Always finding myself using Nick Vujicic's video to spike my girl when she is feeling defeated and helpless. I want to help her to keep things in perspective. This happens to many of us, as we are so ingrained with daily lives that we forget that we are just a part of the universe, that Singapore is just a small country in this world, that the earth is just a small planet in the milky way, that there are harder lives and great inconveniences than what we are going through now. When she complains a task is too difficult, I will ask her if doing it with limbs or without limbs is more difficult. This usually leaves her speechless. Adults included, it is so easy to forget to be thankful for what we already have. I think doing volunteer work and watching videos like this will help to keep us in check.
Inspired by this movie to embark on a challenge for myself. One to find myself. To "don't settle, keep looking" as said by Steve Jobs. In the movie, Nick followed his heart to join Butterfly circus but he did not know what he could do in the circus. He saw how the circus members were recruited by the circus master off the streets and how they found their purpose in the circus by performing and entertaining and putting smiles on people's faces, particularly for the poor. They even donated to the poor. Nick saw how they could make a difference. However, he felt he could not do the same because he was "different" given his disability. Once, the circus troop was resting by a river. Nick needed help to cross a log. The other circus members pretended not to hear his plead in a bid to get him to take the first step out of his comfort zone. He did and he fell into the water. That's when he discovered that he could actually swim and ultimately a circus act was designed for him. I think we don't sit around and think about what we should do. We have to do it. Just do it. I am going to challenge myself to learn something new every month.
2 things resounded in my head after watching this: "I don't care" and "purpose". I simply adore his optimism. The jokes he told about his no-limb situation. It appears that he had totally accepted his fate, something that take enormous courage to do. His jokes drew him closer to his audience which had already opened up to him because he has no limbs. He also subtly showed what he could achieve, even without hands and legs, like taking a phone call, picking himself up from a fall, playing drums, kicking a ball etc. And towards the end of this video that showed how he lives his life, he could do things way beyond anyone's imagination, like swimming, driving a speedboat and even simple things like combing hand and brushing teeth. It was hard I can imagine how he was teased when he was young. He tried committing suicide when he was ten years old. He almost wanted to end it all. I also had a disability and was teased by my classmates. My small disability is nothing, compared to his. He said, even today, he isn't happy all the time, there are still times that he feels lousy especially when his loved ones are in pain but he couldn't help. It is my choice What do you choose to believe? Do you want to believe in others' opinion of you? Do you want be the person that others think that you will be? Do you want to give up after you fail? He said he realised that he couldn't change his situation, that he couldn't have his arms and legs back overnight. So, he asked himself if he wanted to focus on not having arms and legs or be thankful for still having a "chicken drumstick". When people around have sex, drugs, alcohol and swear, do we have to follow? He doesn't care...if you are fat or thin, pretty or ugly, smart or stupid, he wants to give you a hug and love you...how powerful. He found his purpose in life...saving people's lives through his inspirational speeches. I have to lean in closer and listen to my heart...I don't care.