Monday, March 31, 2008

The meaning of the word 'impossible'

This past week, I threw myself a big "poor me" party.

Those parties usually involve a lot of late nights TV watching or aimless web surfing.

Anyways during my aimless wandering, I stumbled upon something, or should I say someone who gave me a virtual slap on the face.

That person is Marlee Matlin.

If you don't know who Marlee is, let me tell you a little bit about her.

In 1986, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her part in the movie,
"Children of a lesser God".

It was her first movie role and at the time she was only 21. This made her the first and only person in acting history, man or woman, to accomplish this feat (according to Wikipedia)
She has since gone on to become an established film and television star.

But Marlee is not your typical movie star: she is profoundly deaf.
She's been that way since she was 18 months old.

Marlee's acting career while amazing considering the odds is not what prompted me
to tell you about her today.

If you are a fan of "Dancing with the Stars", (the ABC hit show)
then you probably know where I'm going with this.

She is in the show. Not as a judge or a host.
No! She is dancing! And doing quite well I might add.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her on the show and I said to myself

"That's impossible! There is no way she's going to pull this off, a deaf person can't dance!
She is going to make a fool of herself, yadiyadiyada..."

It's common sense that one must be able to hear the music, to follow the tempo and find the rhythm, etc...

Well, Marlee proved us wrong, yet again.

You've got to watch her, she is simply amazing and such an inspiration!

How does Marlee do it? What is her secret?
Where does she find the strength to go against the odds that are stacked
pretty high against her?

I think I found the answer in Napoleon Hill in his classic "Think and Grow Rich":
"One of the main weaknesses of mankind" he says
"is the average man's familiarity with the word ‘impossible.’
He knows all the rules which will NOT work.
He knows all the things which CANNOT be done."

Apparently the word 'impossible' doesn't exist in Marlee's dictionaries.

She is the living testament that "There are no limitations in what you can do except the limitations of your own mind"

I am humbled by her courage, her determination and most of allby her boldness.

What is my excuse?

Warmest Regards,

Carmina

Enlighten, Empower, Enrich
908-998-1723

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