I Can Do That!

Hi Girls,

Thank you for getting in touch with me.  What a fantastic forum. I think I learned a new way to tie my shoes!

I just wanted to encourage everybody who might come to this web site to believe in what is possible.

I grew up missing my right hand. It was not always easy, or very fair. But my hand taught me important lessons growing up.
I learned that you can find different ways of doings things, and do them just as well. (Like tying your shoes or switching a baseball glove on and off!)
I learned that it is our responsibility to do the best we possibly can, with what we have. To make the most of what we have been given.
Most importantly, I learned that you must believe in yourself, no matter what circumstances come your way.

If you can do these things, I truly believe wonderful things can happen!

I was lucky enough to play in the Major Leagues. I am very proud of that accomplishment, but I know that I had an incredible amount of support and help along the way.
That’s what it takes, encouragement, and opportunity.

In that spirit, I want to wish everyone visiting this blog the best of luck.

I hope you too will come to believe that life is full of wonderful possibilities, and there’s nothing you can’t do!

My Very Best Wishes,

- Jim Abbott
Join Jim Abbott’s on-line discussion group for our friends and fans
http://groups.google.com/group/jim-abbott/

Having an amputation is often frustrating. People do not understand. Can start to feel bad about themselves at times. Humor often helps alleviate some of this negative feeling. One way to add in some humor is to tell some “stories” about what caused your amputation. I’d only suggest this as a last resort, though. Here is my story where, although I was young, I was using my head. (Just a note- this is the same story I share in my podcast on the ThinkQuest website.)

Since I was a little girl, I have always enjoyed going to the town pool during the summer. One day, when I was about four years old, I had a rather interesting encounter. A little boy about my age saw my arm. He asked me what had happened. I told him, “It’s just the way that I was born,” as I had told so many before. This answer didn’t work for him, though. The little boy did not understand or accept that fact that I had been born differnetly. He followed me around the entire pool. He repeatedly asked the same question. It started to bother me after a while. Looking back, I wonder how I put up with it for so long. Finally, I couldn’t stand him anymore. I looked over and the deep end of the pool and smirked. “See the deep end overthere?” I said, “There’s a shark there! And it BIT MY ARM OFF!” Believe it or not, the little boy believed this response! He started to cry and ran to his mother. After that, I have to admit that I never saw him at the town pool again, and I went there a lot. To this day, I’ve never seen the little boy! I must have terribly scared him. In a way, I feel a little bit sorry for my reaction. Mostly, though, I feel that I did the right thing. He wouldn’t accept the truth, so I just told him what he wanted. Maybe he learned that the first answer is usually the one you want to hear!

What are some funny stories that you have to share?