If you are like any one of us, giving up is always easy to do. Here’s what has always inspired me and my wife – about perseverance, learning, and attainment of one’s goals in life. Allow me to share.
Years back, an incident left me with an indelible impression. In April 2011, I was informed that someone special would be attending my class. Let me call him “Luke”. Luke has very limited mobility. He moves around in a motorised wheelchair. He can only move his hand, not his arm. In fact, he uses his knuckles to take notes on a track pad of a computer using a special software.
For 3 days, he listened attentively to all my sessions, struggling to take notes. Ever so often, his hand would lose contact with the track pad of the computer and a fellow participant in the class would have to assist him, gently raising his hand and placing it back onto the track pad. Every lunch, his devoted parents would be around to help him to the toilet and feed him his lunch. I was amazed at Luke’s fortitude and his parents’ loving commitment.
The incident left me wondering why people view learning so differently. I often hear excuses for NOT wanting to learn.
“I’m too busy at work to be away for a course.”
“I’m familiar with that topic. I don’t think I need to learn that again.”
“I’m attending this class only because I need to chalk up enough training hours.”
The excuses go on and on. For these people, learning is a chore.
Let me get back to Luke. After 3 days sitting in my programme, I asked Luke how he finds the determination to learn despite his difficulties. Luke had a simple answer.
“Physically, I cannot do much. Mentally, I can do wonders.”
Luke taught me a great lesson that day about life-long learning. With learning, we can indeed do wonders. I shared this experience with my wife and my children. Luke’s drive to succeed continues to inspire us when the going gets tough.
A Bright Light is Awaiting
Do you have the perseverance, the will to succeed? Are you willing to take that first step to attaining your goals in life?
Inspiring others, igniting their passion and motivating them to change…one simple action at a time.
Winst & Ross