Perception is everything.

I probably wouldn’t do a lot of what I’m doing now if I wasn’t missing my right leg.

Listen people, let’s be clear – missing a whole-ass leg has its disadvantages. I think that’s more than a little obvious, and I don’t think it’s necessary to list em’ out for the purpose of this blog post. 

On the other side of things, growing up with a prosthetic leg has given me the opportunity to gain a mental, physical, and emotional resilience a lot of people will never have or understand. I’m presented with daily battles most people don’t even think of, not because they’re lazy or unfeeling, but simply because they don’t have to. It’s not their normal.

Taking a step is harder for me than most. It requires extra energy and thought. If I can figure out how to take one step, let alone how to walk around all day…it’s taught me I can do other hard things. I don’t have to run away from challenges, because I know there’s a way to figure it out and push through.

This, in my opinion, is a sincere life advantage. People don’t typically choose the harder route just because…usually it’s only when they feel they have no other choice. For me, I HAVE to choose a harder route every day. Compound 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 31 years – all of that time to practice getting physically and mentally, and you don’t think I have it figured out more than a lot of people without that daily practice?!

Perception is everything. 

Maybe your “disadvantage” isn’t missing a leg. Maybe it’s nothing physical. But it can be real and hard and painful. In those situations too, you can choose to be a victim each day, looking around seeing how much easier other people have it.

OR

You can take the opportunity to get stronger than the person who doesn’t have to think about your situation. Take the advantage and come out stronger for it.

Life isn’t fair, so take that fact out of the game. It’s not about being “fair,” – it’s about what you’re capable of.

Go see what you’re capable of.