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Described as “strikingly free of bitterness,” Dury said, “I’m 56, and I’ve probably had more fun and games than most people my age. I’ve had a good run. Musn’t grumble.”
Also making
list was DAVID BLUNKETT, Britain’s Home Secretary, who is blind. He is often photographed with his guide dogs, Ted, Offa and Lucy.
Did you know that JIM ABBOTT, (1967-present), has no right hand. A major league baseball pitcher, he won Golden Spikes Award as finest amateur baseball player in US, played on 1988 U.S. Olympic Baseball team and pitched a gold medal for US team. He played baseball for California Angels and was traded to New York Yankees.
BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON [Lemon Jefferson Couchman], 1897-1929, blind from childhood, was most popular male blues recording artist of 1920s, making over 100 recordings last four years of his life.
At age of 13, WANG XUEFENG, who lives in Heilongjiang Province in China, began music training, although wheelchair-bound due to congenital osteomalacia. Four years later he won Instrumental Music, Special honor, and Newcomer Awards at State Art performance of Disabled Persons.
HIKARI OE was born with a potentially fatal cranial deformity and went on to become a recognized composer of classical music. His first two CDS (Music of Hikari Oe and Music of Hikari Oe 2) have been best-sellers in his native Japan, with 300,000 sold worldwide.
NOT QUALIFIED?
SIR DOUGLAS BADER was continually told there was no regulation allowing someone in his condition to fly.
A World War II ace, in his youth, as member of Royal Air Force, Sir Douglas Bader sustained a flying accident that left him a double amputee and was discharged. Determined to not only walk again, but fly again, he eventually was reinstated when WWII broke out and experienced pilots were needed. A skillful pilot as well as an inspirational leader, he was awarded Distinguished Services Order and Distinguised Flying Cross for leadership and valor in action.
MORE
Compiled by Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities Hillsborough County, Fla and The Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities Tampa, Florida, here are some famous individuals who have suffered from disabilities. For complete list go here, http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Mayor/Mayors_Alliance/famous_persons/index.asp
BIPOLAR 1.Ned Beatty, actor 2.Ludwig von Beethoven, composer 3.Art Buchwald, columnist 4.Tim Burton, actor 5.Robert Campeau, Canadian financier 6.Lewis Carroll, author of “Through Looking Glass” 7.Dick Cavettm comedian and talk show host
EPILEPSY
1.Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France 2.Richard Burton, actor 3.Marion Clignet, cyclist, 1996 Olympic silver medal winner 4.Dante, Italian write, author of “The Inferno” 5.Leonardo Da Vinci, painter, artist, sculptor, painted Sistine Chapel 6.Fyodor Dostoyevski, Russian author, “The Brother Karamazov” and “Crime and Punishment” 7.Alexander Great, 356-323 BC, King of Macedonians and conquieror of much of known world at time
Whatever your situation, don’t let it get you down and keep you down! If you need support, hire a coach and work on your emotional intelligence competencies. Resilience means being able to bounce back from adversity, setbacks and losses and includes being “strikingly free of bitterness.”
And draw inspiration from others who have had to live with hard things. Whenever I read stories like these, I am humbled and look at things differently. I hope they’ll give you inspiration too.
©Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . I offer coaching, distance learning programs, and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your personal and professional development. I train and certify EQ coaches. Get into this field, dubbed “white hot” by the press, now. No residency requirement. Start immediately. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine. For daily EQ Tips, send blank email to EQ4U-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
