Yesterday I was complaining about the common cold and this morning I feel rather humbled when I read about Frenchman Philippe Croizon who has just completed the daunting task of swimming the English Channel and did it in only 13 and a half hours.
Philippe lost his arms and legs after he suffered an electric shock while removing a television aerial from a roof 16 years ago.
He only taught himself to swim in the last two years and does so using prosthetic legs and a snorkel and mask. He trained for 35 hours a week for the past two years and his endeavour attracted letters of support from President Sarkozy and other politicians.
Such courage and determination puts my moans into perspective.
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Nothing else to add.
http://www.chinahush.com/2010/09/19/10-year-old-boy-shoulders-his-family-sells-fruits-to-support-70-year-old-grandpa/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChinaHush+%28ChinaHush%29
The Human condition locks us into our own minds and has defense mechanisms to ensure that the health of our psyche remains on an even keel. To contemplate all the horrors of the world past and present would otherwise make us all mad.
A contemplative mind, however, is also a healthy factor.
Absolutely agree. We are perhaps all going to have to deal with various difficulties relating to changes in government & the economic cycle but at least we have our arms & legs. People who suffer real detriment often show the rest of us up in their determination to cope with adversity. Less moaning & more getting on is a good example to give. & what we should be getting on with amongst other things is preventing people like Philippe losing limbs in the first place. Health & Safety is very often laughed at but it can actually prevent things like this from happening.
I was told that years ago by a hippy OR and ever since then I always do my best to make space for a few minutes meditation/contemplation each day.
Indeed Observer, yet some H & S is way over the top these days.
Nothing to add here either CH.
Rosie, he would have swum back as well, but, he got cramp in his ears.
DL that's pathetic.
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