When you face a challenge or obstacle in life, or when you’re given a death sentence diagnosis, fear is completely understandable. I’ve learned that we have 2 choices, though. Choose fear or choose gratitude and love.
Your thoughts are your responsibility and choice. No one and nothing other than you have the control to make up your mind. That’s 100% you and what you decide to think. Life can be challenging or it can be easy, it all depends on your perspective on life with the experiences you encounter.
I could have easily gone with fear, felt sorry for myself after being diagnosed or with other situations in my life, and just crawled in a hole and gave up. I wasn’t able to, though. I was so focused on riding my bike again and had/have a massive amount of love & gratitude for my life, and that feeling & thought is what fueled my drive to live and succeed.
I visualized what I do so much that I would have dreams of riding and could feel it while laying in that hospital bed focusing on getting past that brain tumor surgery and riding my bike again.
I had amazing support from others, which is so crucial, so now I am that support system to anyone of you, as well as an example that we can beat the odds and do what we dream of when we truly set our minds to something.
For as long as he can remember, Josh Perry has lived off adrenaline. “I started riding a bike when I was 3,” he tells PEOPLE. “When I was 13, I went to ramp parks. I got my first BMX bike, and I loved it.”
He loved it so much that he decided to turn BMX riding into a career. Going Pro at 16, he entered his first contest. At 20 years old, he won his first event in Joplin, Missouri. His prize: a Harley Davidson.
That same year, he competed in his first X Games, the annual national event that focuses on extreme sports and airs on ESPN.
Things were going well. “I was looking to progress in my career,” he says. “I got a good start and was excited to travel, compete and make videos.
A Frightening Diagnosis
But his plans came to a screeching halt in March of 2010. After a fall while training, he had to get an MRI. When the doctor came back into the room, Perry sensed that something was wrong. “There was a weird energy in the room,” he says. “The doctor came out and said that I had a brain tumor on my left side. He said, ‘If it doesn’t get taken out, you will die.’ ”
In retrospect, Perry knew that something had been wrong. “I was getting the headaches in mid-2009,” he remembers. “And then I had some blurry vision.”
Still, the news was devastating. “My first thought was, ‘I can’t ride anymore.’ But then, I had to focus on preserving my life.”
Perry had an operation at Duke University in April 2010. “It was supposed to be a five-hour surgery, but it took longer,” he says, but the surgery was successful.”
Almost immediately, he noticed an improvement. “I wasn’t getting any more headaches. My vision was back to normal. I wanted to ride again.”
A Discouraging Recurrence
With the surgery behind him, Perry began to practice. Within three months, he was back to his old tricks – but the surgery had taken a considerable psychological toll. “That took two years to get my confidence back,” he says.
And then, tragedy struck again. In 2012, he was doing some BMX demos in India. “My mom messaged me, saying we needed to talk about a recent scan I had done. I knew instantly that something was wrong.”
Sure enough, Perry learned that there were two more blueberry-sized tumors in his brain – one in the right side, and the other in the rear. “They were near arteries,” he says. “Traditional surgery wouldn’t work.”
Instead, Perry had Gamma Knife treatment, a new procedure that bombards the tumors with radiation. Again, it was successful: the tumors have shrunk considerably and continue to get smaller.
A New Motivation
While Perry’s life still includes regular brain scans – his next one is in November – he has resumed his career. “I’m ready to keep riding and competing, making videos and succeeding in the BMX world,” he says.
My message is bigger than that,” he continues. “I became a science nerd when it comes to nutrition. People are torturing themselves by eating processed foods. Fast food isn’t really food at all.”
“I don’t know what caused my tumors,” he says. “Could it be from living near power lines? Or what I ate? Or head trauma? I don’t know. But what I do know is that people are killing themselves if they live miserable lives when they have the ability to change it. That includes how they eat, and how they live.”
“If there’s a message I’ve got, it’s that you can’t live in fear or dread. No one knows how long they have. So everyone, including myself, needs to try to live a happy, healthy life. We’ve only got one.”
“Being in gratitude for the non-yet manifested tells the universe that you know that what you desire already exists, and puts you at the right frequency to receive it.” – Jen Sincero
We are all creators and we’ve already created the lives we want. We just need to believe it, feel it, and be grateful for the lives we already have in order to obtain more greatness into our lives.
Exactly one year ago I got the chance to say I love you and express my gratitude for this man. Little did I know it would be the last time I’d have the chance to do so and am grateful for this moment as well as the gut feeling of asking Dave Mirra to lunch that day.
It was a random urge to pick up the phone and ask Dave to catch up and have some lunch, and I’m glad it happened. I’m not full of words today to express my feelings for this photo. All I have to share today is how honored I am to have had the chance to make a dream of mine come true, and then some.
