“If you really want to do something,you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.”
— Attributed to Jim Rohn
In a story that is beyond inspiring, a blind man named Jia Haixia and his friend Jia Wenqi — a double amputee with no arms — have spent more than a decade planting trees to revive the lifeless barren wasteland surrounding their village in North Eastern China.
Together these two friends decided that regardless of their physical disabilities, their spiritual will power and desire to contribute something positive to their community would help them accomplish their goal — to plant a forest around their village to protect its inhabitants from flooding.
Haixia and Wenqi have spent over 13 years planting trees and cultivating the barren wasteland
Jia Wenqi lost both of his arms when he was just 3 years old
Jia Haixia was born blind in one eye and then tragically lost the other in a work related accident
Together they make an incredible team though and have planted more than 10,000 trees. In the words, of Haixia, “I am his hands. He is my eyes.”
Notice how the two of them are always smiling
Below you can watch a short two minute video of the duo’s incredible work;
So what can we learn from this?
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Attributed to Max Lucado
In spite of these men having major disabilities, neither one of them allowed this to discourage them from finding a way to contribute something positive to society. And in a world with as much need as this one, all of us can find something to do to help if we are willing to try.
Stop drowning yourself in self pity. You matter, and what you choose to do with the life you have in this given moment matters. Choose courage, not defeat.
“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
— Attributed to Plato
When we choose to engage in kindness, altruism and making the world a better place, it gives us purpose and makes us feel good about ourselves. This alone lifts up our spirits and helps us to fight off the feeling of depression and self pity that plague so many.
It also inspires people around us to take action too, which is precisely what Wenqi and Haixia have done for myself and millions of people all around the world!
“Friends become our chosen family.”
— Unknown
Although both of these men have obvious disabilities, and limitations, they look beyond that and understand that together they can achieve their goal because they have a similar spirit and internal strength. They could easily look at one another and criticize and complain and bitch and moan that what they are attempting to is insane and a waste of time. But instead what we see are two men constantly smiling and laughing together, while they patiently and diligently work together to create positive change.
Who we choose to surround ourselves with in life can make us or break us. If we make this decision intelligently, based on the value of someone’s integrity and intrinsic character, rather than shallow short comings, then there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. These two men prove that beyond any doubt.
If you have yet to meet a friend of such character, go volunteer locally or find local groups that are engaged in some form of activism that you are passionate about. You will someone cut from the same cloth as you eventually.
“What we do in life, echoes in eternity.”
— Gladiator
What we do in this life may seem inconsequential and without meaning or value sometimes. But when choose to take positive action, it sets off a chain of events that have the potential to forever echo throughout time.
This is perhaps truer today than ever before in known history, since we are connected globally through the internet, and the videos and articles and thoughts we share today, have the potential to inspire the future and unborn of tomorrow.
Choose to use your life to make a positive difference. Choose to help be a part of positive change.
Image credits where not displayed on photo: Hélène Franchineau, photocina.com & xinhua.com
Featured Image credit
Written by Gavin Nascimento, Founder of aNewKindOfHuman.com
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