Mind, Body And Spirit

Amputee, Author, Entrepreneur, Mother...

Is this just another story of a silver spoon, jet-setter? Hardly. It’s the story of comeback and resilience...the journey of a little African-American girl who was sexually abused at four years old and experienced leg amputation at five. In her early years, life just didn’t seem to start with much promise. However, Bonnie faced her challenges head-on and through strong spirit and unstoppable willpower managed to triumph against-the-odds.

Never to give into defeat, the once self-described ugly, chubby kid with thick glasses and kinky hair who had to ride the special bus for the disabled kids, went through her own metamorphosis and transformed herself from a sluggish caterpillar into the beautiful and graceful Monarch butterfly she is today. And oh, what a smile she has, radiating abundant joy and energy to all she comes in contact with.

So, how did she ever endure the pain, the ridicule, the awkwardness, and the heartache of being a kid with just one leg into an academic and business dynamo?

“My mother was a huge inspiration for me. The overwhelming thing that she taught me was to take responsibility for motivating myself. She taught us to have a dream, and to go after it.”

“I remember my mother giving me a brochure that had a silhouette of an amputee snow skier on it. It said, if I can do this, I can do anything.” Later, Bonnie was introduced to skiing by a high school friend. Over the years, through relentless training and positive focus, she earned herself a Silver Medal in the 1984 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Absolutely Amazing.

Soon she went on to conquer the academic world. She graduated from Harvard with honors, became one of only 32 elite Americans selected each year to become a Rhodes Scholar and finally, graduated with honors from Oxford, one of the world’s most prestigious universities.

“I achieved my goals through focus and positive attitude. Whatever you hold in your mind really comes true and my life is proof positive of that.”

Once out of school, Bonnie took on the international finance world with stints in Tokyo and London. She then became an award-winning sales professional for IBM and later was appointed by President Clinton as the first Director of Human Capital Issues on the National Economic Council.

Today, Bonnie travels the world as an inspirational speaker and shares her story of comeback and healing. She also teaches us about the incredible power of blending the mind, body and spirit, in her latest book, “Succeeding Sane.” The book’s dedication states a message from the heart, from one incredible woman: “To my Mom, Ruby, who gave me life. To my husband, Grant, who encouraged me to experience more life. To my daughter, Darcy, who is life.”

Bonnie St. John, Olympic ski champion, honors graduate of both Harvard and Oxford, Rhodes Scholar, award-winning sales rep for IBM, former White House official, inspirational writer, public speaker, entrepreneur...and most importantly ...happy wife and loving mom, gives us all hope that our biggest challenge may one day be turned into our grandest victory.