Monday, September 20, 2010

What is my excuse?

Let's kick off Monday with some good news. 

A 42 year old Frenchman swam across the English Channel this weekend. That fact alone is outstanding. Even as an athlete, swimming is not necessarily my gig. I can swim but have never swam 4 pool lengths, or across a lake, and most certainly not across the English Channel. But Philippe Croizon did and to that alone I say, "CHEERS!"

But, Philippe is not your ordinary man who likes to swim like a fish. Philippe is a quadriplegic. Sixteen years ago, he was electrocuted by a powerline and all of his limbs needed amputation. While in recovery, he saw a documentary about a swimmer crossing the Channel and suddenly, he had a new goal. 

So he trained for two years and finished the challenge only slightly slower than other athletes might. And he reported, dolphins swam along with him for a portion of the time.
The father of two said he wanted to complete the dare "for myself, my family and all my fellows in misfortune who have lost their taste for life".

Well, if that is not kick ass, I don't know what is. Bravo to you Philippe for not merely  completing the "dare" but also reminding us how incredibly important it is to have that taste for life.

So when you consider your own goals, do you need to dust them off a bit? Or are those goals pinned to the forefront of your life? Some of mine are pinned to the forefront but one goal is so dusty, I almost don't recognize it. Time to let it shine. Because if a man with no limbs can swim across the English Channel, what is my excuse?  


And thank you Philippe. You made my day. This is exactly the type of bad-assery I like the most.

46 comments:

Kat said...

Bravo to Phillipe! And thanks for sharing this JennyMac. I think we can all use a bit of a kick start now and again.

The Savage said...

There is no excuse. I have found it is better to have given it your all and fail horribly than to sit back years later wondering what if.
I've set new goals in my life and am well on my way to achieving (or attempting, at least) them.

the walking man said...

Have to agree with you JennyM, that is the kind of bad assery that makes the bad asses I know into nothing. Shit my goals are done I will just spend the rest of the time sanding the rough edges off the timber. Using of course but a single grain of sand.

Unknown said...

Way to go! We all need some reminding to go for our goals.

Emily said...

that is very kick-ass. For some reason I think swimming the English Channel is one of the coolest things ever.

confused homemaker said...

Damn that makes me feel like a bum. But ya know what? I love feeling like a bum by people who show me there's amazing strength, courage & bad assery that can abound.

Simply Suthern said...

Wow, it's almost embarassing. While I havent lost the taste for life I have kinda sold out to the artificial flavors.

What an inspiration

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

He is totally inspiring!

Mrs. M said...

WOW! What an amazing accomplishment!

Anonymous said...

Bad assery indeed. Thanks for the reminder and for the ability to share on Facebook. I'd rather read of these things than "whaaaaa it's MUNDAY!"

Anonymous said...

What a great story! Amazing. I need to work on a few of my own goals.

Jules AF said...

Thanks for sharing this story! wow.

Slamdunk said...

No doubt that is an inspiring story that I missed. Thanks for sharing JM and I hope your week goes well.

SmartBear said...

Spot on, girl. That IS bad ass!
I lose sight of my goals in the daily chaos. I am always in need of reminders....
best,
Tina

Anonymous said...

Oh, I long to be a bad ass! He is, that's for sure.
However, I just got another cup of tea...that's bad ass for me on a Monday after too much Moet on a Sunday.
Happy week.
mary

Drew's Mom said...

Love this story! Very inspiring and a great reminder of what focus and determination can accomplish.

Kristina P. said...

When I saw Kate Gosselin on the cover of People, in a bikini, looking hot, I thought, "What the hell is my excuse?! She has had EIGHT KIDS!!!"

Confessions of a Mother, Lawyer & Crazy Woman said...

I just shared this on FB. Thanks for the pep talk! Been a long weekend for me and I needed a jolt.

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

Great story. My Cdub only has one arm and he it totally amazing!
<><

Intense Guy said...

Mind boggling.

Cut yourself some slack Ms. Mac... you are mind boggling too -

Anonymous said...

What an inspiration!

Suddenly, I'm sitting here thinking about what I've been wanting to get accomplished, and how I should be able to put my mind to it!

Thanks for the great post! :)

mCat said...

Absolutely humbling to read this kind of story.

And yeah, I think any excuse I could come up with right now, would be pretty weak.

Great post

Babes Mami said...

Yay! What a great story! That's above and beyond and it's always important that we remember to have a taste for life!

Babes Mami said...

Yay! What a great story! That's above and beyond and it's always important that we remember to have a taste for life!

Aunt Juicebox said...

Awesome! And now I feel like a loser. ;)

Jane said...

I'm equally impressed that he did it at 42!

Geez, I need to get off the couch...

Unknown said...

Darn it. I guess I will do my exercise tape tonight...

: )

J.J. in L.A. said...

That's awesome! My excuse is extreme laziness. lol!

Unknown said...

Wow! What an incredible feat. It certainly is inspiring!

Unknown said...

Inspiring & incredible story. Of course I feel like a complete chump after reading it.

But thank you for sharing!
;-)

Herding Cats said...

It's people like him that make me feel pretty ashamed of how little I accomplish physically. Amazing.

Maria said...

What a good kick in the pants to get me moving again! I will relish the 4 miles at 4am tomorrow morning!!!

Thanks JennyMac!

Allyson & Jere said...

Yeah, that is bad-assery at its finest!

I saw that headline, but didn't read the whole story. Seriously, he has NO limbs. I just wanted to know logisically how it was possible. I'm amazed!

Really...what is ANY of our excuses? Just that...EXCUSES! (and I"m super the BEST at making them.)

Little Ms J said...

Amazing. I need to stop whining so much.

Cathi said...

That is amazing and a much needed kick in the arse!!

There is a wonderful movie called On A Clear Day with Brenda Blethyn about an elderly man that also has lost his taste for life and decides to swim the Channel. Loved it!

Thanks for sharing this story, JennyMac! xxoo :)

KittyCat said...

Um I hate water, so I am not sure the draw to do such a thing.

Do I feel that it is amazing? hmmmm I guess so. I could never do it.

Ed said...

Awesome. That guy deserves a hand.

A couple, actually.

Something Happened Somewhere Turning said...

That is a very inspirational story. It is always amazing to see how people can overcome certain adversity.

MommyLisa said...

Kick ASS! I am going to have to tweet this one!

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

Thanks for sharing this. Amazing! And yes... Bad-Assery at its finest.

Vodka Logic said...

Great post and great reminder that when I am complaining on the eliptical.. some can't do it at all.

xx

Kir said...

yep, what IS my excuse??

I need to think that way, to remember the things that make me happy and the goals that used to drive me and just do it.

thanks for the reminder. :)

The Constant Complainer said...

Congrats to him. And yes, that is indeed bad ass!!!

secret agent woman said...

I don't normally care about people taking on physically challenging things just for the sake of doing them, but in this case I'm throughly impressed.

Anonymous said...

That is just awesome! WOW!

HalfAsstic.com said...

How absolutely amazing! AND inspiring! I need to make a few NEW goals in my life! Hummmmm...