Inspirationally Speaking

On Friday, I attended a workshop on transition with a group of kids with IEPs. The workshop started off with an inspirational speaker.

Now, if you knew me, you would know that I am a person who always sees the glass as being half empty. I am always sure the worst possible thing is going to happen, and sad to say, I have been right in this assumption most of the time. My life has been a series of self-fulfilling prophecies.

Given my pessimistic frame of mind, most inspirational speakers leave me quite cold.

Brett Eastburn was different. He was born with no arms and no legs. If that was me, I would have lain in a bed for the rest of my life and wanted someone to take care of me. Not this guy. He said he didn't want to use prosthetic legs and arms because they get in his way, and I believe him. He could dribble a basketball, throw a football, and break a board with his...this sounds awful, but it is what it is...stub. He was an art major in college.  AN ART MAJOR...with no hands.

Mr. Eastburn is also a stand-up comic. He has one wicked sense of humor. Here is a link to his website:
www.bretteastburn.com

I have some heavy issues on my plate, but nothing nearly as heavy as this man has had to deal with on a daily basis in his life.  And so, I haven't allowed myself to wallow in self-pity since Friday. Wallowing in self-pity is something I do with great skill and regularity, but Mr. Eastburn truly made me see that I am a lot luckier than I like to admit.

It is like that old saying that has become trite through overuse : "I cried because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet."

The kids who went to the workshop with me were talking about Brett Eastburn today in class. They think it would be a good thing for the entire school to hear him.

I think so, too. If he could reach a crusty old broad like me, imagine how many kids' lives he could touch!