Flavia Calvar

There is a purpose to our struggles

Presented November 25, 2009

Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around someone, no hands to experience touch, or to hold another hand with. Or what about being born without legs? Having no ability to dance, walk, run, or even stand on two feet. Now put both of those scenarios together: no arms and no legs. What would you do?

Meet Nick Vujicic. Born in 1982 in Melbourne, Australia, without any medical explanation or warning, he came into the world with neither arms nor legs. Imagine the shock his parents felt when they saw their first born, brand new baby boy, only to find he was what the world would consider imperfect and abnormal. But little did they or anyone know that this beautiful limbless baby would one day be someone who would inspire and motivate people from all walks of life, touching lives all over the world.

Throughout his childhood Nick dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and adolescence such as bullying and self-esteem issues, he also struggled with depression and loneliness as he questioned why he was different from all the other kids surrounding him; why he was the one born without arms and legs. He wondered what was the purpose behind his life, or if he even had a purpose.

As Nick grew up he learned to deal with his disability and started to be able to do more and more things on his own. He adapted to his situation and found ways to accomplish tasks that most people could only do by using their limbs. As time went by Nick began to embrace his situation and achieve greater things.

After school Nick went on with further study and obtained a double bachelor degree, majoring in accounting and financial planning. By the age of 19 Nick started to fulfill his dream of being able to encourage other people and bring them hope, through motivational speaking and telling his story. “I found the purpose of my existence, and also the purpose of my circumstance,” he has said. “There’s a purpose for why you are in the fire.” Nick totally believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we encounter in our lives and that our attitude towards those struggles can be the single most effective factor in overcoming them.

“People say to me, how can you smile?” he says. “Then they realize there’s got to be something more to life than meets the eye if a guy without arms and legs is living a fuller life than I am.”

Watch an excerpt from one of Nick’s school appearances.

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