A Fisherman or Fisher of Men?
T-Roy has found new motivation to succeed
(Editor’s Note: The writer’s opinions and observations expressed here are his own, and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, policies or positions of FLW.)
Now that the Forrest Wood Cup has come and gone, I’ve had a few days to gather my thoughts and recollections of fishing my first season as a rookie on the Walmart FLW Tour.
It was a series of ups, downs and way downs, though I ended my season with a nice check at the Potomac River. I thought squaring off against a prehistoric reptile in its own backyard was tough, but I have to tell you that fishing against these FLW guys was tougher than dealing with alligators back home.
I learned a lot this past season and owe thanks to everyone I competed against. Collectively, they helped me understand how important it is to be mentally focused and not rely on excuses to soften the blow of a bad day. I’ve never been one to quit anything in my life or give up on anything I’ve ever attempted to achieve. Still, after my horrible showing at Eufaula, I started second-guessing myself and felt like a failure.
I couldn’t understand how I went from hero to zero after the amazing season I had in 2014 in the Texas Division of the Rayovac FLW Series.I was getting close to my breaking point until I met a little boy on social media who changed my outlook on fishing and – most importantly – what I saw when I looked in the mirror.
Many of you know that I spend a great amount of time on social media.I gained more than a quarter-million followers since my tenure on Swamp People and I have some of the best fans and followers a guy could ask for. Recently I couldn’t help but notice a particular fan on Twitter. He’s 9-year-old Lei Beckley-Wagner, a Wisconsin lad who was constantly posting some of the neatest video clips mimicking me and some of the other cast and crew of Swamp People.
I instantly warmed to the little guy and after conversing with him through email and social media, I learned that he had a disorder called Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 2 (Developmental Dyslexia). I’d heard of autism and understood the basics of it, but I had never met anyone dealing with it. After Tweeting back and forth and exchanging emails, I began to learn about Lei through his legal guardians, PaPa and Ahma. It was they who took Lei in when he was 4 and raised him as theirs.
PaPa left his job to care for Lei full-time and help spread awareness about his cause. When I asked PaPa what Lei’s cause was, he told me it was to spread awareness of the condition through the great outdoors and to be a general encouragement to all whose lives have been touched in some way by autism. The mission was to share the hope that Lei has found through event appearances, trade shows, charity fishing tournaments, and other public events that can give him a platform to reach and help others.
I learned that PaPa and Ahma were footing the bill for this entire mission and relied on help from people and companies involved in the outdoor industry. When I got to observe Lei’s life through social media, I saw a little 9-year-old boy who is radiant, happy and not showing any signs of having a disability. He’s an avid archer and fisherman as well as quite a ham in front of a camera. He’s just a boy who loves life and refuses to let anyone label him as anything other than normal.
Lei’s motto is “Never give up,” the same motto I always lived by until I started doubting myself because of a couple of bad tournaments. Lei made this ol’ swamp rat from southeast Texas give myself a reality check and get my mind focused back on what is really important in life.
Since I met Lei and his family,I’ve decided to get involved by promoting his social media through my followers and fans as well as connect him with some of my sponsors. I put up one of my rookie FLW jerseys on eBay to help raise money for his preferred charity called “Autism Speaks.” I’m setting the bar high for myself on the FLW Tour in 2016 and pledge to donate 10 percent of any winnings to Autism Speaks in Lei’s name.
There are a few guys I got to know this year who are really involved with charity causes and organizations. Cody Kelley works with the Arkansas Special Olympics and Tom Redington works with The Boy Scouts of America. There are several other anglers who volunteer their time and efforts in community service projects organized by FLW.
I want to challenge every angler, celebrity, athlete, or public figure who has the ability to make a difference in someone’s life to step up to the plate and give a little back to the world.Every one of us can take a few minutes out of our day to do something positive for those who are facing challenges far more difficult than we.
Lei, thank you for helping me get back on track.In one of your messages to me, you called me a hero, but I’m not worthy of that title; that title belongs to you. Keep being yourself, little buddy, and keep fighting the good fight.
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” ~~~Philippians 2:4