ON SALE NOW: Russell’s NEW book “On the Outside Looking In”

ON SALE NOW: Russell’s NEW book “On the Outside Looking In”

Peace & Trust

Peace, growth, trust

 

Part of my personal growth has to do with enabling a life of peace rather than a life of piecing together missing aspects or ideas. It’s been exhausting because the step prior to that was specifically focused on healing—which has and continues to require both discipline and kindness as a grow.

 

That growth has led me to the next stage, without necessarily “finishing” the prior endeavors.

 

Any training, building, or creating needs a place to start: a want to do something, a method to learn and explore it; then to lay down a foundation, or begin with a wheelbase, or assemble a canvas. That thing envisioned, is not complete. With time and application, though, that thing takes form.

 

Progress can be slow. Sometimes it gets put aside; an approach or error can hinder it. Our solid start does not disappear. It doesn’t need to be reset, it’s still there—even if one gets distracted and sidetracked. Perhaps merely some cleaning or restoring is all that’s needed before we continue.

 

We have to choose that destruction and, like building something, follow that course for it to be destructive. That destruction takes MORE effort once we get to a certain point in our growth while building. Sometimes doing nothing, no building or taking steps, is progress because we are choosing NOT to directly destroy or reset what we built.

 

This can be up to and including not allowing, or at least minimizing the intentional or unintentional destruction and chaos of those in one’s life. It’s worth asking at times, “…are they helping, hindering, or actively sabotaging—do I want more or less of that around?”

 

I have always wanted love. Family, friends, and romance. It has been a marker of some kind of success that has, for better or worse, etched itself into my mind. In reality, it’s because I was severely missing or robbed of these things both in the distant and recent past.

 

I was born into an environment of pain, so I sought that familiarity and chaos. My definitions were miswired. My brain, along with many of my life surroundings, is also miswired. More accurately, it was wired differently.

 

When I realized a life of piecing together these (and other) missing aspects were not giving me peace, I began noticing the one person who could provide that was…and yes, it’s a cliche:

 

Me.

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About Kyle

“Kyle Weiss is a 43-year-old autism advocate, storyteller, and accomplished writer, sharing his tumultuous past, as well as current thoughts, for community-building and encouraging human kindness. His personal time is spent deeply researching culinary subjects and attempting to be extroverted.”

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Contact Us

Dear Russell,

On behalf of the Community Engagement Conference 2022 Planning Committee we would like to thank you again for the wonderful keynote address that you presented on our theme of “Building Community” at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. The conference had over 300 people in attendance. The audience feedback on your presentation was outstanding! Out of approximately 50% of returned surveys, 100% of the respondents gave you the highest possible review on your presentation. We felt honored to have you as our guest in Northeast Missouri.

Russell, your presentation came at a pivotal moment for our community as we discuss and plan the development of the Greenwood Center for Autism in Northeast Missouri. To quote one of the key players from the conference, she said “Russell is saying exactly what everyone in this room needs to hear.”  We appreciate your transparency in sharing your inspiring personal journey. Your willingness to discuss your story, identify what worked and what didn’t work for you as well as your balance in reviewing educational and community supports had enormous impact on our community leadership. We are confident that your message will be considered in the planning and providing services for the autistic community in Northeast Missouri for many years to come.

In addition, the participants were particularly appreciative of the round table discussion which you led following lunch. So many of the people receiving community services felt comfortable enough to speak up and share their thoughts. Many participants said that they have never seen that level of participation from the consumers of our services in the history of this conference. Together we all agreed it was because of your motivational speaking style and ability to connect on a deeply personal level with your audience.

Russell, your ability to communicate a positive and inspiring message to people with developmental disabilities has emboldened many to speak up and embrace self-advocacy. Following your presentation, several local citizens impacted by autism have come together and are beginning to share their stories in support of one another. You modeled for many what leadership and vision looks like. You demonstrated how that vision can help a community come together. We cannot express enough our gratefulness for all that you said and did during your visit. We look forward to continuing our communications with you as your message continues to change the world.

Thank you for all that you do

Crystal Aminirad

Executive Director

Welcome and Keynote Speaker

Russell Lehmann | Speaker, Poet, Advocate

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Would love to have him speak to students. I will look over his videos to present to kiddos.

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Wonderful information and thank you for sharing your own experiences

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Very inspirational!

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AMAZING!!!

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This was fabulous!

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Russell Lehmann - Breakout Session

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I wish there was more time for Q&A. I felt talked to for an hour, which was fine, but I would have liked more of an interactive presentation.

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Again, very good speaker

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Great presentation

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This guy is so inspiring

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Grateful for his articulate, personal and very honest story shared with us

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Great perspective and reminders

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