I was born legally blind. Of all the stories of my early childhood, the one about a1is my mother's favorite.
I was only two when the2occurred. We had just arrived home from a trip. Mom lifted me out of the car and3to speak to the driver. I took advantage of my brief4to dash across the lawn(草坪) — and hit a large maple tree! I was running so fast that I bounced off the trunk and landed on my backside. Mom5me to start crying, but I just sat there for a minute. Then I6myself up and kept right on going.
Mom loves to use this story as an7. It reminds her that children don't enter life8to take risks or unwilling to9again when they fall down. She never wanted me to lose that toughness as I grew older. When I10my major life decisions, I was still that little girl tearing full-speed across the lawn. I studied abroad and later moved away from my parents' home to look for a11. Through years of12, I have become a respected teacher in a school serving high-need students.
We are almost certain to get13at some point during the process of achieving our goal. When that happens, don't sit in the grass and14. Just get up and keep on going. It will all be worth it15.
