Timeless beauty- Jennifer Aniston

Well if you are in love with the popular TV Series F.R.I.E.N.D.S (1994-2004) just like me, then I don't think you need any introduction to Jennifer Aniston who portrayed our very own Rachel Green on the show. Jennifer Aniston, one of the most successful American actresses, directors, producers, and businesswomen of today, is a living example that success is nothing but failure turned inside out. 

Lets take a look at the beautiful journey of this diva. Jennifer Aniston, born to actor John Aniston and actress Nancy Dow on February 11, 1969, grew up largely in New York City. Her life was taken aback when her parents split, leaving the 9 year old with her mother who was very critical of her since the beginning. The mother daughter duo did not go along for many years before their relationship harmonized. Jennifer did not do well at school at all. Her childhood was full of tragedies and dramas because she was dyslexic. However, it was not diagnosed until she was in her early 20's. She also has a lazy eye, like a crossed eye, which the photographers always have to correct in photos. In the beginning of her career as an actress, she was quite unsure of her career choice after giving 4 unsuccessful television shows. She use to support herself with several part-time jobs such as working as a telemarketer, waitress and bike messenger. But she did not give up until she got her breakthrough with the television sitcom Friends. It turned out to be the turning point of her life, from where there was no looking back. It made her a worldwide recognizable figure. She got paid $1 million per episode for the 10th season of Friends. She has done a lot of movies, commercials and music videos throughout her career. In 2014, she was ranked 3rd on Forbes Top Earning Actresses, earning 31 million in a year. She is one of the very few celebrities who look like they never age.

From a waitress, Jennifer Aniston went on to become a millionaire. With this I would like to say that, anything is possible in life. Never limit your life by being judgmental about what can and what can not happen. Work limitlessly and hope limitlessly.

Rythum Verma 

"Think outside the shoe" - Jessica Cox

 

Picture worth a thousand words...

"Instead of asking yourself- Can I accomplish it, ask yourself- How can I accomplish it"

- Jessica Cox

Redefining the meaning of the word "ability", Jessica Cox has proven again and again to this world that ability is nothing more than just a vision through obstacles. Its just the willingness to look beyond your roadblocks. Jessica Cox was born in 1983 in Arizona without arms due to a rare birth defect. But she chose to be the master of her destiny and not the slave of her tragedy.

In her own inspiring words,"What everything i have learned about overcoming obstacles is maintaining a positive attitude and to be as creative as possible. Creativity is just crucial because there is only one way to do something but if you are creative enough, you will always figure out a new way of doing something. Whenever I am compelling obstacle in life, I am pretty determined about overcoming it. It starts with acceptance, then you move forward. Its very easy to see ourselves as victim but we can also choose to see ourselves as the empowered ones. Fortunately, my parents brought me up, never letting me see myself as a victim. I believed that i was empowered and I could do anything."

Jessica Cox holds the Guinness World Record for being the first armless person in aviation history to earn a pilot's certificate. She decided to learn how to fly to be able to overcome her fear of flying. She is also the first armless person to earn a black-belt in American Taekwondo Association.( Currently, she has two black-belts in Taekwondo.) She is a psychology graduate and is recognized internationally as an inspirational keynote speaker. She has traveled to 20 countries sharing her inspiring message. She is also a certified SCUBA diver. She drives car without modification, plays piano, types keyboard, uses her phone, writes, put in and removes her contact lenses, surfs, cooks, eat, apply makeup and brush her hair with her feet. "Rightfooted" is the name of the documentary film being made on the life of Jessica Cox.

I think that impossible is a word that Jessica Cox has never learned. There is nothing that this woman can't do. As a motivational speaker she says to the world," Creativity + Persistence + Fearlessness = Nothing is impossible".

In the end I would like to pay my gratitude to this hero for sharing with us her story of courage and triumph and teaching us a beautiful lesson for life that "one's perspective is what makes the difference".

Rythum Verma

Anand Arnold's Will Power

Anand Arnold is a perfect example of a very simple, yet one of the most powerful sayings- "Where there is a will, there is always a way". Anand Arnold is India's First Wheelchair Bodybuilder. Talking about his achievements, Arnold has won Mr. India thrice and Mr. Punjab as many as eleven times. He also has twenty seven other championships credited to his name.

Born on November 11, 1986 in Ludhiana, Punjab, Anand discovered his passion for body building when he was just thirteen years old. But life had its own plan for him. At a tender age of fifteen, his legs stopped functioning due to effect of cancer which he was battling with. After an operation of spinal chord, the doctors had told him that he could lead a normal life after a bed rest of three months. He is still waiting for those "three months" to end. But he did not surrender to his limitations. He waited for three years after his cancer treatment before he started his training. Now he is 28 years old and he still continues to live his dream of body building. Presently, he is The International Model for muscle mania and brand Ambassador of HaleLife Nutrition and Fitness company. His peers call him Arnold due to his underlying respect and fandom for the bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger. His biography titled "Waitless: A true story of Courage and Determination", was written by Allen Woodman.

Anand Arnold is a living testimony of the fact that life is what we make it. He proves that in each difficulty lies an opportunity. He won because he refused to become discouraged by his defeats. He has achieved what even the fittest of us cannot even dream about. He succeeded in spite of problems, not in the absence of them.

In the end, I would like to salute the spirit of this hero and would like to pay him my gratitude for being such a great inspiration to all of us.

Rythum Verma

Marathon of Hope - Terry Fox

Terry Fox

 1958 - 1981

" I am not a dreamer, and I am not saying that this will initiate any kind of definitive answer or cure to cancer, but I believe in miracles, I have to." 

- Terry Fox

Terry Fox was born and brought up in Canada. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was just 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and was forced to have his right leg amputated 15 cm above the knee in 1977. He underwent the physical and mental trauma of chemotherapy for 16 months and during his treatment, he used to feel angry with the fact that very little money was devoted towards cancer research. So he decided to take the responsibility of bringing a change to the society, on his shoulders. 

Inspired by Dick Traum, the first amputee to complete the New York City Marathon, Terry Fox began Marathon of Hope, a cross country run for raising money for cancer research. It was a journey that Canadians never forget. With fierce determination, he ran 42 km per day for 143 days until September 1, 1980, when he experienced a lot of short breaths and with continued chest pain was driven to a hospital where he got to know that his cancer had returned and had spread to his lungs. Terry died in June 1981. His funeral, attended by 40 relatives and 200 guests, was broadcast on national television. 

Many buildings and streets in Canada have named after Terry. The physical memorials in Canada named after Fox also includes his 7 statues. Terry Fox is an inspiration to one and all and he exemplifies that one person is enough to make a difference to the society. To do so, one requires a vision, belief and most importantly a passionate desire.

Rythum Verma