Imagine what life must be like for people who are born with severe disabilities, like Nick Vujicic. He was born without arms or legs.
He is now 38 years old and both an author and motivational speaker. You might assume his journey has been difficult, but not if you hear him speak about it.
Nick says, “Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude.”
Nick turned an unimaginable challenge into his greatest gift. His disability gives meaning to his life. His purpose is to teach people how to be grateful. His example inspires us to put whatever problems and difficulties we have in perspective. How bad can our situations be compared to not having arms or legs?
The Zen teacher, Norman Fischer, says, “If we are not experiencing gratitude, we are not paying attention.” There are endless things to appreciate if we would just start noticing the things we take for granted.
Barbara O’Brien says, “Often we’re told to remember to be grateful for blessings or good fortune. But Buddhism teaches us to be grateful, period. Gratitude is to be cultivated as a habit or attitude of mind not dependent on conditions.”
Let’s challenge ourselves to pay attention and choose gratitude under any and all circumstances. Be grateful, period.
Linda Sauget is the author of “If You Think It”…and lives in Ft. Lauderdale. Linda is also available for speaking engagements. Please email her at LSauget99@aol.com. To purchase a copy of Linda’s book, go Linda Sauget to: www.IfYouThinkIt.com
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