a questionable disability

Arguably, due to a disability that constantly motivates me to scale new mountains both literally and metaphorically, I border on being an overachiever. Perhaps it all started when, petrified at the age of four, I would ride the roller coaster simply because my older brother wouldn't. In time, I graduated to climbing mountains, competing internationally as a swimmer and backpacking overland throughout Asia for 16 months at a stretch. No doubt part of it is comes for a need to overcompensate or a need to prove myself. I've never been sure of how much is too much as I have never had any role models. But more importantly, I've just done the things I wanted to do.

I contracted polio as an infant while our family was stationed in Jerusalem. This zapped most of the motor nerves from my waist down but fortunately only effected my left and right legs. Instead of American football, I've experienced a life of painting, traveling, trekking, swimming, scuba diving, producing documentaries, addressing large audiences as a motivational speaker, working as a regional Marketing/PR manager for PepsiCo Restaurants International and many other distractions. I owe a debt of gratitude to my family for refusing to treat me as a 'disabled' person and giving me access to a childhood that was as 'normal' as possible. I studied in 'normal' schools and played at summer camps while adapting my abilities to all the different sports that were presented to me.

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