Hi Everyone:
I have been thinking about what it means to have a meaningful and
successful life. I have heard many athletes, including myself, say "if
only I had a boyfriend/girlfriend, job, car, children (or fill in the blank), I
would have a meaningful and successful life." It's easy to think
that when looking at your family, friends, and others to see what they have, and
think they have a happy, easy life when their differences may be less obvious
to a casual observer. I have three sisters who are married with children,
and it's easy for me to become envious of what they have. It's hard for me to
realize that they also have to work for what they have and that it's not handed
to them. They also struggle to find their own sense of purpose and success in
their lives.
I have to work harder in some areas than other people have to, and I have
a different way of defining meaning and success for myself. Part of what makes
my life meaningful is being part of Special Olympics both as an athlete and a
volunteer. We athletes have to work harder and find new paths and overcome
different obstacles than other people. The athletes of SO are diverse in terms
of their challenges and abilities, and we must define our own meanings of
success. Special Olympics helps add meaning and success to our lives by
allowing us to go beyond what we thought we were capable of doing. Thank you
Special Olympics for being part of all of our lives.
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
> Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
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