Team Hoyt

This story is about a father and son team who takes part in marathons and triathlons. What is so special about that you ask? Watch on and find out...



How was that? Inspiring wasn't it? To say that the story is motivational is a gross understatement.

Let's talk about the story for a bit shall we...

A lot of you may say that we have 2 'Davids' here. I can understand why. One, We have the father who refuses to acknowledge that his son is physically-challenged. He brought his son up just like the rest of his children. And two, for a man his age to still run marathons and triathlons is already nothing short of amazing. But in the triathlons that he takes part in, he has to further manage his son's weight...he has to carry, push and pull him along the way.

Then, we have the son himself. A person who do not even feel that he lacks any physical abilities. He approaches life as if his disabilities is normal. In fact, he has achieved more than what many able-bodied individuals can boast of achieving.

But to be perfectly honest, if you ask me, the father (Dick Hoyt) is the real 'David' in this story. Now now...before you go off on a witchhunt for me, allow me to explain myself first. Don't get me wrong, I am not taking anything away from the son (Rick Hoyt). He is still a 'David' by any standard...but...everything that he is, he has his father to thank for.

You see, in raising Rick, Dick never acknowledged the fact that Rick has disabilities. The fact that Rick is physically-challenged was a non-issue. Dick brought Rick up the same way as he did his other children. They went swimming, played hockey and generally lived life as if Rick's disabilities were perfectly natural.

Being brought up this way, Rick naturally developed a winning attitude...a anything-is-possible approach to life. That was why he said that he cannot imagine how it would be like not to be in a wheelchair. To him, it was not a disability...it was perfectly natural.

Most fathers find it difficult to deal with the fact that their child is disabled. Many would follow Dick's doctor's advice (get rid of the child) or they would bring up the child just as they are...disabled..never believing that their child can achieve just as much or even more that able-bodied persons.

Remember..."What the human mind can conceive and truly believe, it can achieve."

For Dick, Rick being physically-challenged was his 'Goliath'. Dick didn't let that stop him. He truly believed that Rick can achieve great things and in the process, he instilled in Rick the very same belief. The same belief that enabled Rick to overcome his own personal 'Goliath'...his disabilities.

Not only did both Dick and Rick overcame they 'Goliaths'...they further leveraged their 'Goliaths' to inspire people all over the world.

So don't think for once that Dick and Rick have achieved so much because they have some sort of extra strength or supernatural abilities that we don't. They are just like you and me. We can achieve as much as they have. The only thing that sets them apart from us is their unwavering, unfaltering belief.

So what do YOU want to achieve? What is it that YOU WANT in YOUR life?

Believe in it. Believe that you CAN and WILL achieve it. Write it down...draw it...visualize it. Look at it everyday. TAKE steps towards achieving it.

Until next time, I leave you with this inspiring music video of Team Hoyt.



You too can be a 'David'.