What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way
Written by: Alanna Flax-Clark, Special Projects Manager
Think about Mane Stream. We don’t hide our challenges. Yet, we are able to tap into the light of the human spirit and elevate it through this no barriers life expressed through our common bond of horses.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the No Barriers Virtual Summit. I was able to hear from people who are breaking barriers in the disability world like Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind man to summit Mt. Everest; Bethany Hamilton, pro surfer; Mick Ebeling, founder of Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company; Marlee Matlin, Academy Award® winning actress, activist, and author; and many more!
The No Barriers motto is “What’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way”. Everything I heard over the two-day Summit resonated with me personally and is everything our participants and families at Mane Stream strive to conquer on a daily basis.
Especially with everything we’ve been dealing with over the last few months, it’s important to remember that no matter what we may be trying to overcome, we all have strength in our individual identity. We have it within ourselves to accomplish anything, and we have the strength to ask for help. Within the No Barriers community, they call this our “Rope Team”--- building our tribe that will help us each day. It’s important to remember that we are surrounded by a wonderful community of family, friends, instructors, therapists… whoever may be part of our individual community. We are all here to support one another.
Don’t hide your challenges, whether they be physical or more hidden, invisible challenges. This is how you can connect with people. In other words, in vulnerability you find community. Think about Mane Stream. We don’t hide our challenges. Yet, we are able to tap into the light of the human spirit and elevate it through this no barriers life expressed through our common bond of horses.
Erik Weihenmayer said, “We aren’t connected by triumph, we are connected by struggle.” Erik is blind and has climbed all Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents).
Erik Weihenmayer said, “We aren’t connected by triumph, we are connected by struggle.” Erik is blind and has climbed all Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents). He pointed out that when you summit the mountain you aren’t at the top of your journey. It’s only when you get back down that you’ve really succeeded and are able to carry what you’ve learned from your journey and apply it to your life—move forward in your own life and share it with others.
Karamo Brown, of TV show Queer Eye said to envision the challenges in life as a slingshot that’s pulling you back.
The last thing I’d like to share is this analogy that Karamo Brown from the TV show Queer Eye shared. He said to envision the challenges in life as a slingshot that’s pulling you back. Eventually when you get to the point when you’re ready to ask for support, surround yourself with positivity, and get help, it doesn’t push you back anymore. If you want to soar, you have to let the tension go. Be patient and allow yourself to ask for help.
We hope that all of us at Mane Stream can help you relieve some of that tension on your slingshot as we’re reopening and provide relief on our social media for those that still need to stay-at-home.
Haben is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and an advocate for equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
P.S. Here’s a short clip from the Summit where Erik Weihenmayer interviews Haben Girma. Haben is the first deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and an advocate for equal opportunity for people with disabilities. What an amazing and well-educated person—I want to be her friend!! Watch & Listen to the Haben Girma - No Barriers Podcast (Condensed Version)