I got to not only compete with Dave but got to train with him on a daily basis, hang out with Dave outside of riding, get to meet him family, and get to call my idol/hero/mentor my friend. What an honor to do so. I’m left with nothing but love and gratitude for Dave, the path he paved for me in my career and life with #bmx, and all he taught me.
“Everyone wants to win. But to truly succeed whether it is a sport or at your job or in your life you have to be willing to do the hard work, overcome challenges, and make the sacrifices it takes to be the best at what you do.” -Ronda Rousey, from her book “My Fight/Your Fight”
Never mind the fact I went into a 6 hour life or death full on open cranial surgery (April 2010) to remove a brain tumor that took up half my brain, but just within BMX I face so many challenges, sacrifices, and have to put in 100% every time I ride or I may end up in the hospital. That’s the reality of our sport and life in general to some degree.
We always face fear, challenges, and uncertainties. The hard work, persistence, and determination to be better than our previous selves are what gets up past these challenges. I started to take all of this even more serious after having a full reconstructive surgery (November 2015) on my right knee and an ACL and meniscus tear.
I don’t see it as hard work anymore. I see it as just something that needs to be done to get to where I want to be and then where I want to progress from there. That’s the beauty of life. It never stops providing an opportunity to grow and progress in any facet of our lives. Once we shift our minds from seeing an experience as “good” and “bad” to seeing all experiences as an equal opportunity to learn from and progress from, things become clear and precise.
A few days ago I was told the two brain tumors I currently live with are stable after shrinking for two years, thanks to Gamma Knife Radiosurgery (November 2012). Then I was told I face two more challenges. I now have 2 new brain tumors residing on the opposite side of my brain that the original tumor operated on (April 2010) was taken from. This makes me a little uneasy seeing as I was told the original tumor was benign yet new masses are appearing in other areas of my brain. Again, that’s life and the cards I am dealt and I have to play the game with these “cards” now. That shit hand isn’t going to stop me!
For me, #BMX is my everything. It’s my obsession, my state of meditation, my hobby, my career, my life, and my only option. I know I’ll never ride at this level forever, but I do know the hard work I’m putting in on and off my bike right now will benefit my career and what I create for when I’m no longer riding at a professional level. For now, BMX is what keeps me motivated to not let anything or anyone hold me back from accomplishing my goals in life and I’m forever grateful for my parents getting me my first bike.
I live, breath, eat, and sleep BMX. I feel that’s what it takes to do something you dream of in life. There are no excuses, just the ones we lean on in times of hardship and fear. I know first hand that’s not an option to living the life of our dreams. 💚✌️
Focus: the state or quality of having or producing a clear visual definition.
Focus on where you want to be, not where you were or where you are. When you focus on negatives, you’ll attract more negativity into your life. When you focus on positives, you’ll have more positivity and opportunities to be positive in your life.
No dream is too big. All that matters is that we believe in ourselves, we feel it, and we take action.
The brain is amazing and anything is possible with that combination. Embrace the new, the unknown, and the uncomfortable. It’s a part of the journey. Thanks to everyone reading this for contributing to my growth in life, supporting my dream, and allowing me to share with all of you. Happy New Year, everyone!
This photo was taken on April 16th, 2010 at Duke University after a 6-hour long surgery to remove an 8cm long by 2cm wide by a 2cm deep brain tumor. It’s changed my perspective on life, how I want to live it, and what I want to do within it.
Motivation is one of the many keys to success in life and within business. Gary Vaynerchuk shared that his key to staying motivated is remembering tomorrow isn’t promised. I’m a firm believer in this statement after realizing I may loose my life at the age of 21.
It’s sparked a whole new level of motivation to become the best version of myself, attack my dreams, and support others along the way. Since this photo, I’ve been re-diagnosed 2 more times with a total of 4 new brain tumors. It hasn’t stopped me, though, and it’s my mission to share the power of our minds with the world along with supporting those facing adversity and are determined to overcome it.
This link will take you to a video series I’ve started titled, “Quest To Progress“, which shares my story, my passions, and my goals within life.
Remember, it’s a miracle we’re alive and we should all be grateful for what we have rather than ungrateful for what we don’t. That simple shift in perspective can do wonders for your life like it has for mine.
“Pain is weakness leaving the body” is one of my favorite quotes from Jeremy Piven in a role he played as a car salesman. This photo was taken after I over rotated a 720 and hit my chin off my handlebars on an untraditional/ kinked jump, mid-contest run last year. @trishbare got me all patched up and I went and did my second run perfectly as planned.
One of the most important lessons BMX has taught me was to get up when we fall down and try again. Falling, or failure is a part of life and should be viewed as a learning experience rather than a negative experience in our lives. It’s all a matter of perspective. Glass half full or glass half empty.
If you know me, I’m always in favor for the glass half full. Full of possibilities, ideas, dreams, hard work, achievements, education, and love. With that combination, anything is possible.
