The participants of the NBIF enjoyed a summer evening with Peter Kahrmann, whose ability and desire to communicate with each individual present with honesty and caring as we gathered in the yard, brought him an open-hearted welcome from all. His efforts to learn a little bit about each person, allowed him to include personal comments to each individual as he spoke to the group, expressing positive support and admiration.
Peter's message of positivity in life as one meets the challenges and overcomes 'obstacles', is of turning them into discovering one's individual strengths. As he joked about the neighbor that chose this particular time to mow his lawn, he shared the awareness of how distracting and sometimes painful it can be to experience sensory overload after brain injury that has affected a person's hearing. And then he talked about the need to recognize and use strategies to minimize overload...to get enough rest, to control your own environment, to express to others what you are experiencing. His presentation was as informative as it was inspiring, and his skill as a 'teacher' was evident. Peter shared the power of having a sense of humor, a sense of self, and never ever giving up in seeking a quality of life that every individual deserves. The NBIF appreciated this extraordinay experience and hopes to welcome Peter back often.
Peter's message of positivity in life as one meets the challenges and overcomes 'obstacles', is of turning them into discovering one's individual strengths. As he joked about the neighbor that chose this particular time to mow his lawn, he shared the awareness of how distracting and sometimes painful it can be to experience sensory overload after brain injury that has affected a person's hearing. And then he talked about the need to recognize and use strategies to minimize overload...to get enough rest, to control your own environment, to express to others what you are experiencing. His presentation was as informative as it was inspiring, and his skill as a 'teacher' was evident. Peter shared the power of having a sense of humor, a sense of self, and never ever giving up in seeking a quality of life that every individual deserves. The NBIF appreciated this extraordinay experience and hopes to welcome Peter back often.
More about Peter...
Known for emotionally connecting with audiences and individuals, often in an instant, Peter S. Kahrmann is a powerful, charismatic and deeply compassionate public speaker. Also known for taking audiences from laughter to tears and back again with uncanny prescience and a formidable supply of charisma, he is, more than anything, an advocate for human rights.
Mr. Kahrmann is the creator of Life Growth, a remarkable philosophy and life-management system rooted in lessons learned from a life packed with a staggering amount of trauma and tragedy. Anyone who knows him well knows he possesses an unflinching loyalty to the sanctity and dignity of a person’s individuality. Many say his ability to connect with people on a deeply personal level is due to his kindness, honesty, and courage.
In 1984 while on his way to work, Mr. Kahrmann was held-up and shot in the head at point blank range. The bullet remains lodged in his brain. He has devoted his life to advocating for quality of life support for individuals facing sometimes overwhelming challenges in their lives, and has received numerous awards for his work. He states that “All of us are born with the right to be who we are safely in the world around us.”
Mr. Kahrmann is a co-founder and former board member of the New York City Chapter of Victims for Victims, a non-profit group that works with crime victims and their loved ones. It was in 1985 that he began to develop the philosophy and structure of Life Growth. He has been a board member of the Brain Injury Association of New York and is the president of the Life Growth Center.
