Nick was born without limbs.

 Watching his video, I was pleasantly surprised. General stereotyping dictates that Nick would tell a sorrowful tear-jerker about his fight and struggle to cope without limbs. However, the optimism and enthusiasm Nick has for life, in particular, his life without limbs transformed to a life without limits, is inspiring.

 In the video, he shares anecdotes on how he finds small joy in using his lack of limbs to scare fellow swimmers at the pool, to scare children into staying away from cigarettes and basically shocking people. Laughing at one’s own shortcomings is already a difficult enough feat for most people. But for Nick, him finding amusement and gleaning entertainment from his physical disabilities is an attitude we should all strive to adopt.

 Nick also mentions the joy he experiences, in being able to perform the simple task of enjoying a waer slide. When was the last time you enjoyed a small and simple happiness? After removing your laptop, handphone, iPod  and other electronics that appear to be a regular body organ for some, would we still be able to survive? Currently, are we able to just stop to smell the flowers, or even find happiness in the humble things in life?

 The challenge for us today, is will we be able to smile at the storm? Will we, like Nick, be able to see our personal impediments, limitations as mere speed-bumps to achieving our goals and coloring in our big picture for life?

 <Homerun>, Jack Neo’s remake of the movie <Children of Heaven>  has a theme song that goes like this:

 我们什么都没有,也没有轻易地低头。

我们什么都没有,也没有放弃的念头。

不管路要怎么走,不管是谁牵着谁的手。

只要我的心紧紧相扣。我们就什么都拥有

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We have nothing, and we also do not have a spirit of surrendering.

We have nothing, and we also do not have the temptation to give up.

No matter how we are going to trudge through life, no matter who holds our hand

As long as our hearts are tightly knitted, we have everything.

__

This song, I feel, is extremely relevant to us or even Nick. When the going gets tough, are the tough always able to get going? Often, we find ourselves in despair, or even on the brink of giving up when left hopeless with (a perceived) nothing. The message here, is that hope is everything. The things on earth will pass and fade – iPod will launch a new version just as you’ve saved up for one; your designer threads will be outdated in no time. But one thing that will never change is the hope and drive you personally have for your life. Find a helping hand to guide you along, if you can. But most importantly, discover your motivation and it will carry you through.

-Stella