Be Yourself. Inspire Someone. (Cont'd)
I continued to sketch and doodle for about two years, then one day my mother asked me to try painting. I went and bought myself an easel, some paints and brushes. From there it was a trial and error process until I taught myself to paint. 
I find that painting is very relaxing. I enjoy painting landscapes, sun sets, wildlife, portraits, and many other subjects.
I have been to hell and back over the past 12 years. It all started that Sunday night, June 25th, 1995 as a simple joy ride in my buddy's car. We were just going to cruise the town for awhile and call it a night. However, we ended up picking up two friends and were cruising a back road when a drunk driver ran us off the road. We went into a ditch nd hit a culvert on my side of the car. I was the passenger in the front seat, my friend behind me ended up being ejected from the vehicle. The girl in the back seat ended up having serious injuries from the car being torn into from the front seat back.
I can remember everything clearly, from the impact to the sudden stop. There was dust everywhere, and I could hear everybody screaming, it was pure hell!!!
Next thing I knew I tried to move and couldn't. I could barely breathe, and I was yelling: "Someone HELP ME!" My friends ended up pulling my limp, motionless body out of the passenger window. The last thing I felt were my feet hitting the ground. My friend that was ejected walked over to me and I said to him, "PLEASE KILL ME NOW, I'M PARALYZED!"
I ended up being flown by medi-vac to a hospital an hour and a half away. I spent two weeks there before being flown to a rehab hospital in Denver, Colorado. I spent six months there, four of which on a respirator, because I was unable to breathe on my own. Once I was stable enough to leave Denver, my twin brother and parents brought me back home .
I dealt with suicidal tendencies, anger, and depression for the first two years. I finally realized that I had to accept my 
situation and make something positive out of my new life. I tried college for a few year's. However, it wasn't for me. After that attempt, I started sketching with my mouth and eventually tried painting. I have now been painting for about four years, and I really enjoy it. I take GREAT PRIDE in my work!
I try to maintain a very positive outlook on life and inspire everyone around me. I feel that life is ALL about second chances! Take one day at a time, and don't sweat the small things in life! Remember, life can change IN A SPLIT SECOND, so make the most out of everyday and never regret anything!
Kort Koehler