Overcoming All Odds!

We have heard so many stories of people who were born with all kinds of handicaps and despite all the odds stacked against them, they managed to create a life most others can only dream about.

Yet, many, despite being born with all the money, advantages, resources and opportunities choose to make nothing of themselves. In fact, many of them end up destroying their lives.

Here are some examples.

Oprah Winfrey - Street urchin to talk show host extraordinary. What would you say of a child who was born to a single 13-year-old mother who was struggling to survive on the streets? What would you say if I told you that this child became the victim of multiple physical and sexual abuses before the age of thirteen herself? She later became pregnant and gave birth to a still-born baby.

She often got into trouble with the law before the age of fifteen. You wouldn't bet too much hope on her future would you? What if I told you that this person was Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest and most successful women in the United States? And she is an
Afro-American as well.

Superman to Paraplegic...and now an Inspiration to all

Now, think of Christopher Reeve. Many of us remember Reeves as invincible Superman. He not only had super strength but super powers, he could literally fly. More than that, Christopher Reeve had the fantastic physique to make the role he played to super stardom, magical and believable.

Then, in 1994, a tragic horse riding accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down for life! Initially, the meaning he attached to the accident was that his life was over and that he would be a burden to everyone.

Utterly depressed Reeve wanted his doctors to take him off life support and allow him to die. It was his wife who asked him to give himself (and his family) two years. If, at the end of the two years, he felt the same way, they would find a way to let him go.

But as Reeve's rehabilitation began, surrounded by his very loving and supportive family and friends, he started to attach a totally different meaning to his disability. He began to see that he (because of his fame) could become an inspiration and symbol to all
those who are suffering from various disabilities, and who have lost hope.

The meaning he gave to his experience put him in a resourceful state. As he continued to bear his massive disability stoically and improve, bit by bit, he started to write what went to become a best-selling book called 'Nothing is Impossible'.

Though imprisoned in his body, Reeve gave hundreds of moving speeches and inspiring seminars; he even directed a movie and won an academy award.

Millions around the world have been inspired by Reeve indomitable spirit and he has raised millions through the Christopher Reeve foundation.

Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope

Heard of Terry Fox, Canadian marathon runner? Well, at 18 Terry was diagnosed with cancer and had to have his right leg amputated.

Most people would see this as a tragedy and never, in their wildest dreams, would they see themselves running. Not Terry Fox.

This courageous man decided that he would use this experience to raise money for cancer research and make a difference to all cancer sufferers. So, despite having only one leg, Terry started to run across Canada to raise a million dollars.

Sadly, half way through his journey, Terry contracted another cancer, this time in his lungs. He was forced to stop his run and died on June 28, 1981. However, because of the inspiration that his courage had created, he raised over US$24 million for his cause.

Today, over $330 million has been raised around the world through the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope.

In all of our lives, there will always come a time when things seem unfair, that no matter how hard we work for something, we did not get what we believed we deserved. It may even be a terrible tragedy.

Many people allow events such as these to destroy their
self-esteem, their faith and belief about themselves and the essential goodness of others.

They allow these events to cripple them forever in taking action. But there are always others who use what appeared to be negative events/happenings to grow stronger, wiser and more powerful.