August 23, 2010
By Gord Waddell
Inspiration is an important element in the goal-focused life. Finding someone or something that excites you and drives you to reach your goals can help you ensure that you stay on the path of self discovery and constant growth.
One of my best inspirers was my mother, Margaret Taylor Waddell; not least because she was a continuous presence in my life, but also because of the adversity she faced and the way she handled it.
She was diagnosed with kidney disease and had to undergo years of dialysis treatment – sometimes spending months a time in the hospital. It would have been easy for her to despair, but that wasn’t her style. Through it all, she was always positive, always happy, always smiling, and always looking out for someone else. She never let her illness get in the way of living her life.
When she was well enough, she would visit the family or come to her grandkids’ soccer games. She would also knit sweaters or send flowers to other patients receiving dialysis treatment, because she knew the difficulty they faced and that her effort would bring a smile to their face.
When she passed away in April 2008, it was, of course, difficult. But our family, inspired by her example of strength and positivity, bound together and became stronger as a result.
Jim Flood is another important source of inspiration for me. I’ve known Jim for 15 years and when I was training to compete in the World Kickboxing and Karate Association championship in 2001, Jim was in my corner.
While training, Jim would use a few choice phrases to help get me through difficult training sessions. When I didn’t feel like going for a run, Jim would say, “Right now, the Russians are running up hills with rocks on their shoulders,” or “The Yugoslavians are running up and down hills carrying sacks of potatoes.”
These simple prods, and others like them, helped me to not only continue with difficult workout sessions, but would help me prove to myself that I was capable of competing with the best in the world.
When Jim was seriously injured in a car accident three years ago, the doctors said that he would never walk again. Today, Jim is not only walking, but is once again practising and teaching martial arts.
Finding a person with a story that touches you in some way can provide a model for you to work off. For example, if you’re looking to get into better physical shape, but you haven’t worked out for years, finding an example of someone who has overcome greater odds than you can be a great source of inspiration.
Remember, as the references in this article point out, you usually don’t have to look too far to find someone who can inspire you.
Gord Waddell is a 2001 World Kickboxing and Karate Association champion kickboxer and owner of United Family Martial Arts School in Hamilton (www.ufmadundurn.com).
