Nothing in life is impossible . . .

Just ask Arthur Boorman.

This is a man used to living his life in prime physical condition; a former paratrooper; a man who paid a terrible price for his dedication to serving his country; a man injured, later to become disabled; a man who – for a time, at least – gave up.

Human bodies are not designed to withstand the demands of repeated parachute jumps and it is no surprise that, when he returned home from the Gulf War, his back and his knees were showing the strain.

His problems growing ever worse, doctors told Arthur that he’d never again walk unassisted. Arthur believed them.

Unable to exercise and struggling to motivate himself, Arthur began to gain weight. For 15 years, a depressing diagnosis shaping his outlook on life, he stopped trying. On his 47th birthday, he weighed 297 lbs. His health dreadful, things did not look good.

Then one morning, everything changed. The tale is so remarkable that – in words, at least – we feel unable to do it justice. This short movie – an excerpt from Inspired, a Kickstarter-funded project created by filmmaker Steve Yu – tells it better than we ever could. We ask you to take five minutes to watch it . . .

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448]

Here at OM HQ, we couldn’t be more inspired: because this is about showing courage and being brave; because it’s about striving for something better; because it’s about putting yourself out there; because it’s about standing up and fighting for the things in which you believe.

It’s also about connection because, as extreme as this example is, there are things here that we can all relate to. That constant struggle to achieve something, to beat the odds, to find betterment. Swimming against the tide. Reaching out for help. Receiving it.

Thankfully, Arthur got the help he needed to get back on his feet. But not everyone is so fortunate.

Think about this sometime and strive to recognize the person and not the problem. You might see the overweight man or the disabled woman. You should look harder and see the human being . . .

The person battling problems that could strike any one of us. The person with a remarkable tale that hasn’t been told. The person desperate for a helping hand. The person determined to realize their true potential.

Deep down – despite our troubles and our appearances – we are all the same. We want the same things, because we are all connected.

So let’s believe in ourselves and, more importantly, let’s believe in each other. Let’s stick together and help those most in need. Let’s never underestimate our power. Let’s never give up.

We are all connected.