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This is Lori Arriaga of Christian Women's Resources with this weeks edition of Words for the Week, Christian Podcast where we bring you hope and encourgement brought to you by Encouraging Audiobooks.

Today you are going to be blessed as you listen to Glenda Watson Hyatt. She is an author of a book titled I’ll Do it Myself. She has been an incredible inspiration to me and I’m sure she will be to you as well learning about her life and all she has been able to accomplish despite living with Cerebral palsy. She is currently on a 40 blogs in 40 business days virtual book tour.

Well Welcome Glenda. I want first start out by saying that it is a great honor to be a part of your virtual book tour and it has been such a blessing to have met you - you truly are an inspiration and I would love to give our listeners a chance to get to know you as well so can you start out by giving our listeners some background information about yourself?

Thank you, Lori. I live in Surrey, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. I have cerebral palsy caused by a lack of oxygen at birth. For me, cerebral palsy is mainly a lack of muscle coordination and balance. I am unable to walk without falling every few steps, which doesn't tend to get me very far, very fast, thus I use an electric scooter for mobility. I have limited hand function, relying on only my left thumb to type. However, my biggest frustration is my unclear speech as I speak Glenda-ish, which few people take the time to understand. This is why I’m using Kate, my synthesized voice for this interview.

Despite my cerebral palsy, I have led a fairly normal life, attending regular class in my local high school and then going on to Simon Fraser University. After seven years of living independently on campus and typing all my papers and exams with my left thumb, I graduated with my Bachelors of Arts with a major in psychology and a minor in communications.

I have been married eight years now to a wonderfully supportive man Darrell, who also has cerebral palsy, which makes life twice as interesting!

And, I’ve recently released my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself in which I intimately share my life to show others that cerebral palsy is not a death sentence, but rather a life sentence. I focus on what I can do and what I do have; so many have much less than I do. I believe in possibility thinking and making things happen for myself. I am in a point in my life where life is good and I truly believe the future is mine.

2. And How have you managed to lead a fairly normal life with your disability as you said?

When I was young, my parents' philosophy was to introduce Glenda to the world and the world to Glenda. My parents encouraged me, telling me that I could do anything that I put my mind to. They told me there was no such word as can’t; only try, and to always try my best. They were always supportive no matter what I wanted to try, whether it was going to Brownies, starting horseback riding, leaving for university, getting married or buying a condo. That encouragement and support led me to lead a fairly normal and full life, despite my physical limitations.

3. Your parents philosophy obviously was a good thing in your life and really is a great philosophy all parents should be teaching their children. Can you recall when and how you personally began to get such a fierce determination yourself to accomplish your goals in life? One of course in particular for this blog interview being your book titled "I'll Do It Myself".

I think I have always been determined and fiercely independent, always preferring to do things myself.

I would like to share one story from my autobiography:

At Brownie camp Mom learned an important lesson: to sit on her hands as I tried to do something by myself, even if it took me longer to accomplish. Like most moms, time was in great demand. She worked full-time, raised four kids and kept the household running, and she didn’t always have the luxury of time to allow me to do something myself that she could do more quickly. However, she knew it was critical to allow me to do what I could myself, even if it took longer, in order to develop independence.

The Guiders taught Mom to sit on her hands whenever possible rather than rushing in to do things for me, but reality meant some compromises. On school day mornings, when timing was down to the minute, she dressed me. But, on weekends when we didn’t have to be anywhere early, I dressed myself, even though it could take half an hour or more. Who invented socks anyway? They were always a struggle, but I managed to get them on eventually. Because I preferred doing things myself rather than having others do them for me, I was nicknamed the “I’ll-do-it-myself” girl.

I have no doubt that that strong sense of independence has helped me get to where I am today. When it came time to decide upon a title for my book, I’ll Do It Myself was the obvious choice.

What inspirational Word for the Week can you give to our listeners in order to encourage them to stop making excuses and to just be determined to make it happen regardless of their circumstances and how things may look?

Perseverance. To me, perseverance means to keep going, no matter what. To do whatever it take to complete a task, to accomplish a goal or to reach a dream. To ignore naysayers and negative attitudes. To find creative solutions to navigate around barriers and obstacles.

When circumstances seem tough, remember Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." And Luke 1:37, which says, "For nothing will be impossible with God."