A few weeks ago we had a Tu B'shvat seder (a festive meal for the holiday that celebrates the birthday of trees) in my 7th grade class and one of the questions that came up to discuss was "who inspires you?" The kids actually had some really great answers, both about specific people or more generic people who do specific things... For some reason Amy Purdy popped into my head and I asked them if they knew who she was? Often times heroes and people who inspire us are famous people and while Amy Purdy probably is famous today, once not too long ago she was just like any of the rest of us. Anyway, they had no idea who she was and I promised them to show her Ted Talk the following day.
We watched it and I'd encourage you to also: Click here to watch!
There is something about Amy's story that is so beautiful and yet so heart wrenching. Perhaps its her honesty. We've all had experiences that break our hearts, change our lives, play with our emotions and we deal with them in different ways. That is what makes us human. And no matter what we face, we live. We push ourselves to be bigger and to be better. Sometimes its easy and sometimes its hard. But for me the takeaway message is about the living beyond the limits. The way that Amy has demonstrated (and continues to demonstrate) her strength is heroic to me. I envy it. I know that I am strong. I am independent and I possess a fire that I am proud of, but I also have a timidity that sometimes pulls me back and doesn't allow me to push beyond my borders. When I look at my life and think of all the obstacles I have had, I know that I've surpassed them or at least am still working to. Its just that sometimes I feel like I've barely survived. How do you get to have that mindset that even in the lowest of lows you continue to push forward?
When I hear Amy's story and I think about my own challenges they start to seem minute. So I have to care for a sibling with a disability for my entire life. So my best friend was killed tragically by terrorists. So my last boyfriend completely disappeared out of my life one day without saying a word. So I suddenly have to fight two bulging discs in my spine. So sometimes life hurts. But I have my life and a career that I love and I can travel and I have amazing friends and family who give me so much love and strength every day. Isn't that enough to encourage me to be the best me?
I think that while most days I can carry that energy its those moments of "fails" that irk me. So even though its March I've decided to make some resolutions for my life this year so I can look back to when I forget how to encourage myself to push on.
Leehe's Living Beyond Limits Resolutions...
-Make Art. Not just sometimes but whenever you need to unwind some emotion.
-Be Sassy. One of my students just called me that the other day and the truth is I kinda liked his thinking.
-Take Walks. Short ones, long ones, hot ones, cold ones. Move those legs. And maybe eventually...
-Start Training Again. This can only be done once the medical stuff is dealt with. But run the (half) marathon you've always wanted to run.
-Plan a Trip. Doesn't matter if its to the Savannah or to Slovenia. Do what you love doing and explore new cultures.
-Try Something New. Perhaps a new class? Perhaps a new food? Perhaps a new friend?
-Educate your heart out. Those kids make you happy. Use that to your advantage.
-Take Risks. Even big ones. They're always worthwhile.
-Love. Love everyone. Even the ones that don't love you back or treat you poorly or break your heart.
-Pay it Forward. You're a dreamer its true, but work to make this world a better place. This will truly make you happy.
So Amy Purdy... cheers to you for your strength and your courage. Perhaps one day you'll know that you've inspired me. And for everyone else, make your own living beyond limits resolutions and post them somewhere. On a blog, on your wall, or even send them to me! They'll make you strive to be better and definitely add a little extra happiness to your stride.
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