Proof that willpower can outshine any limitation.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
This simple line is something that never gets old, and you could hear it a hundred times and it would still feel powerful.
For a human to do anything, whether it’s something they love or something they don’t, there must be a motivation.
Motivation is about setting a target and working towards it because the reward matters to us deeply. That reward becomes the fuel that drives effort.
And it’s not just humans; every living being can be motivated to act in pursuit of a reward. A simple example is hanging a carrot in front of a donkey: even under a heavy load, the donkey keeps moving because it wants the carrot. That carrot is its motivation.
In the same way, the motivation to achieve something can give us the strength to take on even the toughest challenges, all because of the reward waiting at the end.
The Story of Glenn Cunningham: The Iron Man of Kansas
When I think of the phrase “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” the story of Glenn Cunningham immediately comes to mind. His life is one of the strongest examples of determination and human spirit.
The fire and the doctors’ opinion
At just eight years old, Glenn and his brother were caught in a tragic schoolhouse fire. Sadly, his brother didn’t survive, and Glenn’s legs were severely burned. Doctors suggested removing his legs, saying he might never walk again. But his mother refused to allow it.
A painful road to recovery
For months, Glenn was confined to a wheelchair. Every day, however, he fought against the odds. He dragged himself across the yard, pulled himself up using a fence, and forced his legs to move, step by step. His parents massaged his legs tirelessly, even when he could hardly feel them. Glenn later described each step as feeling like “daggers,” but he never gave up.
From walking to running
Slowly, he regained strength. He used crutches, then began to walk again. Soon he made an extraordinary discovery: it hurt less to run than to walk. Running became his passion and his escape. The boy who was once told he would never walk became the fastest runner in his town.
A champion’s legacy
Through sheer determination, Glenn Cunningham became one of the world’s greatest runners of the 1930s. He broke records and went on to win a silver medal at the 1936 Olympics.
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
Glenn Cunningham’s story embodies this timeless phrase.
His will: to walk again and refuse a life of disability.
His way: the relentless effort he put in every single day.
He once said: “The only limits you have are the ones you put on yourself.”
From being a boy who was told he might never walk to becoming a world-class Olympian, Glenn Cunningham proved that motivation and determination can conquer even the greatest obstacles.
His life is a reminder that motivation is not just about desire; it’s about refusing to quit, no matter how impossible the journey seems.
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