MY TIME: Keeping The Light Shining: Continuing To Carry On 15 Years Later

By Gary Keating

What happens when we really look inside of ourselves, what do you find? All of us have searched for that purpose in our lives, that reason we are who we are. The chance and opportunity to make a difference, not just for our own self and what we want, but more importantly for others. When we give of ourselves to others, we shine a light that

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Keating
• Release date: Jan 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798868943508

Gary Keating

Born in Fanwood, New Jersey, now resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Following his basketball playing days, Gary would join his father on the bench as a basketball coach. After his graduation from St. John's University, New York, he would become an Assistant Men's College Basketball Coach at the age of twenty-three. Gary would step away from coaching to help being a caregiver for his father who had Parkinson's disease. Later, at the age of thirty-eight, Gary himself would be diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's. He now dedicates himself to helping people to believe that life is not over. He has participated in several research studies and was part of a featured magazine article in Florida GATOR Magazine, Spring 2019 edition. Gary is now the founder of Caring for Caregivers, a support group for people who are or have been caregivers. As it has been from the days back on the basketball court both playing and coaching, likewise with Parkinson's it is GAME ON.

Book preview

MY TIME

MY TIME

MY TIME

Keeping The Light Shining: Continuing To Carry On 15 Years Later

GARY KEATING

GARY KEATING

Copyright © 2024 by GARY KEATING

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Printing, 2024

Contents

PRELUDE

LIGHT

1

LETS GET STARTED

2

FLOWING FORWARD

3

REMEMBERING

4

DECEPTION

5

LIVING LIFE

6

DAILY INSPIRATIONS

7

HOLIDAY SEASON

PREPARATION

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS DAY

NEW YEAR

8

BACK AGAIN

CAREGIVING

HERO

9

CONCLUSION

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

STAYING THE COURSE

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

PERSONAL

To all who are on this journey of illness and affliction. Those who are the ones with and all those special individuals who are the caregivers. No matter what the story is, we all have our own personal story. We are all one family in this journey.  This ribbon may symbolize myself, we each may have our own, but each in unified together.  

PRELUDE

History

The start came from a small article written for a website. A place for people with any kind of medical condition to write about their life or feelings.

The results of that turned into a 32-page short story, FATHER AND SON 2018. Followed by an expanded version, which would become the first full-length book, GAME ON 2019. Two words which were used in our locker room for motivation. The last words being spoken before every game played as well as coached. Then one day, those words grew to be an inspiration for a different reason. They became a guide towards a full and productive life with Parkinson’s.

In an example of letting light shine, which was always done during the basketball days. The spotlight would be spread out and shine on and for others. The result was BEING A CHAMPION 20221. A compilation of eight individuals and their lives. All proving what it means to be a real staunch champion, living with a neurological condition. All showing courage, honor, attitude, motivation, perseverance, integrity, optimism, and never giving up. This book has more meaning than anything ever accomplished on the basketball court.

Game On and Being A Champion, both would become recognized as Finalists in each their own category for the 2021 American Writing Awards.

The following year, the light would then shine on someone else. An individual who was the most important in my life both on and off the court. As well as being the closest, that person was my father. In the book, ONE LASTING TRIBUTE 2022, a chronological story of a father-son relationship and everlasting bond. This was thought of as being the one to break out and have the most influence. To make a difference and maybe go on to bigger and better things.

This likewise would become recognized as a Finalist for the 2022 American Writing Awards. That would be the third book in succession to receive this honor. Maybe one day will come up with something to take that next step and win the top prize.

As the first full-length memoir, the lifetime story, bringing out some personal stories that have never been told before. The main purpose was to show that no matter what we may face in life. Any dream we may have inside has the potential to become a reality. If we believe in and never give up on ourselves, anything is possible.

Dimming Lights

All was going well until everything ran into a new adversity. That was when all personal royalties disappeared, which left me with nothing to show for anything put forward. I do not know the total number of copies that were sold; but I know this was successful, the most copies sold of any ever done before.

So did the company who helped put this together. They did a fantastic job at which they were doing. They went as far as having someone explain the keys to success, how to set up everything. Well, they knew how many copies sold and how much the book has made, because that was when suddenly, all contact had been severed. Phones were no longer in service, contact was impossible. They had taken everything that belonged to me for the success of One Lasting Tribute and ran off with it all.

Something for everyone to keep in mind, always be careful who you do business with.

All the excitement of watching a book be sold and become successful was now replaced by despair and light that now had been dimmed with little hope.

Making Another Attempt

They may have taken all the success and the royalties, but there was still something left behind. I owned the rights to the book. So, in true K2 fashion, we never give up, got back up and put together a new edition, CARRY ON 2023. Same book with new additions, and a new title.

As well as something else new, with absolutely no trust in companies, or anyone else for that matter. Did everything myself for the first time. After all that had occurred, it led me to attempt to do all this on my own, but with no recognizable name.

Authoring a book with the name Gary Keating and writing about the story with my father, John Keating. That is not quite the same as seeing the name on the cover being John Keats. The name might look closely similar, but recognition is by no means close to being the same.

Then add in Parkinson’s, which will not allow me to do the same things that others can do