How many times have you complained about the size of your thighs, that extra few inches around your waist or thewiggle under your arms? For many of us after the holidays this can become daily commentary. I confess,I am one of those self-absorbed who is constantly scrutinizing my looks, always attempting to improve andfrequently exercising restraint over thedinnerplatewhile ramping up exercising in the gym. I have been that way since childhood for many many reasons starting with being an ugly duckling as a child, taunted as a school girl and then growing up to be a societal- and self-styledType A perfection seeking woman. You think you grow out of it but youdon’t really. Even after a life threatening illness.
And then I get another reminder thatreboots my brain. I see somethingonTV or read something.Recently a friend lost a lovedone very suddenly; an acquaintance was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. Anda little voice inside pipesup and says: “Stop complaining. You of healthy mind and bodyhave the world in the palm of your hands. You have the ability to go where and do what you wantif you put your mind to it and focus.What’sstopping you?”
I was reminded again this morning watching CBS Sunday Morning in a segment “Life without Limbs.” Australian author and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. It was a freak joke of Mother Nature, and many people would have given up on Nick, but not his parents. Nick grew up an active child in his unique state of “normal” and only realized he was not “normal” in the common world sensethanks to theincessant bullying hereceivedat school. At the age of 10,he asked his father to leave him alone while he took a bath. Nick rolled himself over in the bathtub face downand waited to die. But his mind wandered to his family and he realized the pain he would cause them by committing suicide would be unbearable. And that changed the course of his life.
Today, Nick has written abest-selling book: “Unstoppable: From No Limbs To No Limits.” He has a beautiful wife and a child with ten fingers and ten toes. He speaks to thousands of people at stadiums around the country teaching them to have faith and to be unstoppable. All he asks in return is a warm embrace; thearms of a hugmean alot to Nick. His embrace to the world is in his words and actions.
And his embraceof life and its opportunitiesis unstoppable. Nick plays golf, fixes up cars, cooks and has parachuted out of an airplane. He is a father, a faith leader and friend to many, especially those with disabilities. Nick has the world in the palm of his hands.
So the next time we complain about our looks ora part of our body we hate, or limits we think we have, remember this: The only “disability” any ofus truly possesses is a closed mind. The only ugliness we have is hatred and jealously. The only limits we have are those we alloworplace upon ourselves. With the right attitude,a healthy mindand a reasonable approach to theidea of “reaching for it,” you can have the world in the palm of your hands.
Vide a video of Nick Vujicic here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4uG2kSdd-4
