Role models triumph over adversity

MARTINEZ. Courage and tenacity.

One of the most inspiring shows we watched last month was a “Breaking Barriers” special, which featured “differently abled” people who, against all odds, have triumphed over extreme adversity:

A soldier lost both legs in Afghanistan, but pushed himself not just to walk again—but to run! He became a champion runner who’s inspired many other amputees to similarly rise above their own disability.

Another exemplar is a “legally blind” cook who has taught herself to come up with creative and delicious dishes in the kitchen, without too many burns, singes and other injuries.

Her stunning claim to fame is the fact that, contra mundum, she joined a cooking competition as its only blind contestant—and won the title!

Stand-up comedian

And, for her part, Francesca Martinez has cerebral palsy but has managed, despite her occasionally spasmodic movements and slurred speech, to become a popular stand-up comedian who’s invited to perform all over the globe!

Francesca has to struggle really hard to be understood, but viewers and listeners admire her courage and tenacity so much that they meet her halfway, doing their share to focus on what she’s trying to say—and thus complete the communication cycle.

Aside from sharing their daunting struggles with viewers, the differently abled role models opened themselves up to questions from the studio audience.

They were most effective and moving when they pointed out that disability or physical and psychological limitation should not be viewed as an unusual condition.

Practically everybody has some limitation or other that he needs to admit, face up to and triumph over, or else his life options would be circumscribed.

In addition, they further opened viewers’ eyes when they pointed out that they didn’t regard themselves as particularly “courageous” because they chose not to resignedly accept their “fate.”

If they had chosen to give up, that would have been the real tragedy. Viewing their disability realistically, they shared that they had no other option but to fight and become successful despite their “disability!”