Trent Shelton encourages Bermudians to 'Dream Big'

More than 500 people attended Dream Big last night featuring Trent Shelton and were treated to an uplifting, motivational evening. 

The event was held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess with keynote speaker, Shelton, a former NFL player turned motivational speaker. 

Local speakers included Melodye Micere Van Putten, Cushi Ming and Gnica Brangman. 

The man of the hour, Mr Shelton came to the stage after a short video introduction. While he spoke a bit all over the place, the message was sound. 

‘Today, look at me as possibility. I am not here on some ego stuff,” he said.

“Look at me as possibility. I really want ya’ll to leave here and say if he can do that, I can do what I want to do.

“When you leave here today and do nothing with your life, that’s on you.”

Mr Shelton told stories about his life and experiences that he’s had to make him the man he is today. He also said if people aren’t laughing at your dreams, they aren’t big enough. 

Speaking on how he started his company, Rehab Time, he said: “When I started it, I wanted to change one life and that was mine. 

“I never wanted to be a speaker. I was making those videos because I was hurt.

‘Those things that I was going through, other people were going through.”

Shelton spoke about how when things weren't going well in his life, people he thought were his friends were nowhere to be found. 

“Surround yourself with people who care about you, not what you do.”

He continued: “The reason I told you it all starts with you is because you have got to make a decision to know your worth. 

“You have got to make a decision to say you know what, I’m not going to let anything take my self esteem. I’m not going to let any tell where what I can’t be.

“Just because you have some bad chapters in your life, take it from me, that doesn’t mean that your story can’t end well.

“That doesn't mean God doesn’t have a story for your life.”

Mrs Van Putten spoke on friendships before relationships and the importance of being a whole person before starting a relationship. 

She opened with: “If you can’t do you, you can’t do him”.

Speaking on the idea of better halves, she said: “No better half here. Work on being a better whole person.

“Who wants to be half a person? I want to be whole. I want him or her to be whole.

“Understand you are complete all by yourself. A companion should enhance your life, not complete.”

Mrs Van Putten also stressed the importance of getting to know your partner for all four seasons instead of rushing into something that may not work out. 

She also encouraged the audience not to waste time on bad relationships. 

“If you are in a relationship that you shouldn’t be in, it will come back to you”, she added.

Speaking on happiness, she said: “Men can enhance your happiness, but happiness comes from you.”

Mr Ming spoke on what he called the three Ps- purpose, persistence and passion. 

“So many people become successful and feel a little empty because their purpose and their dreams aren’t aligned. 

“The difference between goals, dreams and purpose is that our goals and dreams are about ourselves but purpose is about people.”

“With persistence, you will always move forward. With purpose, passion and persistence, success is inevitable.”

Ms Brangman, owner of Orchid Nail Spa spoke about her struggles to open the business and what she did in the meantime.

“Even if you don't have the money to today, work with what you have now. Limitless faith is knowing that God has already ordered your steps. 

“When your dream is accomplished, you’re going to wish you dreamed bigger.  You never know what God has in store for you until you put your best faith forward.”