Feeling like a victim?
Need an attitude check?
I saw this video on the Today Show about Lauren Scruggs, a former (I’m not sure if she models any longer?) model who was in an airplane propeller accident last Christmas. She lost her hand, eye and suffered extensive injuries; they thought she might not even live at first.
But she made a full recovery and has such an amazing attitude about life – she doesn’t blame anyone or anything, said it was just a terrible accident. She also is honest about the loss of her hand:
“There’s still some hard days, for sure, and I think there will be the rest of my life.”
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{Video found here}
There’s another video on People where she shows her different workout prostheses and talks about how she’s recovering. She even does pushups with a special “workout arm”! Cue the shame spreading over my non-strength training body.
Her perspective on physical therapy – she calls it “training” – has helped as well. Scruggs works out daily at a rehab facility that’s more like a gym, where athletes work through injuries. Describing her workout prosthetics, the active, athletic fashion blogger lights up.
{From her twitter}
Lauren wrote a book about her life and the past year, and it just came out yesterday. I’m putting it on my Christmas list now. Ya hear, Mom?
I think her attitude is so inspiring – we all have crap going on in our lives, but we can control our attitudes and how we respond to it.
Ok, end of my inspirational speech.
Who do you find inspirational? Public figure, athlete, parent?
Tim Tebow is up on the top of my list.
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I know you love Tebow, but have you heard about this guy/QB from K-State Collin Klein? Seriously, he’s awesome and very Tebow-like. The ultimate example in humility and leadership. That’s my little plug for my K-State team this year. If I’m having a bad day, I just think about how hard they work and how awesome they are, and I feel better. Okay, off my soapbox.
ive never heard about him, gotta go Google now!
I’ve followed this story since it first happened – horrible isn’t it?! Her outlook is fantastic though! Not sure if you know but they are doing her full story on Dateline tonight!
I’ll be watching!
i saw that! i started following her on twitter and just saw a tweet about it.
Being here in the DFW area, I remember this story very well. The fact that she survived at all was a true miracle. Her determination and attitude about the whole situation really is very inspiring.
I remember seeing this in the news when it happened. The book sounds v inspiring I’ll be sure to add it to my Christmas list too
have a great weekend!!
Thanks for posting this! I went to Texas A&M with this girl, and when the accident happened the whole Aggie community was behind her. It was so sad but really inspiring at the same time to see people rally behind her and her family. I didn’t know she was on Today, but I’m so happy to see how well she’s doing!
I started following her story when it happened as well. The very first thing that I thought about was how truly positive she always was.
There has been many times where I felt lost and highly stressed about what is definitely trivial to what she’s been through so she’s such an inspiration.
I don’t know if you ever watch Oprah,but I love her lifeclass shows. One of the things she says she does is , every morning, before she checks her phone msgs or does anything else, she’ll whisper “thank you” for the chance to live another day. I love that.
GREAT post. I’m gonna end this ramble now
I had heard about her. Thanks for linking the video. It is so amazing how Lauren had her kife change so dramatically and just picks up and keeps going.
Given the choices, I’d go with athlete if talking fitness, my mom if we’re talking cimpassion and generousity.
My inspiration is my son’s best friend from HS. He was deployed to Afghanistan and stepped on an IED last October 1 and lost both of his legs up to his hips. He is a miracle! He inspires me every single day. His Mom recently said…he’s getting back into doing the things he enjoys and is LOVING LIFE! Amazing!
Since his accident there isn’t a day that goes by when I lace-up my running shoes that I don’t give thanks that I am able to run.
I went to visit him a few months ago at Walter Reed Hospital and it was life changing. Every American should make a visit there….
They are the real Heroes! I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in his honor and for all wounded warriors. When my legs were fatigued and sore all I had to do is think about these brave souls <3
Blessings!
My 10-year old is a true inspiration to me. I’ve written a little about her on my blog, but her whole story is for her to tell one day.
