Living beyond limits | Amy Purdy | TEDxOrangeCoast

Summary

In a heartfelt talk, the speaker shares their journey from a vibrant life in Las Vegas to facing a life-threatening illness that led to the loss of their legs. Emphasizing resilience, they reflect on redefining their identity and using imagination to navigate challenges. The speaker illustrates how their physical limitations sparked innovation, allowing them to snowboard again and inspire others through a nonprofit for youth with disabilities. Ultimately, they encourage viewing challenges as gifts that ignite creativity and lead to personal growth, reinforcing that life’s obstacles can pave the way for extraordinary possibilities.

Takeaways

• 😀 The question 'If your life were a book, how would you want your story to go?' sparked a transformative journey for the speaker.
• 🌍 Growing up in Las Vegas, the speaker dreamed of freedom and adventure, desiring to travel and experience different environments.
• 💪 After a life-threatening illness led to the loss of both legs, the speaker had to redefine her sense of independence and freedom.
• 🩺 Diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, the speaker faced numerous physical and emotional challenges during her recovery process.
• 😢 The initial experience of seeing her prosthetic legs was overwhelming, leading to feelings of despair about her future.
• 🎉 Embracing her new identity, the speaker found humor and potential in her situation, realizing she could reinvent herself.
• ⛷️ Through determination and creativity, she learned to snowboard again, transforming her obstacles into opportunities.
• 🔍 The speaker's journey emphasizes that borders and challenges can either stop us or force us to get creative in finding solutions.
• 🎁 A significant turning point was receiving a new kidney from her father, which further enabled her to pursue her passions.
• ✨ Ultimately, the speaker advocates for viewing challenges as gifts that can ignite imagination and push personal boundaries.

Q & A

What life-changing question did the speaker reflect on?

The speaker reflected on the question, 'If your life were a book, and you were the author, how would you want your story to go?'

What significant health challenge did the speaker face?

The speaker was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, which led to multiple severe health complications, including the loss of her spleen, kidneys, hearing in her left ear, and both legs below the knee.

How did the speaker initially feel about her new prosthetic legs?

The speaker felt overwhelmed and discouraged when she first saw her new prosthetic legs, as they were bulky and painful, making her question how she would live the adventurous life she envisioned.

What realization did the speaker come to regarding her identity after her health crisis?

The speaker realized she didn't have to conform to her previous physical identity and could embrace a new self, imagining herself as a different height and with new possibilities.

What does the speaker mean by 'borders' in her speech?

The speaker refers to 'borders' as the challenges and limitations she faced. She suggests that these borders can either stop us or inspire creativity and innovation.

What did the speaker achieve on her 21st birthday?

On her 21st birthday, the speaker received a kidney transplant from her father, which she considers one of the best gifts she could have received.

What impact did the speaker have after founding a non-profit organization?

The speaker co-founded a non-profit organization for youth and young adults with physical disabilities, enabling them to get involved in action sports, and she helped provide shoes for thousands of children in South Africa to attend school.

What accomplishments did the speaker achieve in adaptive snowboarding?

The speaker won two back-to-back World Cup gold medals, making her the highest-ranked adaptive female snowboarder in the world.

How does the speaker view her disability in relation to her life?

The speaker views her disability not as a limitation but as an enabler, stating that it has forced her to rely on her imagination and believe in new possibilities.

What message does the speaker convey about challenges and limitations?

The speaker encourages viewing challenges and limitations as blessings that can ignite imagination and lead to greater achievements, emphasizing that innovation often arises from confronting borders.