I started thinking about this after answering yet another comment on one of the cycling forums proclaiming me some sort of "inspiration" due to my struggle to recover from my injuries. These sorts of comments are flattering and always nice to hear, but is it really so rare that a person does what they have to do in order to achieve a goal? Especially overcoming a devastating injury or illness?
I have seen various peoples referred to a "heroes" (myself included) for struggling with some disability, injury, or illness. To be honest, this puzzles me a bit. Wouldn't most people do whatever they had to do to recover from such an event? It seems to me that they would, and many do every day.
I think that most people struggle every day. And they do it quietly. They do whatever things they need to do to overcome whatever challenges they face in their lives. I think that this is a courage possessed by most people and isn't really all that rare. Sometimes some of us are faced with an extraordinary event which devastates them and/or their life. I like to think that most people in this situation will rise to the challenge and do what it takes to overcome it. Wouldn't they?
I don't see myself as unusual, heroic, or particularly inspirational. I'm just a guy doing what he has to do to get by in this world. I admit that I'm kinda proud that I have managed to recover faster than the doctors predicted. I have indeed worked very hard to get to this point. I see it more as stubborn, hard-headed determination and hard work than courage. Hardly inspirational.