Confucius once said, “It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop.”

So, what does that mean? It’s pretty self-explanatory, but it’s definitely something to live by, to cherish, and to always keep in mind. No matter the obstacle that you face, keep moving forward until you surmount said obstacle. You will surmount the obstacle, some goals might just take a little longer to achieve than others but do not fret!

Take my walking, for instance, I’m still just a mere one-legged pirate hobbling through everyday life like a newly born fawn learning how to walk – it can get ugly, just ask my boyfriend who has seen me fall, how many times now babe? Hah. Regardless of the trip-ups and the wobbles and the hops I will continue to work towards my goal of becoming a two-legged hobbling pirate, that hopefully doesn’t hobble too much.

The truth of the matter is, there is not anything holding you from reaching your goals but yourself. It’s the same truth that I face each day. So, persevere through the hard stuff, you may even surprise yourself on how much you can accomplish. Without perseverance, I would never have learned to drive for the first and the second time. I wouldn’t have learned how to take care of my baby on my own, which I feel is my bravest and proudest achievement. I would never have learned, as a mere child, how to read or walk or speak. Don’t rush your progress, but also don’t stop. Just ensure that what you are doing is right and will end with your goal met. My advice to you, as an amputee still learning, is to stay strong, don’t worry about how slow you are going, others can go around – metaphorically and literally. You stay focused on your path because your path is the one that is the most important.

Always, always remember. The tortoise was the winner.