Athletes of all kinds focus on building and maintaining a healthy and productive mind-body connection. Generally, this means managing mental stress as a tool for enabling maximum physical performance. As a BMX freestyle athlete, I’ve spent years developing a mind-body connection that allows me to overcome both physical and mental obstacles. This connection allows me to push through fear and becomes adept at making quick, intuitive decisions that help me to achieve my goals both on and off the BMX course.
Several years ago, I had a transformative experience that made me realize the mind-body connection has more than one dimension, and that taking care of yourself physically is essential to having a healthy brain.
In March 2010, I was told I had a brain tumor that required immediate surgery. I was fortunate that the surgery went well and that I was back on my bike within two months of the procedure. But that wasn’t the end of it. While performing in India, I learned I had two more brain tumors. I didn’t have a choice in the diagnosis, but this time I did have a choice in treatments.
Tapping into the mind-body connection that I’ve honed over years of BMX training, I put my fear of the tumors aside and focused on identifying the best treatment option. After doing some digging on all the options out there, I decided upon radiosurgery with Gamma Knife – a non-invasive treatment that uses focused beams of radiation to destroy tumor tissue without the need for open brain surgery. The Gamma Knife procedure was incredibly simple and I was back out on my bike six days later. I’m always somewhat surprised that, when I tell my story, most people aren’t familiar with Gamma Knife. It’s an important treatment option for people with brain tumors and other neurological disorders.
My brain tumor diagnoses were a real catalyst for thinking about how I could better care for myself. I started to think about factors that impacted my brain health and were in my control and realized that food and nutrition might play an important role in helping repair the damage from the tumors and the head injuries I had suffered in the past. To be honest, up to that point in my life I had made some pretty unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Committed to finding a healthier path, I learned about the work of Dr. David Perlmutter, a top-notch neurologist, and fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He has a unique perspective on the brain and how the food we eat affects it.
Inspired by his work, I undertook a yearlong program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I took what I learned in the program, combined it with the knowledge I’d gained from Dr. Perlmutter’s work and applied it to my own day-to-day nutritional choices. I began eating fermented foods like sauerkraut and kombucha, got rid of the added sugars, starchy carbs and gluten, and started including more healthy fats like avocado, coconut oil, grass-fed butter and ghee, and extra virgin olive oil.
With these changes, I lowered my total carbohydrate intake by about 80 to 90 percent. I also started taking probiotics and got serious about my fitness – which became a key priority after going through an ACL reconstructive surgery. I’ve also found that getting enough sleep, being grateful for what I have and finding strength in helping others are all good for my soul and for my brain.
My mornings went from having a bowl of processed cereal loaded with sugar and conventional cow’s milk, toaster strudels, cheap pasteurized juice, soda, pastries and even more horrific foods, to starting my day with a large amount of water, a bulletproof coffee and a healthy breakfast consisting of lots of healthy fats (avocado and coconut oil), quality protein (organic, pasture-raised eggs) and low-starch veggies (broccoli, red cabbage, mushrooms and onions) with spices (black pepper, pink Himalayan sea salt, garlic and turmeric). I ditched the cheap recovery protein shakes and swapped them for Garden Of Life’s non-GMO, organic, gluten-free protein and various other supplements. I’ve also added Barleans organic and wild-caught fish oil to my meals. My lunches and dinners have the same basic components as my breakfasts, and I find that healthy fats add delicious flavors and keep me satisfied.
From adopting these healthy eating habits, I have seen great changes take place. I don’t oversleep, and I look forward to waking up and starting my day. I have significantly reduced my body fat and see even more definition in my muscles. I feel stronger and more energized throughout my whole day on and off the bike. In addition to feeling better physically, I’m able to think more clearly without the constant brain fog and forgetfulness that I experienced before adopting better eating habits. Importantly, this clarity of thought has really improved my ability to assess my emotions and be realistic about my life. Perhaps the best result of the changes I’ve made to my diet is that I know I’m doing everything I can to protect my brain’s health today and for the long term. This knowledge allows me to live in a constant sensation of gratitude, peace, love, and happiness.
The moral of my story is that being diagnosed with a life-threatening situation isn’t always the worst thing that can happen. In fact, any “negative” diagnosis, challenge, failure or obstacle can be a positive experience if you allow yourself to see it that way. In my case, my brain tumor diagnoses helped me see I was making lots of decisions that were taking me further and further away from the healthy lifestyle I needed to have. It took the prospect of death to make me open my mind to change. It’s now my mission to help others become aware of the changes that they can make to improve their lives, without having them go through the challenges I’ve experienced.
Strangely, my brain tumor diagnoses ended up being blessings in disguise, and I am beyond grateful for all that I have learned from them. I am proud of who I have become and the choices I am making to take care of my mind and my body, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share my story with you.
The connections between our minds and bodies are truly powerful. Take care of both, and you’ll be able to live life to the fullest.
