Work with what you’ve got!

Many years ago, in the early 90’s, I worked an over night shift so I could take college classes during the day. I would leave work and usually stop at the Texaco gas station to fuel up my car and over time struck up a friendship with one of the attendants. His name was Jim and he was 4’11”. One day I had to pop open my trunk to get something and he saw some of my martial arts equipment and said “oh I do that too!” He was a 2nd degree blackbelt in Tang Soo Do, which much like it’s cousin Taekwondo, is a predominantly a kicking art, and would seem to give an advantage to a taller fighter with longer legs. Despite this, he found a way to succeed. He had enough trophies from competitions to fill a number of cases. He realized that his legs were longer than the arm reach of most opponents and if he got in tight he could jam their kicks while staying out of punching range and still kick effectively himself.

Over the years I have had many opportunities to work with people who may appear disadvantaged to society at large and I have watched each of them make great improvements, attain great success and surpass all expectations. Most importantly it has taught me that everyone, even the most physically gifted of us, should approach life with the same attitude. Take the hand you have been dealt, and forge it into something with the fire of your will and vision. It would do me little good if I were to dwell on the fact that I never grew to 6′ tall, or that my eyesight was poor. Wishing and hoping that you were something else is pointless. It’s like the person who gets implants to make it look like they have muscles instead of working the muscles themselves. We each have vast unrealized potential. Do not look at what you’re “missing”, instead take account of what you have and make the most of it. You will find the satisfaction you achieve to be greater than any facade you can muster.