She’s been so incredibly strong through this whole thing! I really like how real she is, and am so inspired by her and how far she’s come in less than a year. She’s awesome!
i saw that and it was really awesome her attitude through everything shes been through you cant help but smile listening to her talk about it, and tim tebow.. love him hes sucha hottie too
I absolutely agree – we can choose our attitudes about any given situation. I think “choosing” my attitude during my unemployment is how I survived it. Thanks for the positive reminder!
Thanks for sharing this! I only caught a minute of the Today Show this morning but definitely remember hearing out it last year. I knew she was a blogger, but for some reason, never checked her blog out! She’s definitely an inspiration. I agree with ya on Tebow being up there for me!!
What an amazing, positive attitude. Thanks for sharing.
What a strong woman… a great role model for sure.
As for who I’m inspired by lately? Katie North who came up with the Take What You Need signs http://lisavoisin.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/guest-post-from-the-originator-of-the-take-what-you-need-projects-katie-north/
Thanks for the link SR; I need to keep this in view as I battle the triple whammy of a left heel, strained right hip flexor and inflamed left ankle. Yeah, it has been injury-fest and one setback after another since September.
Very well said SR…I’ve been following her story for a while now and am still completely blow away everything I read something new about her. A workout arm, are you kidding me?! So inspirational and def a big motivation for me to stop complaining about little aches and pains and do some push-ups!!
It is people’s grace and perseverance in the face of adversity and setbacks that inspire me. And especially people’s grace towards others. How they pay it forward. I always think of the woman that was on Biggest Loser and had lost her family in a car accident. Her husband, toddler and infant.
I know we all find our own inspiration. There is no judging what inspires each of us. Sorry to say Tim Tebow doesn’t really inspire me to much. I just don’t get that same sense of having overcome obstacles like so many others have.
The Kidless Kronicles
her outlook on everything is incredible, i think the fact that she was a flipping MODEL to begin with, to have her face be a major part of the injuries and come out with that perspective speaks volumes.
Such a great story, I am glad you posted this. I had seen a teaser on the news about her story but missed the full story. I just love how positive people can be even in the face of extreme tragedy. Shows how important a strong faith is and motivates me even more to raise my kids with a strong faith-based foundation.
Today I am inspired by the ultra runners I am going to be assisting up on Saddleback mountain, they take off in 30 minutes to tackle 100 of the toughest miles around. They will power on and some will be finishing 30 hours from now. Amazing.
GREAT POST, SR!! I had one of those the-world-coming-to-an-end-today stomach viruses yesterday, so today I am thankful for my health and this healthy perspective!!
You are the best blogger in the whole world.
hope you are feeling better, amy!
She is amazing! Thanks for sharing
This is an amazing story! I love inspirational stories like this one. I think this book just might be on my Christmas list. Although, I’ve been terrible with keeping up with my reading and my book pile is massive.
This girl is amazing! I remember hearing about her story right after the accident happened and its just tremendous how far she has come and the positive attitude that she has!
Such a wonderful role model for others!
totally agree. we need more of that positivity in life.
Ryan Hall is close to the top of my list. So is my good friend and trainer Will Roberts.
Honestly, I hope the way I live causes me to be on a few people’s lists, too
amen to that!
First & foremost, my inspiration is my Dad. His aorta ruptured when he was 47 (I was 7 at the time) and they only gave him 6 months to live. But he fought every day to do what he could so that he could be there as his children grew up. He lived 22 years longer than they gave him. Along the way he had multiple setbacks and had two bypass surgeries. He eventually lost his life to a stroke when he was 69. I’ll never forget the fire & fight he had to try and do more.
Another inspiration are the age groupers that complete any Ironman Triathlon, especially in Kona. Every year we watch the broadcast on NBC and I’ve never not cried. If someone that has beaten cancer, overcome sexual abuse, has lost a limb (or limbs) can complete that challenge…there is no reason why I can’t suck it up and workout or go for a run.
Wow, she’s quite an example. Thanks for sharing!
I’m with you on Tebow. What a great example!
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