If you think you’re having a bad day, it’s nothing compared to the horror that Adrianne Haslet-Davis went through on April 15.
Adrianne lost her left foot during the bombings in Boston when she was standing mere feet away from where one of the bombs went off.
Losing a limb would be tough for anyone, but it’s especially tough on Adrianne, who is a dance instructor.
Ever since I saw Anderson Cooper’s interview with her, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her fighting spirit and perseverance during the most difficult of circumstances. Her fight is a reminder that whatever cards we are dealt, we can get up from the ashes and rise again.
When we are young and in college, we tend to think that most things – no matter how petty they are – signify “the end of the world.” You failed an exam? Misery. That boy didn’t text you back? Horrible. I’m sure each and every one of us could easily come up with a list of 10 things that we hate about our lives every day. After all, getting caught up in what’s going wrong is much more tempting than appreciating what’s going right and the things that we already have.
It’s easy to get so caught up in our little bubble, especially during our college years. The most unfortunate consequence is that it causes us to fail to see what we are blessed with each and every day. It’s a change in thinking that we all have to try to undergo … Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, think about what you do have. It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but that’s why we need a wake-up call to shake us up and remind us that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff and have to enjoy life’s moments to the fullest.
Adrianne’s story should be your wake-up call. Her incredible spirit should be enough to motivate all of us that we can push through what seems to be impossible … and still be smiling at the end of it all.
Seeing someone like Adrianne, who despite all odds, is saying she’s going to run in next year’s marathon, is incredible. Her determination has given me a kick in the butt to get up and stop complaining about the things I can change.
While I have a list that’s pages long, they are all things I have within my power to change. Things that I’ve been making excuses to avoid having to do. I couldn’t imagine having something that I could not change on my list – like not having a foot. Adrianne has inspired me to fight and to follow my dreams. What is on your list? There is no time to waste … get to it!
