How traumatic it would have been to suddenly lose a faculty that you had all your life and had taken for granted!

Best Letter
Pursuit of Happiness
"Your attitude and not your aptitude will determine your altitude" - these words of Zig Ziglar instinctively sprang to my mind as I read about Paralympian Shelly Woods in Positively Wheeling (Apr 24).
How traumatic it would have been to suddenly lose a faculty that you had all your life and had taken for granted! To find oneself confined to a wheelchair is the worst nightmare coming true. Having to grapple with how one would have to reinvent and re-orient one's life to adapt and adjust - where even getting simple, daily routines accomplished would be uphill tasks - seems hard to imagine.
It would be quite easy to slip into depression and wallow in self-pity, to become bitter and withdrawn. It really requires the right attitude to rise up, meet the challenges and, like Shelly, go further and leave a mark in the world, creating a legacy for generations to follow. The world abounds in examples of such extraordinary people who overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable to ordinary minds.
Nick Vujicic, said to be the world's best motivational speaker, is one such shining example. Born without limbs, he focused on what he could do and soon realised that he could not only live his life to the fullest, but also inspire others to do the same. "No arms, no legs, no worries" is a statement of Nick's that has touched and positively influenced many lives.
To quote champion boxer Muhammad Ali, "Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill."
Life has definitely not been easy for Shelly Woods, but she has fought back and proved that with a positive outlook, you can do anything, if you try. Go Shelly! So folks, what's our excuse to not try harder at what we do?
Congratulations on your winning entry, annie m! We will be in touch shortly.

Against All Odds

Paralympic Shelly Woods' inspiring tale of courage (Positively Wheeling, Apr 24) tugged at the heartstrings. A fall from a tree left her wheelchair-bound, but instead of wallowing in self-pity and cursing her fate, this gritty girl resolved to bounce back from the mishap and surge ahead. Her success in the Paralympic races speaks volumes of her tenacity, determination, never-say-die outlook and drive.
Woods' story reminds me of one of my students, who was affected by a rare, degenerative nervous system disorder just when she was about to enter her teen years. Her life turned topsy-turvy as the disease left her in a paraplegic state. But after the initial shock and disbelief, the courageous lass picked up the pieces, and with steely resolve, optimism, a positive attitude and the strong support of her parents, is striving to beat the odds stacked up against her and lead a normal life. 
Such resilient and brave people are the finest and most ideal examples of courage; they accept the fact that though they can't change the past, they can set new priorities, and use a new perception to make their life better. They do not extol the bitter side of the tragedy, but exhibit how to deal with and overcome adversity, bring hope and cheer in life, and carve a niche for themselves. They set out to prove that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Three cheers for such men and women of substance. Many of us need to take a leaf out of their books.
Jayashree Kulkarni, Abu Dhabi
Fun Sport
I'm smiling as I type this out. Thank you for letting us know about Flowground (Hooping for Health, Apr 24). My sister-in-law had bought a hula hoop for my nine-year-old child, and we grown-ups were trying our hand at this gravity defying activity. In spite of the presence of four kids around us, I think it was we adults who were giggling at each other, at our clumsy attempts at hula-hooping. Though we were not very good at it, we had fun all the same. Appreciate your tips and details of the classes at Al Quoz, in case we ever decide to make a spectacle of ourselves there!
Lalita Sebastian, on email
Cooking For a Career
This refers to the Editor's Note, Man in the Kitchen (Apr 24). The editor asks "why most of them (chefs) are men". I think the simple answer is - this is a profession, and like any other profession goes, men go out to earn in larger numbers, than women. Also, in this line, you work in a business-oriented kitchen, where there will be many men around, and women will not opt for it as a natural choice. In any case, the art of cooking need not be the sole prerogative of women.
Krishna Kamath, on email