The Bend Like Bamboo Resilience Show: Kijuan Amey, Wounded Warrior & Motivational Speaker, Ep 53

Written By Amanda Campbell

Welcome to The Bend Like Bamboo Resilience Show. Each week, I interview amazing people, who share their inspiring stories of resilience. Enjoy our dive deep into educational and amazing insights as I explore the stories of my special guests, learning how they have overcome adversity in their lives.

In each session, together we can learn actionable tools that can help us elevate our mindset, seeing our setbacks as an opportunity to grow. To Bend Like Bamboo is to adapt with the power of flexibility. When we can transform our ‘story’ we can also change our minds about what can be possible in our minds, bodies, and lives.

Kijuan Amey features on the Bend Like Bamboo Resilience Podcast

Bend Like Bamboo: The Power of Resilience with Kijuan Amey.

Kijuan Amey


Wounded Warrior & Speaker

IIn our latest episode of "Bend Like Bamboo," we had the privilege of sitting down with Kijuan Amey, founder of Amey Motivation and a true embodiment of resilience in the face of life-altering adversity.

The Journey of a Warrior

Kijuan's story begins in Durham, NC, where his path to resilience was forged early. After graduating from Southern High School, he dedicated a decade to serving in the US Air Force, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant as an In-flight Refueling Specialist. His military career taught him discipline and mental toughness—skills that would later become crucial in his most challenging battle.

"In the military I learned to suck it up buttercup," Kijuan reflected during our conversation. "It showed me what I was made of and how far I could push myself."

When Life Changes in an Instant

On May 5th, 2017, everything changed. A devastating motorcycle accident left Kijuan fighting for his life. He spent 1-2 months in a coma, underwent multiple surgeries from head to toe, and experienced internal bleeding. When he finally regained consciousness, he discovered he had lost his eyesight. His face was crushed, his jaw broken and wired shut—leaving him unable to speak or see.

"I panicked due to the lack of my ability to communicate," Kijuan shared. "This was my rock bottom."

The once-independent military professional could not bathe or feed himself. "When I could not bathe or feed myself, I was humbled," he admits. It was a profound lesson in vulnerability that would reshape his entire perspective.

Finding Light in Darkness

What makes Kijuan's story so powerful isn't just what happened to him—it's what he did next.

"My turning point was getting out of my head," he explained. "I had many thoughts constantly going in my head."

The road to recovery wasn't travelled alone. Kijuan emphasised the incredible support system that rallied around him. His family stood by him, and his military colleagues demonstrated extraordinary solidarity. In one touching example, when Kijuan needed to vacate his rental home, 15 soldiers arrived and moved his entire household in just 30 minutes.

"Incredible how they pulled together to help me," Kijuan remarked, the gratitude evident in his voice.

Real Talk About Resilience

During our conversation, Kijuan provided a refreshingly honest definition of resilience: "Resilience is how we bounce back literally, emotionally, and physically. The harder part can be the mental component."

His advice comes from lived experience and cuts through the usual platitudes:

  1. Seek help — "I advise seeking help, as no one can do this alone. Get therapy, counselling, physio."

  2. Don't mask your pain — "Don't drink; it only masks your issues."

  3. Talk about it — "Don't internalise your emotions; be truthful about how you feel."

Kijuan addressed head-on the barriers that often prevent people, especially veterans, from seeking mental health support: "What stops us? Pride, shame, and the stigma that mental health is weakness, and we can be looked at differently when we have challenges here."

The gravity of this reluctance to seek help is underscored by a sobering statistic he shared: "There are 22+ active and veteran soldiers committing suicide a day."

Transformation Through Authenticity

Through his darkest moments, Kijuan discovered unexpected gifts. While he lost a relationship during his recovery, he has since found "a much better, authentic relationship" with his new partner. He speaks highly of his "amazing therapist", who helps him develop strategies to move forward.

As Kijuan powerfully states: "I may have lost my sight, but I did not lose my vision."

The Catalyst for Change

Today, Kijuan serves as the former vice president for the Carolina regional group of the Blinded Veterans Association and as a mentor and ambassador for the Air Force Wounded Warriors program. He's founded Amey Motivation LLC and is preparing to release his book, "Don't Focus on Why Me."

With 25 years of drumming expertise and experience in on-stage acting, Kijuan brings creativity and dynamism to his role as a motivational speaker. Whether he's addressing crowds of 1,500 or working one-on-one, his message resonates deeply because it comes from authentic experience.

Kijuan Amey isn't just telling others how to overcome adversity—he's living proof that it's possible to bend without breaking, to find new purpose amid devastating loss, and to transform personal pain into a mission that serves others.

Connect with Kijuan

To learn more about Kijuan's inspiring journey and work:

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Kijuan's journey from darkness to light and his practical strategies for building resilience in your own life. Subscribe to "Bend Like Bamboo" on your favourite podcast platform to ensure you never miss an episode of transformative stories and actionable wisdom.

If you found Kijuans insights as valuable as I did, you can connect with him through the links below.

 
 

You can also listen to the interview on the Bend Like Bamboo Resilience podcast

Connect with Kijuan

To learn more about Kijuan's inspiring journey and work:

Work with Amanda

Connect with Amanda

Kinesiology Heal & Coaching THRIVE  Sessions:

 

Speaking & Events: Amanda delivers wellness workshops and keynotes both in-person and virtually. To book: hello@amandacampbell.com.au | www.amandacampbell.com.au

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Amanda Campbell
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