The most inspirational people to me are those who are extremely physically challenged, and yet accomplish great things or accomplish normal things, but only through sheer determination, inner vision and heart. They have risen above their "handicap," and have actually applied it to their advantage in creating deeply soulful lives. They are "not minding" their situations, and are finding within themselves power to experience a high quality of life.

Such people as renown physicist, Stephen Hawking, great violinist Itzhak Perlman, Helen Keller, or champions of Special Olympics (who are champions of much more)--managed to achieve a high quality of life because they persisted in achievement of it, and that challenge tested much more of their abilities than those of us with eyes to see, legs to walk and hands to grasp. To me, these are super-people of humanity. They are testaments to power of life to transcend against all odds. The lesson for us "able" people is, here we are with all our limbs and faculties intact, and yet we insist on feeling sorry for ourselves because we're overweight, or have acne, or are depressed.

The mystery lies in what drives these challenged people to be such inspirations and to accomplish so much for humanity. In my previous article I discussed power of decision, and certainly at some point in these people's lives, they made a heart-and-soul decision to rise above their disabilities. But more than that, there is a quality of striving and a certain emotional and spiritual center that glows brighter, and it informs them of their right to a quality life.

I'm defining "quality life" as one in which goals are regularly achieved, morale is high, there is a high sense of well-being, and an aura of satisfaction around every endeavor, and all of this radiates out into world and uplifts families, communities and nations.

Although Bruce is bemoaning angst of swing-shift musician, in my life these words hit home more than once or twice in any given year. But these lyrics speak, really, to human condition. A person is deposited at birth in a vast sea of life with only constant being change. Ironically, it's change that is sometimes most disturbing experience of life. Attempting to express ourselves in a sane, consistent and linear fashion seems like building a castle made of sand. But it is that desire for consistency that can trap us in a what seems to become a rut with no way out but to contradict ourselves.

Yet, within this conundrum of humanity lies greatest of all opportunities: with change comes growth. And with growth comes increase and expansion. We must expand our vision, expand our viewpoint, and increase our honesty with our own values and express that vision and viewpoint with all passion and determination we can muster within us. By staying true to what and who we are, our true divinity can shine through to uplift and inspire everyone around us including ourselves.

The great psychologist Abraham Maslow said, "What is necessary to CHANGE a person is to CHANGE his awareness of himself." When you look in mirror, what do you see? What are you aware of? Is it something to change, or something to make greater? It may not be fear of change itself that keeps us from changing, but fear we may not be able to change.

The only way to find ableness to change is to set forth, bravely, eyes locked on target, strength mustered, and just START. The start is most difficult, so once that's accomplished, it's really just a matter of increasing momentum. It takes all horsepower of a automobile to get it up to highway speed, yet only a fraction of it to keep it cruising.