Never give up even in the face of adversity, was the message Australian limbless motivational speaker Nick Vujicic shared with thousands in Taipei yesterday, the last stop on a world tour that had taken him to more than 23 countries this year.
“Love stops me from giving up,” the 31-year-old speaker and devout Christian evangelist said of the challenges of living life without arms or legs. “I’m here to spread a simple message: love, hope and faith.”
After greeting admirers in Chinese, Vujicic shared personal stories and said that just like everyone else, he has gone through ups and downs in life, and it is his persistence that kept him going.
Photo: AFP
“Attitude can’t change anything, but it can help. Try to be positive and take little steps toward your dream,” he said.
Born with a rare disease which left him limbless at birth, Vujicic was often ridiculed and bullied by his peers, leading him at one point to consider suicide.
However, love from his parents and siblings helped him overcome his problems and manage to live what he calls an “unlimited” life.
“Don’t limit your happiness in your own circumstance,” he said. “When you fall down, you need to decide not to give up. As long as you don’t give up, you still have hope,” he told an audience largely moved to tears by his stories of triumph in the face of difficulty.
Vujicic’s two speeches in Taiwan were organized by the Red Heart Association, which said it hoped the world-famous speaker and author can give courage to people trying to make changes to their lives.
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