Allow me to introduce to you....Mr J.R. Martinez

My review of Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirt by J. R. Martinez

When I first saw J. R. Martinez was when he played a role on All My Children.  I thought at first, that he must have been badly burnt in a fire or a wreck.  Later he wow'ed the audiences on Dancing with the Stars.  I admit I never really got into the whole hype about Dancing with the Stars, but when he was on it was the first time I watched the entire season.  Not just because of J.R.  I liked Rob Kardashian, yep the cat is out of the bag, and a few others I don't remember now who all the cast was.  But J.R. and his partner Karina managed to dance their way to the very end and win the title of best dance couple. 

Recently, as I was perusing books to read, and by authors I have never read before, I came across his book.  I have learned so much from his book.  Not only did I find several quotes that I have thoroughly enjoyed and have pinned up in my cubicle at work, but that this young man had to go through so much in his life at a young age and to see all the obstacles he had to overcome. 

Turns out when he was 19 he was in the Army in Iraq and had been there less than one month when he and his buddies drove over a roadside bomb and he was burned over 34% of his body.  At age 19.  All of the surgeries he had to endure, and he came out of all of this, a positive person and began motivating other burn victims.  He could have easily sat in his hospital room and refused to eat or talk to anyone, he did for awhile and blamed the wrong people, but somehow, he managed to turn what had happened to him into a tool, and went to spread the message out to others that needed to hear the words he delivered. 

I enjoyed the book.  He now has a girlfriend and a daughter.  :)  Reviews I read said they hated the book because to some it sounded like he did a lot of bragging in his book.  After all he has been through, I certainly think he is entitled to brag a little.  One interesting thing I found, I thought he was a black man, turns out he was Mexican, the result of his burns and injuries really made him look completely different.

I would highly recommend this book.  It will give you a new insight on your life and may just inspire you to motivate yourself and others in areas you may need that little pep talk!