CHAPTER 1 - If You Can’t Get a Miracle, Become One
This chapter has some quotes from Nick for readers:
"Adjustments are necessary along the way because life isn't always rosy, but it is always worth living." (P2)
My reflection: Worth living, whether it is good or bad.
"To wish for change will change nothing. To make the decision to take action right now will change everything!" (P3)
My reflection: Take Action, don't wish only
"Suffering is universal and often unbelievably cruel."
"All things work for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."
My reflection: Sometimes we won't accept this is His purpose because it is not really good matter for us, even good, not welcomed by us.
"You can't even imagine the good that awaits you if you refuse to give up." (P15)
My reflection: Nick tell me give up is not an option.
"Remind yourself of that when feelings of loneliness and despair come over you. Remember, those are just feelings. They are not real, but God's love is so real that He created you to prove it." (P16)
My reflection: feeling nay not be real but God is real.
He also talks about self assessment- thinking about your favourite activities. (P19)
My reflection: Try to enjoy and develop your own, reading, running, sharing - they all make me enjoy life.
"If you are still searching for your path in life, know that it’s okay to feel a little frustration. This is a marathon, not a sprint. (P22)"
My reflection: Life is Marathon
"Life without meaning has no hope. Life without hope has no faith. If you find a way to contribute, you will find your meaning…..hope and faith will follow." (P24)
"Life isn’t about having, it’s about being" (P29)
My reflection: Having a lot will not bring happiness, but how do you been can.
CHAPTER 2 - No Arms, No Legs, No Limits
This chapter is about Nick describing his birth, and how his parents faced and overcomed their limbless baby - from shock, helpless to bouncing back. Moreover, Nick shared his attempt for committing suicide - everyone has their time of depression
“You may not control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond.” (P33）
My reflection: Even when faced with the worst, do whatever you can to prepare yourself for the best!
"Offer compassion when you need it. Be a friend when you need friendship." (P35)
My reflection: Trying to give when you feel lacking may be a good, positive and effective way.
"Labels can provide a tempting hiding place. Some people use them as excuses." (P41)
"God’s arm is never too short. He can reach anyone."
My reflection: I notice that my reading marks in the book are gone after page 40, which proves I give up reading and check in dictionary here years ago.....
"Welcome their efforts, but keep pushing on your own too." (P43)
My reflection: Keep pushing but admit that everyone need help. Nick tried praying for arms and legs - no hope, but he can find his hope in God elsewhere.
“if you feel overcome by dark moods, you don’t have to handle it yourself. Those who love you won’t feel burdened.” (P49)
My reflection: Admitting your own weaknesses and asking others for help is also an act of courage, and you should stay open and listen to those who love you.
CHAPTER 3 - Full Assurance in the Heart
Nick further mentioned about his life in children, such as how a limbless bloke learn surfing.
"The hard times and the discouragements are not fun. You don’t have to pretend to enjoy them. But believe in the possibilities for better days ahead, for a fulfilling and purposeful life." (P79)
"You may not be able to see a path right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there."
My reflection: Don't deceive your own feelings, face them sincerely and proactively find a solution.
Nick talked about how he found self-assurance in God.
"You share when you don’t have much. You’ll find happiness by making others smile. You love yourself, because you are not all about yourself." (P76)
"When you let other people determine your value, you give up too much of yourself and risk letting your blessings go to waste."
“If you can’t resolve your own issues, be solutions for someone else.” (P86)
My reflection: I thought of my good friend. She sincerely cares about others. However, she has a lot of troubles of her own family if you know her well. She is a very good model of kindness and we learn to share and pray with each other.CHAPTER 5 - Attitude is Altitude
Nick shares about his experience about his company which organize inspiring speech and peaching. And how attitude arise your altitude. He mentions 4 "Most powerful attitudes":
1. An attitude of gratitude 2. An attitude of action 3. An attitude of empathy 4. An attitude of forgiveness
Empathy- use your grief or anger or hurt to help you better understand and ease the pain of someone else.
