When terrible things happen it is our mindset that determines how it impacts us. Niall McCann explains how he found gratitude for the opportunity to redefine his life after breaking his back. - - - Dr Niall McCann is the Director of National Park Rescue protecting large areas of nature and the species within. He is also an intrepid adventurer having rowed the Atlantic, cycled the Himalayas and skied across Greenland. Ever the positive thinker Niall faced his biggest obstacle head-on when he suffered a broken spine in 2016, on a speed flying exercise in the Brecon Beacons. He broke five vertebrae, one of which was - in the words of his surgeon: obliterated. After being told he might never walk again, a year after his accident Niall joined the Mountain Rescue team that rescued him He is preparing to cross the Vatnajökull icecap with two other friends with broken spines to raise money for charity. Millimeters 2 Mountains The charity helps those facing adversity experience the outdoors and the healing power of adventure. - - - Connect with Dr Niall McCann: Website - N iallMcCann.com Twitter - @NiallPMcCann Instagram - @DrNiallMcCann Charity - National Park Rescue - - - Connect with Sam: Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking Watch the pod - YouTube - Growth Mindset - - - Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:58 Niall McCann 04:02 Quickfire questions 06:00 How did Niall break his back and survive - Speed flying 08:42 Rode across the Atlantic tangent 11:02 Any app that could help you with Speed flying? 11:37 Femur photograph tangent 11:53 What happened during the accident 16:29 Tolerance for pain 20:25 Niall's road to recovery: 1st surgery 23:18 Second surgery 24:35 Bowel issues 28:59 Humor as a coping mechanism 29:22 Niall and Sam facing the fact that he may never walk again from their injuries 32:29 How much feeling does Niall have in his lower extremities 33:49 Activities Niall does after his injury 35:19 Niall's friend - Ed Jackson 36:27 Coming to terms with doing things differently than before 38:39 What adventure awaits Niall 39:30 Niall's friend - Darren Edwards 40:52 3 guys on an expedition to raise awareness and motivate those suffering from a spinal injury 42:21 Tom - Niall's best mate, as a source of inspiration with his injury 44:00 Tangent on physio stuff 45:04 Vipassana tangent 45:25 Feet and exercise tangent 48:19 Positive mentality goes a long way 48:51 Story on Niall's dad and his blood type 50:50 Make the most of your year and build upon it 53:25 Niall's mindset on how he chooses his adventures 55:52 How Niall gets to make his adventures happen 57:50 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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