人生不設(shè)限·我有權(quán)利過不受限的生活

在覺得身上的負(fù)擔(dān)讓人無法承受時，還要保持正面、積極的心態(tài)，也實(shí)在太難了。當(dāng)我大到可以理解前面有多少難關(guān)在等著我時，絕望的感覺常常揮之不去，我無法想象自己的人生庫存里會有任何好事。我對于童年那些黑暗歲月的記憶已漸漸模糊，但我確實(shí)經(jīng)歷過覺得跟別人不一樣實(shí)在很難熬的日子。我確定你也有過這種自我懷疑，我們都想要融入這個世界，但有時就是覺得自己是個局外人。

Remaining positive and motivated when your burden feels unbearable is undoubtedly diffi cult. When I became old enough to understand the challenges awaiting me, I was often haunted by despair and couldn't begin to imagine that anything positive lay in store for me. My memories of the darkest days of my childhood are hazy. I was going through one of those periods when being different was particularly tough. I'm sure you have experienced those self-doubts too. We all want to fit in, but at times we all feel like outsiders.

我的不安和懷疑大多來自沒手沒腳引起的生理困難。雖然不知道你的煩惱是什么，但心存盼望真的幫助了我。以下就是我的早期經(jīng)歷之一：

My insecurities and doubts sprang mostly from the physical challenges of having no arms or legs. I cannot know what your concerns are, but hanging on to hope helped me. Here is just one, early experience of how it worked in my world:

學(xué)步期時，醫(yī)療團(tuán)隊(duì)建議父母讓我跟一群有“身心障礙”的小孩一起玩。這些孩子有的缺手或缺腳，有的罹患囊胞性纖維癥，還有一些有嚴(yán)重的精神疾病。我父母對其他孩子和他們的家庭有極大的愛與同理心，但他們認(rèn)為任何一個孩子都不應(yīng)該被限制在某個團(tuán)體里，只跟同一群人玩。他們確信我的人生不會有限制，也努力保持這個夢想。

I was just a toddler when my medical team recommended that my parents put me in a play group with other kids labeled "disabled." Their challenges ranged from missing limbs to cystic fibrosis and severe mental disorders. My parents had great love and empathy for other special needs kids and their families, but they don't think any child should be limited to one group of playmates. They held on to the conviction that my life would have no limits, and they fought to keep that dream alive.

我媽媽——愿神祝福她——在我幼年時就做了一個重要決定。“力克，你要跟普通小孩一起玩，因?yàn)槟憔褪莻€正常的孩子，只不過少了某些小零件而已。”媽媽替我未來的日子定了調(diào)。她不想讓我覺得自己不正常或受到限制，也不希望我只因?yàn)樯砩系牟煌?，就變成一個封閉、害羞或缺乏安全感的人。

My mother, bless her, made an important decision at an early stage of my life. "Nicholas, you need to play with normal children because you are normal. You just have a few bits and pieces missing, that's all," she said, setting the tone for years to come. She didn't want me to feel less than normal or restricted in any way.She didn't want me to become introverted, shy, or insecure just because I was different physically.

我并不知道，其實(shí)那時我的父母就已經(jīng)開始灌輸給我一個信念：我有權(quán)利過沒有標(biāo)簽和限制的生活。你也有這樣的權(quán)利，去擺脫他人對你的分類或限制。因?yàn)樯俚粢恍┝慵?，我可以很敏銳地察覺到，有些人會默默接受別人對他的看法，甚至不自覺地自我設(shè)限。有時我因?yàn)樘刍蛏眢w不舒服，就跟父母說上學(xué)或看醫(yī)生實(shí)在太費(fèi)力氣了，但他們拒絕讓我用身體狀況當(dāng)借口。

Little did I realize that my parents were even then instilling in me the belief that I had every right to a life free of labels and restrictions. You have that right too. You should demand to be free of whatever categorizations or limits others try to put on you. Because of my missing bits and pieces, I am sensitive to the fact that some people accept what others say about them and even unconsciously restrict themselves. There certainly were times when I was tired or cranky and tried to claim that studying or going to the doctor was just too taxing, but my parents refused to let me hide behind that.

標(biāo)簽可以提供誘人的藏身之處，有些人拿來當(dāng)作借口，但也有人超越了它們。有許多人被貼上“身障者”或“失能者”的標(biāo)簽，卻能夠超越別人認(rèn)為他們應(yīng)該有的限制，過著充滿活力的生活，從事重要工作。所以我鼓勵你打破人生的任何限制，盡情探索并發(fā)展你的天賦。

Labels can provide a tempting hiding place. Some people use them as excuses. Others rise above them. Many, many people have been labeled "handicapped" or "disabled," only to soar above, enjoying dynamic lives and doing important things. I encourage you to rise above any attempt to restrict you from exploring and developing your gifts.

身為上帝的孩子，我知道他常常與我同在;而知道他了解我們能承受多少，也讓我覺得安慰。當(dāng)別人與我分享他生命中的挑戰(zhàn)和考驗(yàn)時，我常常感動落淚;我也會提醒那些受苦或悲傷的人，上帝的臂膀永遠(yuǎn)不會太短，可以觸及任何人。

As a child of God, I know that He is always with me, and I'm comforted to know that He understands how much we can bear. When others share stories with me of their own challenges and trials, I'm often moved to tears. I remind those who are suffering or grieving that God's arm is never too short. He can reach anyone.

從這里汲取力量吧。大膽嘗試，并朝著你所能想象的最高處盡情飛翔。或許你會碰到難關(guān)，那就把這些挑戰(zhàn)當(dāng)作“塑造人格的經(jīng)驗(yàn)”，從中學(xué)習(xí)并努力超越;或許你有個很棒的夢想，那就請你打開心胸，接受上帝或許為你計(jì)劃了一條不同于你所想象的路。圓夢的方法很多，如果你還沒看見出路，千萬不要灰心。

Draw strength from that. Dare to give it a go and to soar as high as your imagination will take you. You can expect challenges. Welcome them as "character-building experiences." Learn from them and rise above them. You may have an excellent dream. Just be open-minded enough to accept that God may have a different path for you than the one you envisioned. There are many ways to reach your dream, so don't be discouraged if you can't yet see the way on your own.