When I was 17 I was a champion golfer, loving life. Then, I fell ill and lost the use of my legs for months. Everybody around me told me to accept the future, "come to terms" with how my life may change. I refused to give up, and carried on exercising on a bike powering my legs round with my arms....I wanted my muscles to keep on working. Then I decided that I was going to enter the Northern Championship at golf - people thought I was mad! I went to compete, I fell over after every shot, had to roll down hills...but guess what I qualified for the last 16. I got knocked out in the next round but I didn't care...I had proved something to myself and the world! A few more weeks went by, and then I started to regain feelings in my legs...it was weird, it felt strange....and actually although it was something I had prayed for, in a sense it was frightening.
So why tell you this...well, because resilience, patience and the ability to stay positive during the dark days saw me through. What would have happened if I had given up...I don't know, but then I never considered giving up! If I had listened to the "negative wizards" around me, I may not have succeeded...fortunately I had my own positive wizard inside that believed in me, believed in my dream, believed that I could overcome this illness. You can be both your own positive wizard and also for others.....
As dark as any days are, keep believing, keep pushing yourself...you never know what is round the corner.... and don't wait for the future to happen, create the happiness yourself.
