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It is inspiring to me when I’ve recognized within myself and in others that going beyond limitations can be challenging, but rewarding. Limitations sometimes cause an individual to feel hopeless. Every dream you dream starts within your mind, and then the thoughts come through the mouth with a voice, after that the dream can become a reality with action behind it. There are many people in this life that are amazing to see, and hear. I often wonder though how many people go beyond their limitations that life may put on them by society, a physical handicap, or even themselves.
My mom use to tell me when I was a little girl “You can be anything you want to be, if you put your mind to it”. That’s exactly what it takes to accomplish going beyond your limitations in life. For example Steve Wonder the world superstar-recording artist shortly became blind after birth. He was gifted with a voice at an early age. Even though he was physically blind, he could see through his music. I’m sure when he set out to get a record deal he heard a lot of no’s first. At age 11, Steve was signed to Motown’s Tamla label. Steve proved to the world his physical limitations did not stop him, because not only can Steve sing, but also he can play different musical instruments.
Steve Wonder has channeled his amazing voice to sing to the world, and see the world through his music. He learned as a child to not get depressed as much because of his inability to see. Steve could see through his music, he sang his stories and others, and he did not allow his his limitations to stop him. Steve Wonder is truly a musical genius.
As I searched though the TED website I was looking for something different that I believe would catch people’s attention for inspiration. I was inspired deeply by a speaker named Caroline Casey who is also declared legally blind in the TED website I found called "Looking Past Limits". When we have limitations it makes us feel afraid at times, and even a person may feel trapped within his and her limitations. Caroline was born blind but not completely blind with a condition called Ocular Albinism. Her parents told her as a child at three years old that she was no different than anyone else and that she could see. When Caroline was a child she said she wanted to be a biker chic, a racecar driver, and a cowgirl. She explains how she overcame the heartaches of people’s words. She learned to believe she could see through out her childhood. When it was her 17th birthday, her parents granted her request to drive for the first time. Caroline did, but not on the streets. That same day her sister had to go and see the eye doctor. As usual Caroline said she use to get fake eye exams to make her sister feel better. However, the doctor asked Caroline what it was she wanted to do for her birthday that day. Caroline said “I’m gona learn how to drive” (Casey, C., 2010). She explains how the doctor became silent after what she said. The doctor realized that her parents never told her. The doctor felt the need to tell her she was legally blind. In her early adult life, Caroline had jobs no one never knew she was blind. She educated herself with different occupational backgrounds. After working two years as a global consultant, Caroline’s eyes began to give in more with her eyesight failing her more. She was faced with having to tell her boss that she was blind at 28 years old. She explains it was the hardest thing for her to do. Her boss was in a big shock. She humbled herself and said she needed help from a doctor; the employer had helped her, but let her go. She went on to explain how she lost her belief because her vision had gotten worst. She wondered where she went wrong. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does. Whenever we feel we have lost control we tend to freak out. After her encounter with learning her eyesight was failing her more, Caroline thought of a bright idea. Caroline decided she was going to be an elephant handler. She began to believe in herself again. She found an elephant nine months later traveling across India with the elephant raising money for six thousand people who were blind to see. Caroline then partnered with a man and started an organization called Canche named after her elephant. She wanted to share with media the awareness to knowledge disability in an exciting way. She wanted her career to be positive and not ever hearing no’s any more. Caroline is truly an amazing woman. She went the extra mile to make a difference with her disability and others. I believe this story is the same in whatever seems to be your limitations. Reach for the stars and you too can go beyond your limitations
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/caroline_casey_looking_past_limits.html
http://www.youtube.com
