In today’s society, many challenges exist, but influencer Chad Ehlers, known as Da_chad, has made it his mission to bring joy into people’s lives with his ChadChange Movement.
Sometimes, it is difficult to discover your purpose if you don’t go through some life phases. This is the perception of Chad Ehlers after he found himself as a social media influencer, even though he started his life as a registered nurse. As happy as he used to be when he was still a young lad, Chad Ehlers’ selflessness would see him support people to make them better. One common factor between Chad’s occupations as a social media influencer and working as a nurse is that he motivates people and tries to put a smile on their faces.
Founding the ChadChange Movement came as a result of different life challenges that he encountered. He became homeless at 17 years old. His former wife’s death, which came due to depression and suicidal thoughts, didn’t help matters. He had to take care of his child while he also worked to make ends meet. This was the turning point for Chad.
Chad’s advice to people who would like to start something new is to start as early as possible. Contemplating will only make you regret not taking action. He grew up in poverty and abuse in Louisiana and learned early on how to survive many obstacles and challenges.
The ChadChange Movement
The ChadChange Movement started with about five people. I didn’t expect it to grow like it has! Now, we have so many people requesting daily to join this group of positive influencers. Today, the ChadChange Movement is composed of nineteen different groups of 400+ claimed positive influencers, each with a focus on different support groups. For example, we have groups for people going through divorce, cancer, abuse etc… We have also formed a few different group structures with: A leader’s group, a promoter’s group, a designer’s group, and even a charity board, etc.
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Chad teaches different dances using the Zoom platform. He teaches dance through Zoom, not as a serious dance class but for anyone and everyone to come and have fun and forget about the stress of the day, together, we dance, laugh and smile, all free of charge.
Today’s time feels so much more stressful given that people are feeling trapped inside their homes and everything is online or on social media, not to mention, we are in the middle of a pandemic! If you think about the most powerful and emotionally impactful videos that you’ve ever watched but you took the sound away, it would lose its ability to touch your heart. Music is a universal language, meaning, that it doesn’t matter what native tongue you speak or what side of the world you live on, we can all relate to it. If you play a sound with a rhythmic beat all people will relate and bob their heads to the music, together, instinctively.
How to Create Change | Simon Sinek
Personal Battles and Inspiration
As a single dad, I had to put food on the table for me and my daughter. It was in nursing school I met my wife and thought I had found the love of my life. Nursing can be a very challenging career and the things we see can sometimes take a toll on your mental health. Unfortunately, my wife found no other way out of coping with the depression this work brought on, and eight years ago, she took her life. That is why I believe so strongly in supporting those with mental health conditions because I understand now the struggle is real and it was never my fault. After her death, I struggled with my own bouts of depression and alcoholism to deal with her passing at such a young age.
After several years, I met someone with whom I had another child. In July of this year, however, I would have to face another battle. My youngest daughter, Mia, was diagnosed with cancer. It was a diagnosis no parent ever wants to hear. In the midst of a pandemic, my child being diagnosed with cancer and still being a single father to my oldest daughter, I had a choice to make.
The news came one night when I was teaching a dance zoom class. Mia’s mom called to tell me the hospital had found cancer in my daughter’s blood system. I abruptly ended the zoom and ran to the hospital. I don’t even remember what took place. Upon hearing the words from the doctor that my not-yet two-year-old daughter had this devastating disease, cancer, I remember bawling like a baby and just holding onto her so tightly. I never wanted to let her go! She was my child. She was my hope and now that was being taken away from me!
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My daughter’s battle with leukemia has proven to be one of the toughest battles of my life, seeing an innocent two-year-old struggling just to survive while undergoing chemotherapy every week. Her strength to undergo the weekly spinal taps and chemo has been nothing short of inspiring to me, personally. As a social media influencer, I have found my daughter’s battle has actually brought together people who have undergone similar circumstances and have won that battle. As a result of overcoming the effects of my former wife’s suicide, dealing with the effects of my daughter’s cancer, I have started support groups online. We came together on social media to support each other and we now have over 300 people worldwide engaging in our movement.
Using my online platforms to help spread positivity in the midst of a pandemic, healing from a spouse committing suicide in our twenties, to now a daughter battling childhood leukemia. I found when you give back to others, you always get more in return! I can tell you, as a personal testimony, nothing and no one can define your journey for you. Only you can determine what you will do with your life, your purpose, and your calling.
Chad's Principles
- Protect: Shield your children from harm.
- Provide: Ensure their needs are met.
- Love: Show them unconditional affection.
- Teach: Guide them with wisdom and knowledge.
As I reflect back on this last battle and journey I am still in, I can tell you I have never before in my life felt as blessed as I am right now! My daughter is out of the hospital. Though she is still battling, she is at home.
You’ve heard the quote by Gandhi, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ Well, I’ll add one to it: Live the change you want to see. Nothing and no one is beyond hope, but the first step is believing that and then being that to others. I want to inspire others to be the change, to give hope, spread love, and positivity without expecting anything in return. When you do that, selflessly, you will see you are the one who is really being blessed. It’s true when the Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I live by that and I strive every day to spread kindness to this world, no matter what is going on around me.
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