How to Keep Your Spirit Alive During Hard Times

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - Louisa May Alcott

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” - C.S. Lewis

The meaning of life is a question that everyone wonders about. It’s like asking, "Why am I here?" or "What is my purpose?" The truth is that the meaning of life can be different for everyone. Some people find meaning through their relationships with family and friends.

Others find it in helping others, learning new things, or exploring the world. What’s important is figuring out what makes you feel fulfilled and happy. Your meaning might change as you grow, and that’s okay! It’s all about finding what matters most to you.

No matter what you’re going through in life today, just remember that most people have probably had it worse than you, yet they stayed resilient, even going as far as making a remarkable impact in life and their careers.

For context, let me tell you the story of Rick Hansen, who, after suffering a spinal cord injury, completed the "Man in Motion World Tour" to raise awareness for spinal cord injury research. Here’s his full story:

Rick Hansen was born on August 26, 1957, in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in the nearby town of Williams Lake, where he was an active, adventurous child who loved sports, particularly fishing, baseball, and volleyball.

Hansen's athleticism was evident from a young age, and by the time he was a teenager, he was a competitive athlete, excelling in volleyball and basketball.

At age 15, Hansen’s life changed dramatically. On June 27, 1973, he was in a car accident while returning from a fishing trip. The vehicle he was riding in crashed, and Hansen was thrown from the truck, resulting in a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He was diagnosed as a paraplegic and faced the challenge of adapting to life in a wheelchair.

Rehabilitation and Rediscovery of Sports:

Despite this life-altering injury, Hansen was determined to stay active and find a new way to pursue his passion for sports With the encouragement of friends and family, he embraced wheelchair sports, discovering his talent in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair volleyball, and particularly wheelchair racing.

Hansen attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and became the first student with a physical disability to graduate with a degree in Physical Education in 1976.

Hansen quickly became a top wheelchair athlete, winning numerous national and international competitions.

He was a member of the Canadian wheelchair basketball team, winning several national championships, and later transitioned to wheelchair racing, where he became a world-class competitor.

He won 19 international wheelchair marathons and competed in the 1980 and 1984 Paralympic Games, winning multiple medals.

The Man in Motion World Tour:

Inspired by his friend and fellow athlete Terry Fox, who had attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research before succumbing to the disease, Hansen conceived an ambitious plan to make a difference for people with spinal cord injuries.

He decided to Click Here to Read The Full Article on Substack.