The Gift of Perspective: Wisdom I Gained from Losing a Leg and Two Lungs

IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Award) Gold Award Winner – Environment/Ecology

Nautilus Award – Silver, Inner Prosperity & Right Livelihood

"Lindsey Roy proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that joy and happiness are just on the other side of the mountain you are climbing."
—Katherine Wintsch, CEO of The Mom Complex; author of Slay Like a Mother

A corporate executive, wife, and mother reflects on what she lost, what she didn’t see coming, and the power of new vantage points.

At age 31, Lindsey Roy was named vice-president at Hallmark Cards — one of the youngest in the company’s more-than-100-year history. Her life was abruptly transformed five years later when she was nearly killed in a boating accident. Left with an amputated left leg and severe limb injuries, and facing a long and difficult recovery ahead, she was determined not just to heal, but to emerge stronger. She eventually shared what trauma had taught her about happiness in a TEDx talk that has been viewed nearly 200,000 times.

Eight years post-accident, fully adapted to her circumstances and genuinely thriving, Lindsey confronted the unexpected again: she was diagnosed with a rare and progressive disease that destroyed the blood vessels in her lungs, requiring a double-lung transplant. This profound setback challenged her to actively shift her viewpoint in order to discover the hidden advantages of her situation and new depths of resilience in herself.

Now a sought-after speaker, she’s imparting these hard-won lessons to help you adapt, persevere, and innovate in your own life. Brimming with valuable insights forged in the fire — from Lindsey’s journey and from other inspiring individuals she’s met along the way — The Gift of Perspective is ready to meet you where you are, and no matter where adversity may find you.

Lindsey Roy has experienced unique challenges in her life, including a leg amputation from a traumatic boating accident and a rare disease leading to a double lung transplant. These experiences, coupled with her natural gifts for speaking and writing, have transformed into a passion to tell her story in the hopes of helping others tackle whatever obstacles life throws at them. She did a TED talk in 2017 titled “What Trauma Taught Me About Happiness.” Her story has been featured in major publications, such as O Magazine, Fast Company, Forbes, and Working Mother. 

Lindsey’s perspective is also honed by her roles as a corporate executive, mother and wife. She is Senior VP Strategy & Brand at Hallmark, an iconic brand and company. Lindsey has been at Hallmark for twenty-two years, leading various initiatives and groups, including serving as the company CMO prior to this role. Lindsey believes in authentic leadership and the power of meaningful connection. Lindsey was named in 2021 the CMO Creativity and Storytelling Award Winner by the CMO Club. She has a degree in Journalism & Advertising with a minor in Speech from Kansas State University and serves on many charitable boards, including Ability KC, Steps of Faith and the Ad Council. Lindsey lives in Kansas City with her husband, Aaron, and children, Mitchell and Morgan.