Despite the panorama of North Bay and Lake Nipissing, all eyes and ears were on the featured presenter at the celebration of Towards Transition Certification at the Near North District School Board.
Tim Harris is an inspirational speaker with many accomplishments.
He owns his own restaurant, has started a non-profit foundation and was a Special Olympian.
First off, Harris introduced us to his team via Skype.
Zack helps and Ms. Lori is his coach for an awesome life. He asked his audience not to be shy with their “Oh Yeah!’s ” and fist pumps throughout his speech.
The keynote speaker wore a t-shirt printed with “This is what awesome looks like" and proceeded to give his own tips for an awesome life.
We should smile more was one of them.
Harris’s number one piece of advice was to give love. As a restauranteur, he daily serves up breakfast, lunch and hugs at Tim's Place in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“I have given out 70,000 hugs so far," he said.
"President Obama was one of them.”
Tim is in the middle of his own transition moving his whole operation and team to Denver, Colorado. He said he likes the Broncos but his real motivation is that the Mile High City is where his new girlfriend lives. He is excited to start apartment shopping soon.
Harris took questions from the 17 students taking part in the Towards Transition Certification of the Special Education program.
Students asked about how he started his own business and it’s challenges. He answered that multitasking is hard when everyone comes to eat at once.
Harris was then asked what it was like to have Down syndrome.
He was boisterous in response.
“I love showing that having a disability is more about showing how we are the same.”
Harris said he recently was asked by a new dad to be if the baby was going to be alright after finding out she would be born Down syndrome.
“Don’t worry, she is already awesome,” Harris told him.
He said that is why his tip #7 was “Be the Light!” Harris told the story of friends of how his parents kept telling them how sad they were and saying sorry that he was born Down syndrome. “But they didn’t know how awesome I’d be.”
“Everyone can shine a light in your heart” Tim thanked everyone for sharing his 30th birthday with him.
Tim’s fame continues to grow. He is scheduled to be featured on the CBS evening news tonight where he will tell the nation to use their super-power -- love.”
“I enjoy bringing light to intellectual disabilities. Just a little more help is needed and that is ok.”
Harris has more dreams for the future. “Well, I would like to become the Karaoke King and become famous for playing guitar.”
