Never give up

Beautiful video about a way overweight gulf war vet unable to walk without crutches who manages through yoga to regain his body. Amazing, and a great testament to what can happen when we believe in ourselves and our dream and just keep on every single day.

My wife broke her back a couple years back, and her doctors said she wouldn't be able to walk again. But she does, and practices yoga and rides horses and has absolutely no signs from her injury, other than the fear that's still stuck in her body and waiting to be released.

There's also that great quote by Calvin Coolidge (who in part inspired my choice of a new name):

Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

And I'm reminded of the Iconoclasts episode with Howard Schultz and Norman Lear. At the 23 minute mark (I've looked for a clip online, but haven't found one yet), Howard tells the story about how he's just struck out on his own, after the original Starbucks company wanted to stay in the business of selling coffee beans only, even though the business of selling coffee beverages had turned out to be successful in a trial. His wife is pregnant, and Howard isn't taking any salary, and now his father-in-law pays him a visit.

He says "My daughter is 7 months pregnant. She's working and supporting you. You're chasing a hobby and have no salary. You've got to get a job." Howard starts to cry on the bench, is embarrassed. He knows that part of what he said is right. Goes home to his wife and tells her what happened. She says: "My father was wrong. He should never have done that. And we're not going to give up this dream." 

Thank God for Howard's wife. Thanks to Arthur for sharing his journey. And thanks to Randy Gage for being the conduit through which it came to me.

Watch the video above, and share it. And then go chase those dreams.