The world changes constantly. and so can you.

25 years ago my life changed forever.  While on holiday at my friend’s cottage, I was run over by a boat and got caught in the propellers.

But here’s the crazy thing: I completely missed my 25 year ampuversary!  August 6th came and went and I’ve only just noticed.

The human capacity to adapt is amazing.

Before my accident, my dream was to be an international rugby superstar.  I couldn’t imagine being a leg amputee.  I would have told you that I’d rather not live.

A couple years on, I still wasn’t super happy with the situation, but I was willing to try.  I headed off to Queen’s University with a new dream: to be a surgeon.

A lot has happened since then, including 4 Paralympic Games, a couple of moves around the world, 17 years of marriage, retiring from sport, a mini-midlife crisis, and cracking on with career number two.

The point is, being an amputee barely registers on my radar anymore.

Packing my running leg and high heel leg for vacation feels normal.

When people stare, I assume it’s because I’m having a great hair day, not because of my carbon fibre leg.

The thing I thought would be worse than death is the same thing I barely notice now.

No matter how hard something feels in the moment, it can change.  That is the power of being human.

We can all adapt.
We can all rise to the challenge.

And if you don’t feel up to it today, don’t worry. You can try again tomorrow