I was born a quadruple amputee. Although my missing limbs are visibly obvious, it has never been something I have allowed to define me. I have an amazing family who encouraged me to make the most out of life. It was very clear early on in my childhood that I was not going to grow up accepting pity and sympathy from myself or others. A good sense of humour, accepting the, ahem, hands that have been dealt to me and really bad puns are all examples of how I've travelled through life. I have been told that my grandmother’s initial reaction to hearing about me and my lack of limbs after I was born went along the lines of: “he never did finish anything he started” (referring to my father’s work ethic) so obviously twisted humour and attempting to see the light side of all situations run deep within my roots.
I love the reactions of amazement or disbelief I get from people when I'm off travelling and I tell them that not only am I seeing the world, that I am travelling solely on my own. It is not only a gratifying feeling but it also gives validation to what I am doing and the message I am trying to spread. While I don't expect that every individual I meet wants to climb the stairs of the Eiffel Tower or swim in the Amazon River, I do often wonder what holds people back from doing what they want to do and what they yearn to accomplish in their lives.
Imagine taking in the scenic view of snowcapped mountains and breathing in the cool fresh air while snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies. Or, experiencing the thrill of swimming in the warm waters of the Amazon River, while knowing there are anacondas, piranhas, alligators and heaven knows what else hiding out in that very same river. Now try to imagine why a guy missing his arms and legs would willingly jump into a river with all those creatures beneath the water. Clearly he is a slow learner. In all seriousness, I have successfully overcome physical and mental challenges in order to proudly list these experiences as accomplishments.
Recently, I found myself flying to Paris and taking an evening stroll from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, which because of the structure’s size seems to be just around the corner, but it is definitely a hike. Many tourists have done the walking trek between the two iconic landmarks and I wanted to experience just the same. As I took off skateboarding along the Seine River, I felt energized that I was about to see an exciting part of history but also that I was about to take on another physical and mental challenge I issued to myself. The December evening I found myself preparing to take the trek across the French city was rainy and cold. While trudging along the damp streets winding along the Seine, I began to wonder if I had made the wisest of decisions. In a moment of perfect timing, the Eiffel Tower lit up in a sparkling light show that illuminated the night sky and it made each puddle along the wet journey worth every minute. I had accomplished yet another personal travel goal.
I am often asked if growing up was hard without any arms or legs and my response is always no, it was actually pretty easy. It has been tough for some people to understand as to how I can describe my childhood as easy but I believe it is all in how you approach life. It would have been easy for my parents to shelter, coddle and protect me from the world and from potential failures, but they taught me that when you fail, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. You become a stronger person with that way of thinking and approaching all the hills in life. I often quote the movie The Shawshank Redemption when Tim Robbins says, "get busy living or get busy dying". It's a simple saying that anyone can apply to his or her own life and for me it is the only way to live and experience everything this life has to offer.
As much as one person is solely responsible for what he or she accomplishes, I have been very fortunate to have had the support of an amazing family, phenomenal friends and a fantastic community. When you have such strong support from a collective group like that, it is quite easy to find confidence and inspiration to succeed in any challenge the world throws at you. When you believe the concept: if you want to do something bad enough, you will find a way, the possibilities are endless.
I have always been determined to do everything anyone else was aspired to do. When my friends and family were heading out skiing and snowboarding I wasn't about to sit back in the lodge and be a spectator. With a little bit of ingenuity and perseverance, participating was possible. I wasn't just satisfied with the fact that I was up on the ski hill. I needed to be active. I have always wanted to push myself to be the best skier or snowboarder that I possibly could be and I have refused to allow my lack of limbs to hold me back.
When one of my good friends took off travelling for over a period of a year and a half, I read all his email updates and was fascinated with all he was seeing when I looked at his photos in his letters. When he came home, he was sharing his stories and I asked him if he thought I'd be able to travel in the same capacity as him. We ended up spending a month touring through Brazil together. Since then, I have struck out on my own adventures pushing myself as a solo traveller. I am always for pushing my limits and extending my boundaries. It is a liberating feeling.
When I look back at what I've accomplished so far, I look back with pride and satisfaction. I also want to see more, experience more and tackle new challenges. Feeling the adrenaline rush of skydiving over the beauty of The Great Barrier Reef, gliding through the waters of the Queen Charlotte Islands in a sea-kayak during the migration of the whales and making the trek up the mountains of Peru to take in the ancients sights of Machu Picchu are three items from my bucket list. These three adventures barely scratch the surface of what I would love to do and it is a wonderful start as to what I know I am capable of. These trips are experiences that some might think would be impossible tasks for a quadruple amputee, but looking back at what I have already done, I have no reason to believe that I cannot do it.
If I can overcome obstacles and accomplish the challenges I have set for myself, then I firmly believe you can, too. We are all on a level playing field when it comes to determination and belief in our abilities, especially if you believe you are capable of whatever you set your mind to, two arms and two legs or not.
I have always been a minimalist of sorts when it comes to the equipment and prosthetics I use both in my everyday life and activities I participate in, such as snowboarding. The biggest reason for that is simple logistics: the more equipment or adaptive devices I have, the more I have to carry around or depend on the assistance from another individual. Anyone that has done a lot of travelling will know that it is not always convenient to rely on someone else for assistance. By travelling with this mentality, I have had to force myself out of my own comfort zone, which has allowed me to learn how strong I can become, both physically and mentally.
The mind is the most powerful tool we possess, but it can also be our biggest detriment. Strong determination and great passion can get us anywhere we want to go and allow us to achieve anything we want to achieve. Unfortunately in life there are cynics who come in the form of pessimists, bullies or even our own self-doubts. The key is to not let these personalities or the negativity of your own doubts get inside your head because all it does it prevent you from finding your happiness. Life is about being happy and discovering what you love and then living what you discover.
My "If I Can" message has challenged me to do and see more. Through motivational speaking and a series of videos, which are posted on a public YouTube page, my goal is to encourage others to do the same.
"If I Can" is not just me challenging others to live life to the fullest, but also a mindset I have derived in the hopes to help people internalize and relate with from their own accomplishments. If you look back at the things you have accomplished in the past, use those past triumphs as motivation moving you forward in life.
Next time you consider a new hobby or activity, or you have come across a challenge in life, or you just find yourself in either a physical or mental funk just think: If I Can...
