Monday, August 6, 2012

Well Played, Sir. Well Played.

The first Monday of the month is Inpirational Monday. I blog about something that I find inspirational and keeps me writing. 

I believe that all facets of life hold analogous traits to other parts of life. So a lot of times I try to find how my observations of people, places, and events line up with my writing.

As a huge fan of sport, currently I am watching the Olympics (as most people are). There are plenty of inspiring stories in these Olympic games, like there are every four years. This year though, there was one story that was unique. I was quite  inspired by the story of Oscar Pistorius of South Africa. Some know him as The Blade Runner, the first athlete with prosthetic legs to compete in any Olympic sport.

South Africa's Oscar Pistorius runs during his men's 400m semi-final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 5, 2012.  REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (BRITAIN  - Tags: SPORT ATHLETICS OLYMPICS)
REUTERS - South Africa's Oscar Pistorius runs during his men's 400m semi-final at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium August 5, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson


Here is a person who was born with no fibulae. An entire bone was missing from both his legs, leading to their amputation before the age of 1. This is a pretty bad hand to be dealt if your goal is become an Olympic athlete. 

I liken this to writing in that we all have certain creative abilities, and certain knowledge of craft. A lot of that is outside our control. Where you grew up, how you grew up, where you went to school, who your teachers and role models were. There are an innumerable amount of factors that have an affect on our abilities. I find myself frustrated at times by the limits of my mind, to the point of mental paralysis.

There is no doubt we are dealt a certain hand in life. But the great thing is that we get to decide how to play it. Having made the decision that I am a writer. I get to decide how I move forward. 

When Oscar Pistorius, decided that he wanted to run. He went for it. He didn't let a bad deal stop him. He played it well. 

I just read that he didn't qualify for the 400-m final, in fact he came 23rd out 24 in the semifinal races. But it does not matter, he lived his dream. He was a runner who ran in the Olympics. I am a writer and I write.

I had a Linky List going for Inspirational Mondays, but Linky Tools has started charging for their services. So it's gone.
There are plenty of other Linking Sites that are free so I am using Simply Linked For Now.

What Inspires Your Writing? Join the List. Rules are you read to get inspired and comment on other's posts.


5 comments:

  1. You chose a great person to be inspired by. If he can break through all the barriers set up in front of him, so can you.

    The mental paralysis you talk about is pretty familiar to me.

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  2. A guy (essentially) born without legs running in the Olympics is an inspiration to everyone. Unlike writers, what he wanted to do could be considered physically impossible but he didn't let that stop him. Amazing.


    Mental paralysis is well known to me. That's why I have many methods to overcome it.

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  3. I have an award for you. Should you choose to accept it, you may pick it up here: http://lgkeltner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-liebster-award.html

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  4. As a South African and a human being, I'm so proud of Oscar. He's a definite example for all of us that we should never give up. No matter how impossible something might seem.

    :-)

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  5. Pistorius - If there was a word for 'beyond determined' then it should be him. How inspirational is Oscar's story? It makes me realise that my insecurities are self imposed. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing this and inspiring me. Cheers.

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