Scotty Smiley: The Super Dad Who's Never Seen His Kids
This Father’s Day we’re honoring super dad, Scotty Smiley. Having lost both his eyes in a bombing during his military tour overseas, he must tap into his other senses to be the best father to his three sons: Grady, Graham, and Baylor. Learn how he and his wife, Tiffany Smiley, moved on from despair to overcome obstacles.
In 2005, Scott Smiley was in Iraq serving as a platoon leader in the U.S. Army when he came face to face with a suicide car bomber. The bomb exploded, sending shrapnel into both his eyes.
Smiley’s world went dark and when he woke up ten days later, he was in a hospital bed back in the U.S. Once the medicine wore off and the doctors took him out of the medically induced coma, Smiley woke up to a scary realization.
“Things started to spiral downward once I began to realize that something had happened to me,” said Smiley. “I had lost my eyes...and really understanding that I wasn’t in a dream. In my mind, I was just in a nightmare.”
Smiley was angry and hopeless. Listen to the full podcast to hear how he pulled himself back up with support from his wife, Tiffany Smiley, his kids, and his friends.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwh7xrIBkYr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Three Life Lessons from Scotty Smiley
1. Be Resilient
“Resiliency is stepping up to whatever you have in front of you. If you’re an electrician, a plumber, a homemaker, a businessman, a banker: do what you are doing to the best of your ability, no matter what obstacles.”
2. Surround Yourself With Good Energy
“Surround yourself with men and women that support you, that don’t detract you, but at the same time, question you. Are you making the right decision? They don’t just say everything you’re doing is correct, because more often than not, I don’t make the right decision. Surround yourself with friends and loved ones who help push you towards your purpose.”
Related: 5 Signs Your Friendships Are Healthy
3. Stay True to You
“Stay true to what you believe in, your character, your roots, what you believe in. Don’t sway to social norms. Stay true to your character and values. If you do those three things you will find your purpose.”
For more from Scotty Smiley, listen to the Spartan Up! podcast in its entirety.
http://traffic.libsyn.com/spartanuppodcast/252_SCOTTY_TIFFANY_SMILEY_LIBYSN_01.mp3