Get Off Your Knees: A Story of Faith, Courage, and Determination

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

83 Turning Obstacles into Opportunities One challenge that is difficult for me is describing to a potential client how I look. “I stand only three feet nine inches tall. I was born without my arms (including hands) from the elbows down. My legs formed without my upper thighs and corresponding bone structure, so my hips are attached to my lower legs. I do not have knees, and I walk in a shuffling motion.” Imagine being on the other end of the line and hearing that I’m the person you’re going to meet with in less than twenty-four hours! Then imagine you are me and you have to explain it to somebody. First impressions (more on this subject in the next chapter) are just one of the many everyday obstacles I’ve had to overcome in trying to fit myself into an able-bodied world. Others include: accepting the idea that I will always be much • shorter in a taller world; reaching items up high, from light switches to • shelves to the microwave oven; learning how to use computer keyboards, a cell • phone, and other devices that require fingers; 84 | Get Off Your Knees driving a vehicle when my feet can’t reach the floor • and my arms can’t grasp the steering wheel. • Being born without extensions to my arms and legs provided me with what most people would perceive to be an insurmountable obstacle; it would be understandable if I took a mulligan and stayed at home on my couch collecting Social Security. For a while I felt this way, too, but now I’m blessed to see these obstacles before me as opportunities . When I see a challenge ahead I take the time to think about it, and then I come up with a solution. I don’t see these obstacles as dead ends (“No, I can’t type”; “No, I’ll never learn how to drive a car”); rather, I see them as opportunities for growth and a chance to better my life. If I can figure out a way to overcome these challenges, then I’m no longer burdened by what I perceive to be a problem, and I’m a much happier person for it. Everyone reading this book feels saddled by something that causes them stress. Think about it: There is something weighing heavily on you. It could be that you’re worried about the test you have next week, or the credit card bills you have to pay. It could be a first date, or an upcoming job interview. It may be that your job is in jeopardy, or that you just accepted a new job and you have two weeks to pack your belongings and move from New York City to Los Angeles. You’ve got all of these challenges in your head that you’re building up as obstacles against some sort of happiness—your personal Turning Obstacles into Opportunities | 85 happiness! Instead of thinking of these things as obstacles , think about the opportunities they provide and how happy you’ll be when you do succeed. It’s as much about having a positive attitude as anything else, and believing how much stronger and relieved you’ll be when you’ve come up with a solution to your problem. Take the example of the person above who is relocating for their new job. Instead of looking at things in a negative light or worrying himself to death (Should I rent a truck and drive out or hire movers? How am I going to get everything out of my apartment? Can I afford a one- or two-bedroom in Los Angeles? What neighborhoods should I be looking in? Will my landlord let me out of my current lease? What do I do about transportation when I get to California?), he should be thinking about how lucky he is to have this opportunity when many people today are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. He should be excited about leaving the cold and snow behind for the sunshine, beaches, and year-round golf season he will soon get to enjoy. Let me give you a few examples of obstacles I have confronted in my life and how I was able to turn them into opportunities. First and foremost, there was teaching myself how to dress. To this day, I believe that this simple act was...