By Dr Niyi A
•
August 10, 2024
At the tender age of 10, Nick Vujicic attempted to commit suicide by drowning himself in a tub. Nick's journey began in Melbourne, Australia, where he was born with Tetra-Amelia Syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. Growing up, he found himself questioning his purpose on earth as well as his self-worth. He believed that he would never live a normal life. However, a significant turning point came when he was 13. One day, while playing soccer, he accidentally hurt his little foot so badly that he was unable to walk for three weeks. During this period of recovery, Nick had a monumental realisation. He had a choice! He could choose to be angry and resentful about his life, or he could choose to be grateful for what he had. This epiphany marked the beginning of a profound shift in his perspective. Nick embraced an attitude of gratitude and decided to focus on the blessings in his life rather than his limitations. He began to see that his glass was always half-full never half empty. He started to appreciate aspects of his life he had previously taken for granted: the fact that he had a little foot to play soccer, his parents who supported him unconditionally, his friends who he enjoyed spending time with. His stopped seeing himself as a victim and started seeing himself as a person with many facets of life worth living. Determined to share his story and inspire others, Nick began speaking publicly about his experiences moving countless individuals to tears. Nick's story is not just about overcoming physical challenges, but also about overcoming the barriers of the mind. His achievements also showed people with disabilities that if he, born without hands or limbs, could achieve his dreams and become a speaker on global stages, then they too can pursue their dreams. So what if you're a little different from the rest? What if there are some broken pieces of you? Just because something is broken does not mean that it is not beautiful. Beautiful things can come from broken pieces when you decide to give those broken pieces a chance. This is your reminder to embrace all of the aspects of you that you want to run from. It's time for you to adopt the art of gratitude and see the beauty in diversity. As we learn to celebrate our unique differences, I want to remind you once again of our upcoming webinar on neurodiversity titled “Unlocking Potentials: Evidence-Based Approaches for Neurodiverse Kids,” happening on August 31st, 2024.
