Symbol of triumph over adversity:

Against all odds

By Lionel Wijesiri

One of my favourite video personalities on YouTube is 31-year-old Nick Vujicic. I love watching him skateboarding, surfing, playing music, hitting a golf ball, speaking to audiences, and best of all, receiving hugs from all sorts of people. For me, Nick is an extraordinary character, someone whom I really admire.

At this point, you might think: “What is so extraordinary here? All in all, these are pretty ordinary activities that just anybody can do.”

You have a point there. But, Nick Vujicic (pronounced Voo-yi-chich) was born with no arms and no legs.

Imagine being born without arms. No arms to wrap around a friend; no hands to hold the ones you love; no fingers to experience touch; no way to lift or carry things. How much more difficult would life be if you were living without arms and hands?

What about legs? Imagine what it would be like if you had no legs. No ability to dance, walk, run or even stand. Now put both these scenarios together… no arms and no legs. What would you do? How would that affect your everyday life?

Although Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs, he didn’t let this stop him. That is why he is so extraordinary.

He is no stranger to the spotlight. He has appeared on CBS’ Sunday Morning, Inside Edition and The 700 Club. He’s a New York Times best-selling author, radio host and motivational speaker. His life has inspired millions of people around the world. “Inspired” might even be an understatement. Based on comments from his website and Facebook page, he has transformed the way some people think about life.

Early life

Nick has a small foot on his left hip which helps him balance and enables him to kick. He uses his one foot to type, write with a pen and pick things up between his toes. “I call it my chicken drumstick,” jokes Nick, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, but now lives in Los Angeles. “I’d be lost without it. When I get in the water, I float because 80 percent of my body is lungs and my drumstick acts as a propeller.”

Nick’s father was a computer programmer and accountant and he taught his little son how to type with his toe at just six years old. His mother invented a special plastic device that meant he could hold a pen and pencil.

Despite the risk of being bullied, his parents insisted that Nick attend mainstream school. They gave him an electric wheelchair for mobility. “It was the best decision they could have made for me,” adds Nick, who later achieved two degrees, one in Financial Planning and the other in Real Estate. “It was very hard, but it gave me independence.”

Nick was regularly teased and bullied at school. “I was deeply depressed when I was eight years old,” he says. “I went to my mum crying and told her I wanted to kill myself. I felt cold and bitter. I hated being born like this and was terrified of what would happen when my parents weren’t there to look after me.”

Nick had few comforts. He says, “I could brush my own teeth with a wall mounted brush and wash my own hair with pump action soap, but there was so much that was impossible for me. I felt there was no purpose; when you lack purpose and strength, it is hard to hold on.”

However, with the help of his friends and family, Nick managed to pull through to become an international symbol of triumph over adversity.

Breakthrough

A janitor at his high school inspired him to start speaking about his emotional battle when he was 17. He spoke a dozen times, to very small groups, over the next two years. Then, one day, he found himself in front of 300 grade 10 students. He became very nervous. His body began to tremble.

Within the first three minutes of his talk, half the girls were crying, and most of the boys were struggling to hold their emotions together. One girl in particular was sobbing very hard. He looked at her and she put her hand up. She said, “I am so sorry to interrupt, but can I come up and hug you?”

She came up and hugged him in front of everyone, and whispered in his ear, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. No one has ever told me that they loved me and that I am beautiful the way I am.”

Her gratitude made a sudden impact on Nick and inspired him to gain confidence in himself. He gradually worked on developing his abilities as a speaker and worked with a speaking coach who groomed him to become a presenter.

In the next few years, he travelled across 44 countries and addressed different types of audiences over 2,000 work sessions. He realised that all people need love and hope and that he was in a unique position to share that with everybody around the world.

Role model

Nick Vujicic is living proof that no one should be discouraged by the difficulties that show up during life, no matter how big they might be. He says, “I am thankful to have been born 31 years ago with no arms and no legs. I won’t pretend my life is easy, but through the love of my parents, loved ones, I have overcome my adversity and my life is now filled with joy and purpose.”

Nick married Kanae Miyahara, a woman of Japanese origin, in February 2012 and their son was born in February 2013.

Nick advises everyone that even if things get hopeless, one should still choose to live and give problems or challenges a chance to be conquered or solved. “So even if you can’t see hope today, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. You must decide to stay. You must decide to give your broken pieces a chance.”

He says that it was important to love oneself and then love others while helping to inspire as well as change the lives of others. “You are precious, there’s only one of you out there. So, love yourself and give yourself a chance, then help raise up someone else’s life,” he says.

His core message is simple: “Dream big and never give up. We all make mistakes, but none of us are mistakes. Take one day at a time. Embrace the positive attitudes, perspectives, principles and truths I share, and you too will overcome.”

Attitude is Altitude is where Nick Vujicic globally inspires people in motivational settings for all demographics including schools and corporate conferences. School students hear about the importance of having an attitude of gratitude, a positive self-image, courage to dream big and perseverance to never give up. He presents values, principles, attitudes and perspectives that challenge and equip people from all walks of life to overcome their adversities

In his book Life without Limbs, he says: “You may hit hard times. You may fall down and feel as though you have no strength to get up. I know the feeling. We all do. Life isn’t always easy, but when we overcome challenges, we become stronger and more grateful for our opportunities. What really matters are the lives you touch along the way and how you finish your journey.”