This time with a total score of 10. Committed and determined to "chose his own lane" and succeed on new levels, Ken continued to improve incrementally with practice and renewed dreams. In 1992 Ken won the Virginia, North Carolina Wheelchair championship, as well as the 1992 Eastern Regional Wheelchair championships. Ken's determination and vision in the sport of bowling now reaps a present average of 132 from his wheelchair, with his highest game of 195. His success will inspire you-his story will motivate you-to chose a lane in YOUR life!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ken Reid
• Release date: Mar 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458048011

Ken Reid

Ken Reid has been adding his unique brand of humour and style to Sportsnet Central since joining Sportsnet in 2011. Throughout his more than twenty years in sportscasting, he has covered the Olympics, the Stanley Cup Finals, Grey Cups, and the Super Bowl. He is the bestselling author of Hockey Card Stories: True Tales from Your Favourite Players, as well as five other books. A proud native of Pictou, Nova Scotia, Ken now lives in Toronto, Ontario, with his family.

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Choose A Lane

By Ken Reid

Smashwords Edition Copyright © 2010 Ken Reid

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without the written permission of the author.

Published in the United States

Re-Order at http://www.KenReidConsulting.com

Dedicated to

My Mom and Dad without your love and unbelievable faith in God, I would not be here today. Thank you for prayers and hopes and dreams. I know you almost lost your house because of my accident and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me throughout my life.

And to Vickie what you saw in me that night we met I'll never know.

To see a man in a wheelchair and ask him to dance was truly incredible. Thank you so much for seeing the true potential in me and encouraging me to chase my dreams.

You taught me how to love and to be a better man.

I love you!

Contents

Out of the Gutter

When You’re Stuck In A Rut

How To Defy Gravity

Getting Out of Where You Are

Determination

Your Energy In Motion

Propel Your Life

Potential and Momentum

Increasing Mobility

Roadblocks and Detours

Gaining Perspective

Applying Experience

Using Your Tools

Vehicles To Freedom

Valuing Resources

Intimate and Relational

Today

Acknowledgements

Special Thanks

Out of the Gutter

The ball was so heavy. I steadied it on my lap and placed my fingers. Even with the wrist brace I wasn’t sure I could even hold the ball. 15 pounds. My old ball was 15 pounds. I can hardly lift a 10 now.

I pushed my chair to the foul line and locked my brakes. A once familiar wooden lane now seemed foreign and daunting.I was like a child again; learning to bowl for the first time.

It had been one year since the accident. This is ridiculous, I thought to myself.My body has changed. My strength is gone. I can’t do this now.

The reality of my circumstances hit me squarely in the face. This is stupid.

Defeated I turned my back to the pins and had decided to resign myself. But the anger inside rumbled to the surface and I swung the chair around. I don’t care if I look stupid. I don’t care if I’m in a wheelchair. I’m bowling today.

Picking up the ball again I swung it back and forth to generate speed. Gutter ball. And another. And another. Six gutter balls in a row without hitting one pin. My score on the electronic board read zero.

That was it. The choice was not loud. Nobody bowling that afternoon would have heard the conversation in my head. However, that choice echoed through the next years of my life so loudly that it still shocks me. In that moment I became Ken the Bowler again.

It was one of many Gutter Ball choices that would change my life. Small choice to some, huge choice to me.

I bowled a final score of 10. Looking up at the score on the board I had to laugh. A 10? Not even as a child had I bowled a 10. But in my mind I