18 Mar Nick Vujicic – Inspiring for a Lifetime
If you need a boost to motivate you, one very useful tool is to explore the life and words of someone who has overcome great adversity. One such person is Nick Vujicic: an author, musician, actor, with hobbies including fishing, painting and swimming.
“Focus on your dreams and do everything in your power. You have the power to change your life circumstances.”
Nick was born without arms and legs. Nick writes with two toes on his left foot together with a special grip that slides onto his big toe. He knows how to use a computer and can type up to 45 words per minute using the “heel and toe” method. He has also learned to throw tennis balls, play drum pedals, get a glass of water, comb his hair, brush his teeth, answer the phone and shave, in addition to participating in golf, swimming, sky-diving, and can now drive a modified car.
His family steadfastly refused to allow his physical condition to limit his lifestyle and insisted that he be treated as a ‘normal’ child. Due to state laws in Australia he was initially prevented from attending mainstream school due to his physical disability. However, once the laws changed he became one of the first physically disabled students to be integrated into a mainstream school. Throughout his school life his lack of limbs made him a target for school bullies, which resulted in him suffering from severe depression even contemplating suicide.
“Fear is the biggest disability of all.”
Nick’s mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability and it proved to be a turning point in his life. He realised he wasn’t unique in his struggles and began to embrace his lack of limbs. During secondary school, he worked with the student council on fundraising events for local charities and disability campaigns. When he was seventeen he founded his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.
“I am gonna try again and again, because the moment I give up, is the moment I fail.”
Since he was nineteen, he has travelled around the world sharing his story, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, and business professionals through his Attitude is Altitude programme. He was nominated for the Young Australian of the Year Award in 2005. Today this dynamic young man has accomplished more than most people achieve in a lifetime.
“When you feel like giving up your dream force yourself to work another day, another week, another year. You will be amazed what happens when you don’t give up.”
Be inspired by Nick when you think that goal is too difficult to overcome. Some of the best online clips we recommend are: “Good Days & Bad Days”, “Inspired for a Lifetime” which he presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland, “Never Give Up” which is aimed directly at young people. Nick has written several inspiring self help books including Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life.
“If I can encourage just one person then my job in this life is done.”