Sometimes in the face adversity, there are no words that can soothe our soul. Sometimes, there is no advice that will plug the hole left by the pain. When you feel this way, when you feel like nothing and no one can help, seek inspiration in the form of an example.
I would like to give you an example of someone who has inspired thousands, if not millions. If you’ve heard this tremendous tale, I would say read it again with fresh eyes.
Dick Hoyt has run over one thousand road races. But that’s not the amazing part. Eighty-five times he has run 26.2 miles in marathons. Two-hundred and twelve times he has participated in triathlons. Wait, I still haven’t gotten to the amazing part. Dick is 67 years old. Nope, hold your awe – here it comes. Dick has done all this while pushing and pulling his disabled son across every finish line. Ok…you can be amazed now.
Dick’s son, Rick, was born with his umbilical cord tied around his neck leaving him brain damaged and with four limbs that simply do not function. Rick has been in a wheelchair his entire life communicating only through a device rigged from his mouth to a computer.
One day many years ago, Rick was reading about a charity event including a 5-mile race being held at his high school. Although an impossible dream, Rick longed to participate in the race. Rick told his father how he felt – he wished he could run with the other kids. Dick looked at him and said, no problem, let’s make it happen. Dick knew his plan was to just push Rick through the race. The complication? Dick was a self-proclaimed porker that had never even run a mile. The 5-mile run scared Dick. Still, he tried.
Dick tried and he succeeded and afterward he received the most unexpected gift. Rick turned to his father, adjusted his airtube and typed out, “Dad, when we were running, it felt like I wasn’t disabled anymore!”
Those words changed Dick’s life forever. Dick made it his mission to free his son from his disability by running every chance he got. They encountered difficulties entering competitions as they weren’t a single runner, nor were they a wheelchair competitor. Often they were turned down at the marathon entrance, but they would run along side anyway. Finally, they ran a race so fast, that they qualified for the prestigious Boston marathon the following year. Someone then asked Dick, “Hey, why not try a triathlon?”
Dick was scared again. How was he, who hadn’t ridden a bike since he as six and had never learned to swim, going to run a triathalon? Still, Dick tried. He did his first triathlon and towed his 110-lb son in a dinghy behind him. Since then, Dick and Rick have participated in 212 triathlons including 15 grueling Ironman events in Hawaii.
Dick is an inspiration that has taught us when we put our mind to something, nothing is impossible. He has taught us that in everyone ordinary lies the extraordinary. He has shown us that no mountain is insurmountable. All of us have our own mountains to climb. In fact, many here are dealing with heartbreak. The lesson to be learned is that when you have a day where nothing seems to relieve your pain, find your strength from an inspirational example.
If you enjoyed the story above, you will LOVE the upcoming book, Overcomers, Inc: True Stories of Hope, Courage, and Inspiration, of which I am an honored co-author. It is filled with stories like the one of Dick Hoyt that will move you to tears, make you laugh, and provide you the strength you need to face life’s challenges.
Get the book plus over $5000 in bonuses here
www.overcomersinc.com/booklaunch
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
this is a beautiful story – thank you for sharing. people never cease to amaze me.
I actually bought the book after reading this post…it has very helpful tips in it and the chapters are short which is great when your level of concentration is reduced to almost nothing from a break up
I’m having that same concentration issue, Rich. Its affecting my work — I stare off into space when no one is around and just get lost in the thoughts of my ex. I usually go thru a little rollercoaster of sad, angry, sad, and then shocked and sad again in each one of these daydreams.