Culver Songalia

Last night when I was FB’ing my friend posted a video which says “To all of you who feel like giving up.” I felt curious about the video and so I clicked it. The man on the video is Nick Vujicic, born in Australia and he don’t have arms and legs. From then I started researching this man because I was inspired on what I saw on the video. According to Wikipedia Nick Vujicic (born December 4, 1982) is a preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of Life Without Limbs, an organization for the physically disabled. He regularly gives speeches across the world on the subject of disability and hope.

His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left “foot,” and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the “heel and toe” method (as demonstrated in his speeches). He can also throw tennis balls and answer the phone. He can also shave and get a glass of water.

Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today’s teenagers face. He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He regularly travels internationally to speak to Christian congregations, schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America).

By the age of 25, Nick hoped to become financially independent. He wishes to promote his words through television shows such as the The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

His motivational DVD, Life’s Greater Purpose, is available on the Life Without Limbs website. Most of the DVD was filmed in 2005, featuring a brief documentary about his home life, and how he does regular things without limbs. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane, and was one of his first professional motivational speeches. His motivational speeches can be seen on the Premiere Speakers Bureau Website. Vujicic currently lives in California.

His secular DVD “No Arms, No Legs, No Worries” is available online through his corporate motivational speaking company “Attitude Is Altitude.”

Nick’s first worldwide television interview, featured on 20/20 (ABC) with Bob Cummings was aired on March 28, 2008.

Here is one of Nick’s video:

I also recommend you watching this videos:

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

Thanks Nick. You inspired me. Hope to see you soon speaking live.

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When I was a kid, I have so many dreams. I dreamt of becoming a priest but because someone stolen my opportunity to become a scholar of our parish priest, it did not pursue, and now I am a family man. I dreamt of becoming a lawyer but because of poverty and an irresponsible father, I landed on enrolling BSMT which the money I used for enrolling came from a good friend. And I am 25 then. And later I enrolled in BSCOE but I didn’t finish it because I realized then I am just wasting my money and time. And now I become an entrepreneur.

The lesson I’ve got on my past experiences is “I should have protect always my dreams.” No matter what. I remember the movie The Pursuit of Happyness when Chris Gardner spoke to his son “Don´t ever let somebody tell you, you can´t do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.”

Here is a short clip I have found, I recommend watching it.

By the way, this is a true story of Chris Gardner.

Unfortunately our world is filled with dream snatchers. Many who fail take comfort in seeing others fail. They don’t want to see you do something that they couldn’t achieve. Dream snatchers come from all walks of life. They are not necessarily enemies or strangers. Often times the dream snatcher doesn’t realize that he or she fits the mold. It could be a friend, coach, or even a family member.

Don’t let dream snatchers bring you down. Use their negativity to spark new motivation. If someone tells me that I can’t do something, I work that much harder to prove them wrong. I am the only person who lives inside my skin. No one knows what I can or cannot do. We as people are often not as smart as we’d like to believe. No one truly knows what others are capable of achieving. We can’t look into a crystal ball to see the future. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. No one knows how bad you want it. No one knows how hard you are willing to work. No one knows how much you are willing to sacrifice. These are unique (individual) factors that differentiate you from everyone in the world. The individual writes his own future. Don’t let anyone steal your pen. You need to take ownership and then live with the decisions that you make.

Perhaps the best advice you’ll ever hear is to believe in yourself. This advice applies to all facets of life (ex. school, career, sport, etc.). You can only go so far when you live a life of doubt. When you actually believe in yourself and refuse to give up, you’ll often surprise yourself and others.

There is a saying “If you think you can, you’re right. if you think you can’t, you’re right.”

+Ciao

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