Harriet Cabelly, LCSW
Therapist . Speaker . Author
I have recently been thoroughly awestruck by two stories I stumbled upon online. I’m excited to share them with you. Talk about rising above adversity- watch and read.
The first is a u-tube of a 108 year old woman who has lived out her life with her glass way more than half full, despite tremendous challenges.
Credit goes to Tony Robbins for posting this u-tube of his interview with Alice Herz Sommer. Please watch this 12 minute video. This truth is beyond any fiction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj-RJ4k9c04&feature=youtu.be
A book about her life is coming out next week: A Century of Wisdom: Lessons from the Life of Alice Herz-Sommer, the World’s Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor, by Caroline Stoessinger
The second are the powerful words of a man who found his best self within the confines of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Neil Selinger wrote:
“As my muscles weakened, my writing became stronger.
As I slowly lost my speech, I gained my voice.
As I diminished, I grew.
As I lost so much, I finally started to find myself.”
The human spirit is truly miraculous. Jane Fonda uses the metaphor of a staircase to illustrate “the third act” of life. We are all on an “upward ascension”. The human spirit continues to evolve. The steps may be challenging for many but our inner growth, resolve and spirit can carry us to heights deemed unimaginable.
Once again, my favorite psychiatrist comes to mind, Victor Frankl, with his brilliant theories of life:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
And:
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Thank you for stopping by and reading. I hope you’ve been inspired by these stories. I welcome you to share (in the Comments) how these two examples of incredible human spirit have touched you. Please spread this message.
Let’s keep encouraging others to reach “heights unimaginable “! Thank you’
Hi Brenda,
Nice to ‘meet’ you. Thank you for your lovely comment. Encouraging others to be their best is the best!
Hope to ‘see’ you again.
Truly inspiring Harriet. Thanks for sharing these uplifting stories. You’re my inspiration for the day. ♥
Hi Elle,
You are most welcome. Glad you found them inspiring. What we humans can overcome and achieve is amazing – such potential. These point us in the right direction – upward and onward to new heights of living.
I am currently starting over again and rebuilding my life. I don’t know how to do it yet, I am scared to be honest with you and not having any friends still doesn’t make it any easier. (If you want to read about how it is going, I am writing a blog about it at http://rebuildingat30.blogspot.com )
Hi Joe,
Best to you in your ‘rebuilding’. It’s not an easy journey and one that requires courage, which is not in the absence of fear but rather taking steps and pushing through fear.