Where Borders End, Imgination Begins

Meet Amy Purdy. She’s a young down-to-earth women who is a world snowboarding champion. Her uniqueness, she is a double foot amputee. That means she has no legs from her knees below.

Listen as Amy tells her inspiring story of how she lost her legs, the sadness of not having legs, her recovery and how this challenge forced her to be innovative and creative in order to pursue her dream to become a top snowboarder and a world champion. Listen to how she solved her problem when no one else could.  She took the initiative to find her own solution when there wasn’t one.  Amy was forced to be creative and innovative to find a solution to her problem that would help her reach her goal. I LOVE THAT!  Isn’t that what we all want in life?  To be able to reach our goals and dreams, but also be able to get there even though there are challenges.

When I hear her story I have to mahalo Ke Akua for all my many blessings. I look at my life and say, I don’t have anything to complain about. I’m healthy, I have a loving and healthy family, I have supportive colleagues, I work with curious students who want to learn and much more. While listening to her talk and how this challenge in her life has changed her I was inspired by some of her thought and would like to share them with you.

• There can always be a positive side to a challenge or problem
  • (I love how she says that she can pick how tall or short she is since she can pick her own legs. Isn’t that a great way to see it. She can be tall or short. She can even fit her feet to fit shoes on the sale rack)

• When we face a challenge or problem it can do two things to us: stop us in our tracks or force use to be creative
  • (Next time you have a challenge, what will it do to you?)

• A challenge will force you to be creative and innovative in order to solve the challenge

My favorite:

• “Borders are where the imagination and innovation begins. It’s not about breaking the borders, it’s about pushing off of them.” – Amy Purdy

So what will you do the next time life presents you with a challenge? Will you look on the positive side? Will you force yourself to be creative and come up with your own solution? Will you be innovative and find a solution?

What will you do?