Get Back up Again
On April 15, 2013 the 117th annual Boston Marathon ended early. In fact many runners were stopped entirely and not permitted to continue the race. It all stemmed from a terror attack and two homemade bombs that went off near the finish line of the world's oldest annual marathon.
While much has been made about the actual events at and in the days following the marathon, our purpose here is different. When tragedy struck, community and resilience was found. Government agencies at various levels worked together on a shared goal. Men and women applauded law enforcement officials. Athletes, businesses, and reporters alike touted the pride and strength of this great city.
People in war torn countries from around the world sent messages of support to the people of Boston. Strangers carried to safety and served those injured by the blasts. In just over a week, people came together and donated more than $20 million to the victims and survivors of the bombing. Other cities from around the world came together to run in tribute to those affected by the Boston bombings.
What can we learn from this? Tragic events such as these can serve to remind us that we have a natural built-in resilience as humans. Life isn't always easy and things don't always go our way. Bad things happen to good people all the time. We live in a world with crime, dishonesty, and prejudice. Yet no matter what we face each day, we must continue forward.
Not everyone is hit with the same road blocks in life, but we all experience them in some form. Watching the marathon, Adrianne Haslet-Davis and her husband were tossed into the air when the second bomb went off. According to one report, 80% of the bone and muscle in her left leg had been torn apart. Doctors had to amputate just below her knee.
In an interview with CNN Adrianne explained that although she was mad, she wouldn't entertain any thoughts of giving up. A dance instructor, but never a runner, she proclaimed with a smile on her face while sitting in a hospital bed that she would one day run in the Boston Marathon.
You don't need to lose a foot to be motivated to run a marathon. You don't need to be given a terminal diagnosis to start living. You don't need to be beaten down to dust yourself off and stand proud.
So when life knocks you down, just get back up again and keep pushing forward. Identify a goal for yourself and work towards it. You only fail when you fail to try. Stop dreaming and take that first step. The road may not always be a smooth one, but the challenges you'll overcome along the way will make the prize that much more valuable and meaningful.