Saturday, January 21, 2012

What inspires you?


It inspires me when I hear a story about someone who rises above a physical disability and positively impacts the world. This brings me to the word “inspire”.

: to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on

These folks are like angels in the dark nights of others in order to bring them light. I learned of a man without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic . Nick was born with no arms or legs and struggled with his situation to the point of suicidal ideation at age 10. “How could God use me?” he would ask. He received his answer as he confronted his situation head-on. Since then Nick swims, surfs and talks to students around the world about hope, inspiration and the word of God. He continues to extend his heart to all he meets and says to those who need a miracle, to be the miracle to someone else.



I also want to talk about Joni Eareckson Tada I have yet to meet her, but I am so encouraged by both of these stories. Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is an international advocate for people with disabilities.

A diving accident in 1967 left Joni Eareckson, then 17, a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her hands. After two years of rehabilitation, she emerged with new skills and a fresh determination to help others in similar situations. During her rehabilitation, Joni spent long months learning how to paint with a brush between her teeth. Her high-detail fine art paintings and prints are highly sought-after.

http://www.joniandfriends.org/

These are 2 of my mentors by the example they set for a hope and a future despite being disabled. There is always someone 10 times  worse off, handling it 10 times better. After I Adaptive Skied, whitewater rafted, kayaked and surf kayaked I realized the only thing stopping me was my desire or lack of desire to try something new.  I wanted to form an organization in order to help new members of the disabled community by encouraging adventure sports. The Threus Foundation does just that. Our flagship program “Get Stoked on Skiing”, brings first time skiers to the slopes and covers the costs associated. Our Whitewater rafting program called “Rolling on the River” brings the disabled to the South Fork Kern River for a day of rafting and adventure.

The sky is the limit!! Make 2012 the best year of your life!!