人生不设限·我有权利过不受限的生活
Remaining positive and motivated when your burden feels unbearable is undoubtedly diffi cult. When I became old enough to understand the challenges awaiting me, I was often haunted by despair and couldn't begin to imagine that anything positive lay in store for me. My memories of the darkest days of my childhood are hazy. I was going through one of those periods when being different was particularly tough. I'm sure you have experienced those self-doubts too. We all want to fit in, but at times we all feel like outsiders.
我的不安和怀疑大多来自没手没脚引起的生理困难。虽然不知道你的烦恼是什么，但心存盼望真的帮助了我。以下就是我的早期经历之一：
My insecurities and doubts sprang mostly from the physical challenges of having no arms or legs. I cannot know what your concerns are, but hanging on to hope helped me. Here is just one, early experience of how it worked in my world:
学步期时，医疗团队建议父母让我跟一群有“身心障碍”的小孩一起玩。这些孩子有的缺手或缺脚，有的罹患囊胞性纤维症，还有一些有严重的精神疾病。我父母对其他孩子和他们的家庭有极大的爱与同理心，但他们认为任何一个孩子都不应该被限制在某个团体里，只跟同一群人玩。他们确信我的人生不会有限制，也努力保持这个梦想。
I was just a toddler when my medical team recommended that my parents put me in a play group with other kids labeled "disabled." Their challenges ranged from missing limbs to cystic fibrosis and severe mental disorders. My parents had great love and empathy for other special needs kids and their families, but they don't think any child should be limited to one group of playmates. They held on to the conviction that my life would have no limits, and they fought to keep that dream alive.
我妈妈——愿神祝福她——在我幼年时就做了一个重要决定。“力克，你要跟普通小孩一起玩，因为你就是个正常的孩子，只不过少了某些小零件而已。”妈妈替我未来的日子定了调。她不想让我觉得自己不正常或受到限制，也不希望我只因为生理上的不同，就变成一个封闭、害羞或缺乏安全感的人。
My mother, bless her, made an important decision at an early stage of my life. "Nicholas, you need to play with normal children because you are normal. You just have a few bits and pieces missing, that's all," she said, setting the tone for years to come. She didn't want me to feel less than normal or restricted in any way.She didn't want me to become introverted, shy, or insecure just because I was different physically.
我并不知道，其实那时我的父母就已经开始灌输给我一个信念：我有权利过没有标签和限制的生活。你也有这样的权利，去摆脱他人对你的分类或限制。因为少掉一些零件，我可以很敏锐地察觉到，有些人会默默接受别人对他的看法，甚至不自觉地自我设限。有时我因为太累或身体不舒服，就跟父母说上学或看医生实在太费力气了，但他们拒绝让我用身体状况当借口。
Little did I realize that my parents were even then instilling in me the belief that I had every right to a life free of labels and restrictions. You have that right too. You should demand to be free of whatever categorizations or limits others try to put on you. Because of my missing bits and pieces, I am sensitive to the fact that some people accept what others say about them and even unconsciously restrict themselves. There certainly were times when I was tired or cranky and tried to claim that studying or going to the doctor was just too taxing, but my parents refused to let me hide behind that.
标签可以提供诱人的藏身之处，有些人拿来当作借口，但也有人超越了它们。有许多人被贴上“身障者”或“失能者”的标签，却能够超越别人认为他们应该有的限制，过着充满活力的生活，从事重要工作。所以我鼓励你打破人生的任何限制，尽情探索并发展你的天赋。
Labels can provide a tempting hiding place. Some people use them as excuses. Others rise above them. Many, many people have been labeled "handicapped" or "disabled," only to soar above, enjoying dynamic lives and doing important things. I encourage you to rise above any attempt to restrict you from exploring and developing your gifts.
身为上帝的孩子，我知道他常常与我同在;而知道他了解我们能承受多少，也让我觉得安慰。当别人与我分享他生命中的挑战和考验时，我常常感动落泪;我也会提醒那些受苦或悲伤的人，上帝的臂膀永远不会太短，可以触及任何人。
As a child of God, I know that He is always with me, and I'm comforted to know that He understands how much we can bear. When others share stories with me of their own challenges and trials, I'm often moved to tears. I remind those who are suffering or grieving that God's arm is never too short. He can reach anyone.
从这里汲取力量吧。大胆尝试，并朝着你所能想象的最高处尽情飞翔。或许你会碰到难关，那就把这些挑战当作“塑造人格的经验”，从中学习并努力超越;或许你有个很棒的梦想，那就请你打开心胸，接受上帝或许为你计划了一条不同于你所想象的路。圆梦的方法很多，如果你还没看见出路，千万不要灰心。
Draw strength from that. Dare to give it a go and to soar as high as your imagination will take you. You can expect challenges. Welcome them as "character-building experiences." Learn from them and rise above them. You may have an excellent dream. Just be open-minded enough to accept that God may have a different path for you than the one you envisioned. There are many ways to reach your dream, so don't be discouraged if you can't yet see the way on your own.
