Kyle Maynard has been competitive all of his life. Until tonight, I haven't heard about him, but it seems he's old news. Been in the news since 2004 when he began college and just after he was in the Georgia State Championships for wrestling. He was interviewd by Larry King and is on the Washington Speaker's Bureau. He is a weightlifter and broke the world record for modified bench press at the Arnold (as in Schwarzenegger's) Fitness Classic. Just a hardworking guy with a competitive spirit. Really isn't any big deal other than the fact he has no arms beyond the elbow and no legs below the knee.
He was born with a condition known as congenital amputation. It is rare that this condition affects all four limbs, but for Kyle it did and he has not missed a beat.
You can see him on a video clip living his life (writing papers, typing, and hanging out) as well as a video displaying his skills as a wrestler.
Next time we find ourselves all worried about what's not working in our life, it will be good to remember how much some people have to overcome. It will help me keep to things into perspective. I'm looking forward to reading his book No Excuses. It's true.
And I love what he said in his interview with Larry King. . ."We have to have a crutch, though, at times. And I have -- I do believe that I was blessed in the sense that the challenges that I have to face in life really mold the person that I've become today. I think without that, then I wouldn't have ever been able to succeed."
Now there is gratitude in action.
There is so much to be thankful for when we take time to look.
(Image found at this location: http://www.csw.edu/209647.ihtml)
