“My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces.” Wilma Rudolph
The human will is the most incredible thing. I believe it is the human will that keeps us going, when everyone else expects us to sit, or even quit.
I have always been fascinated by the heroes who have made unforgettable marks in world history; and illustrated distinguished triumphs over seemingly, insurmountable adversity. I can vividly recall learning about Wilma Rudolph when I was in grade school. Her life characterized: “breaking through limitations.”
Over the last couple of years, I have thought about Wilma when so-called, “limitations” presented themselves in my own life. I think of Wilma, and I am passionately reminded of the amazing power of the human will.
Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely and weighed only 4.5 pounds. Most of her childhood was spent in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee. There, she was bedridden as she battled double pneumonia, scarlet fever and polio. At six years old, she lost the use of her left leg. Subsequently, she was fitted with leg braces. Later on in life, she was often quoted as saying: “I spent most of my time trying to get them off. (I had an uncompromising resolve) to be a normal kid.” At the age of 16, when she was only a sophomore in high school, the 5′ 11″ Wilma Rudolph won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. And, in the 1960 Rome Olympics, Rudolph became “the fastest woman in the world.” She also was the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics. She won the 100 and 200 meter races; and also anchored the U.S. team to victory in the 4 X 100 meter relay, breaking records along the way.
Wilma has always been a role model for me in my life, along with dozens of others, and I hope she can be one for you as well. Today, we are facing tough economic times. However, I truly believe the WILL of our community, the WILL of our family, is strong! I know we can overcome the adversity that is surrounding us, and I know we can come out of it making the world a better place.
Wilma valiantly and brilliantly removed all of her “struggles” during the course of her lifetime. Yet, the stories that arose from her struggles will live on forever! The struggles you and I face day to day seemingly make their ways into the “Best Stories” we will tell our friends at a night or to our grandchildren as they sit on lap next to a campfire. “I walked a mile uphill both ways” or for me, “I am trying to bring over 7,800 shoes to go to orphans in Kenya, inspire hundreds to walk a mile without shoes, film a documentary, and give hope to an entire city that WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.” – Yes, people doubt me – this is my challenge, this is my adversity I have to overcome – but I promise, it will be a story that I will be able to tell my grandchildren with a smile on my face and big arm motions to make it sound even grander!
Wilma expected victory when just about everyone would have understood if she’d just lay down and quit. So my question to you is. . . What is your challenge, what do people expect for you to lay down and quit at – . . . This is your story – make it a good one!
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