If you're anything like me, it's easy to take a look at the world around you and immediately feel insignificant. There are so many people in the world, so why do I matter? I'm just a speck in comparison to the rest of the world's population. With so many people, so many better people, why would anything I have to say even matter? Why would my story mean anything when there are millions of people with similar stories?

I've thought like this for a long time and sometimes I still have those thoughts, maybe it's just me, but it can be extremely discouraging. I know that often times when I begin to have a dream, I quickly will shut it down as to big for me and that there's someone else is more capable than I am, because I am just not that important.

I believe that a lot of these thoughts that we have can derive from a mindset of comparing ourselves to others. We are constantly comparing other people to ourselves in so many different capacities. Whether it be someone else's talents, resources, finances, personalities, life stories, we live in such a comparison culture! 

To be frank, I just don't think that's fair to us as individuals. The more that we compare, the more that we lose sight of how unique each and every one of us are. I try and remind myself that my story IS special and it does mean something. Why? Because it's my story, and I'm the only one living it. I can compare myself all day and that will only deal more damage. That's not the way to live.

I want to encourage you to remember that you were created uniquely and that your story is one that has never been and that will never be again, Your story is totally and completely unique. Don't ever let the burdens of the world get in the way of that. Be strong, Allow your story to be written and then find the courage to tell it!

Stay undeFEETed,

​George

Throughout my whole life, one of the biggest things that's held me back is my own lack of self-confidence. Nothing screams "you're a weirdo" like being out in public and always being stared at. I'll be honest, it's pretty unnerving being out to eat and seeing people out of my peripheral glancing over with a look of disgust. Or walking around at the mall and seeing people eye me down as I walk past them. 

Dealing with people's stares makes it easy to look at myself negatively. To me, I see myself through the way other people see me, and that's the problem. It's so easy for me to become self conscious about not having arms when someone looks at me weird or whispers something about me as I pass them by. How interesting it is that we care so much of what strangers think of us. It's a dangerous cycle to fall into as we live our lives, and I am one of the biggest victims of this. 

Eventually I had to decide to change they way I think and act out in public, because the more I noticed all the little stares and whispers, the more dark my heart became; the more negative I viewed myself which in turn led to a depressed and lonely me. 

I believe that the less we care what the world thinks of our appearance, the more free we will feel. The fact that we as humans care so much of strangers' opinion of the way we appear is silly to me, but all the more real. Confidence is one of those feelings we all want to have, we all need to have. If you ask me, it starts with us learning to live in the bodies that we're born with. The way we look is a part of who we are, and we should never be ashamed of that. I know it's so much easier said than done, and I am far from truly getting there. Who knows, maybe we can never fully get there, because we will always have our bad moments. But I know that we can always make positive strides to a more confident and joyful version of ourselves. 

I'll leave you with this; We are who we are, we look the way we look. We can't change what can never be changed. The best thing we can do is to accept who we are, pay no mind to stranger's opinions of the way we look, and to keep our perseverance to be always moving forward as confident and happy versions of us!

Being born without arms has come with its challenges, to say the least. Some normal easy tasks that you might do on a daily basis are not necessarily easy and normal for me to do. I do everything everyone else does, I just do them in my own way. Some of these tasks are easy, but others are a bit more challenging.

For example, changing my clothes as I get ready for the day. It may seem like such a simple no-brainer that you do every day, but for me it can be a bit more complicated. Such as what I'm wearing for the day. Am I wearing a button up shirt? Am I going to put a belt on? How cold is it outside, should I put on a jacket (even though I hardly ever do, just ask my wife)? This is just one of many many examples of how getting through life is a bit different in my shoes (that I barely wear).

I'll admit, there have been times, and sometimes even still, when there's a task that seems way too difficult for me to accomplish. I remember growing up and learning to play the cello, my teacher and I would work at different ways that I could hit the notes, and we would try different combinations of toe techniques so that I would be able to learn the song I was on. I'm telling you right now as proof, I hated that! I remember so vividly seeing the notes in front of me and saying something to her on the lines of, "Mrs. Petry, there is no way I can get that note that fast...I just can't do it!" Hmm, doesn't sound like me does it? Well, it's true. Another example is when my son Landon was born, and I was just sitting there thinking, "There is absolutely no way I can change his diapers..." But, I tried and tried, and after a couple of times I sort of got the hang of it! I'm still not very good, but it's not impossible. 

I could go on and on about different obstacles and challenges in my life that I have had to overcome, but that would take too long and you would probably close this page out and go back to Facebook.

The truth is, we all are going to face challenges in our lives. Some of them may in fact seem impossible to achieve or to overcome. It's so easy to say, "I can't". But what I've learned is that the best kind of challenges are the ones that seem impossible. Those are the ones that push our limits and show us  what we are capable of, and most of the time we're surprised at what we find out. 

So I urge you, don't give up. Never quit. Stand strong and keep pressing forward. Don't let the challenges of this life hold you back, but instead let them push you to be better and to try harder after you fail at first. Believe me, if an armless klutz like me can do it, so can you!


Toes On The Touchscreen,

George

Hey Guys!!

I'm so excited to launch this new Website and I figured it would be a great opportunity to start blogging as well. Through out the years I've met some amazing people and have been a part of some incredible events. I would love to start sharing them with you here to keep you guys in the loop. 

Foot Fives all around! ;) 

​-George