My reflection: It is unfortunately to have any bad experience, but we can refer to this and help others to avoid if possible, or face this if unavoidable.CHAPTER 6. Armless But Not Harmless
Nick mentions his first and only fight with his classmate. I found Nick is a good story teller. Moreover, he is not only sharing how he success, also his misconduct.
"So many fearful people focus on the "what if" when they should be saying "why not"?" (P119)
My reflection: I often think about what if we fail, so we become afraid to try, dare not to commit.
CHAPTER 7. Don’t Let Your Face Plant Grow Roots
Nick talked about the experiences, amusing stories and difficulties he faced during his speaking tours.
"We all need to remember is that life is not a pass-fail test. It is a trial-and-error process." (P127)
“How many kids would listen to you if they couldn’t see right away that you have turned what should have been an incredible negative into something so positive?” (P134)
My reflection: I focus on whether pass or not, no only myself but also my kids. However, in reality, trial and error is unavoidable but crucial for our growth.
CHAPTER 8. The New Bloke in the Bushes
"We often resist change, but really, who could want a life without it?" (P142)
"There is always a way out!" (P154)
My reflection: In this chapter, I read a lot about Nick's confusion ad unexpected events. In Chinese I write this as 措手不及. But I looked up dictionary and found all below phrase has similar meanings:
P142 blindsided by
P143 overwhelmed and disoriented
P145 threw me for a loop
While reading, i keep looking up words in the dictionary and found there are numerous way to express this in English. Even as simple as "cry", there are many words in English mentioning this but I purely know "cry", so shamed.
Moreover, it often happened to me that I failed to understand the sentence, despite looking up each word in dictionary and having their Chinese explanations. I believed that is the reason why I gave up before.
How to solve this problem? looking up the whole sentence on Google translate, or be a bit lazy - use AI for assistance. (Not recommended except I still cannot get the meaning by other ways.)
That's true - There is always way out!
CHAPTER 9. Trust Others, More or Less
In the chapter, Nick talked about his caregivers, helpers and other people around him.
"I’ve learned that sometimes there is more to people than you first suspect, and sometimes there is less." (P157)
"Your actions speak louder than your words." (P166)
My reflection: Nick's positive attitude towards his work partners and people around him, enable others to assist him more readily. It is a very good example for people management.
CHAPTER 10. An Equal Opportunity Hugger
In this chapter, Nicks shared his experience of being invited to act in a movie. It is really interesting that there is no body double for a person without limbs. However, he emphasized that he has learned to turn down the character in movie who is not inspiring and positive, but grab the chance when it comes.
"You are responsible for your own success" (P182)
My reflection: Above sentence has turned into the golden quote that I often remind myself of, and I also often use it to inspire my children.
CHAPTER 11 The Ridiculous Rules
Nick shared how he made fruitful by taking ridiculous risk and making ridiculous fun. He shared his decision to peach in Africa is dangerous in others' point of view, but it is also the most memorable and valuable trip in his life.
"If you aren’t willing to take some risk or dare to be called crazy by those who doubt your genius, then you likely will never achieve or that will dream of achieving." (P199)
My reflection: Write book review in English is ridiculous fun for me. I will try to be ridiculous.
CHAPTER 12. Make Giving Your Mission
In the last Chapter, Nick round up his insight by a Indonesian girl, who was inspired by his speech in VCD, but her mission also inspire him and the people around.
"If your feelings are hurt, heal those of another." (P215）
My reflection: Focusing on my own problem may not help. Never wait to give until you feel adequate. After all, everyone is lacking in some way at any time.
After reading this book, I feel God is speaking to me - it is really such a timely book, timely words, timely inspiration.
"Remember this: God has a truly purpose for your life! Live it without limits!"
Let me encourage everyone with the above and last sentence from Nick.
Book Sharing - Life Without Limits, written by Nick Vujicic - Being Inspired to Inspire
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推理小說︰
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文學類別︰
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《魯迅散文選》 - 魯迅 著 （楊澤編）- 走進當代文人的世界 （保留）
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