health

WATCH THIS: And put your problems in perspective.

by ASHLEIGH MUTIMER

Last week sucked. I was feeling really down and all the ice cream and cuddles in the world weren’t helping.

But then I caught up with one of my more practical and level-headed friends and he gave me some great advice.

He said “You know Ash, that really does suck. And I don’t want to go all “this too shall pass” on you…but worse things have happened to better people. So you know, chin up.”

That advice came complete with one of those awkward, man-friend squeeze of the shoulders. Don’t you just love men?

But the advice was sound. And like always, he was right.

Far better people than me have had much worse things happen to them and they don’t sit around feeling all glum and rubbish. No, they take those lemons the world has given them and make lemonade. Or cut them up for use in tequila shots. Either way – they don’t let stuff get them down.

One of those people is 11 year old Gabriel Muniz.

Like most kids in Europe (let alone Rio de Janeiro), Gabriel is soccer mad. And like most boys his age he only wants to be a star player when he grows up. There is no alternative career option. No plan B.

Luckily for Gabriel he’s really good at it. So darn good that he has won over Barcelona talent scouts and landed a spot at a summer training camp in Spain. So what’s so awe-inspiring about this kid? Besides only being 11 years old and wowing talent scouts?

Well, he was born with no feet. Yep, no feet and is STILL talented enough for those picky talent scouts.

As if that wasn’t enough he is devoting his time and energy trying to make soccer a paralympic sport. Oh and you know, going to school. Kinda puts those first world problems into perspective doesn’t it?

 What was the last thing that happened to you that put your problems in perspective?

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Top Comments

the Original Camille 12 years ago

Rio is not in Europe.

Rach the Muso 12 years ago

I noticed that too...but I just put it down to me not reading the sentence correctly. They might speak Portuguese, but Rio is definitely not in Europe!


Sam Paior 12 years ago

The difference between this, and inspiration porn, as I see it, is that this kid is doing inspirational stuff by making it this far, whether he had feet or not. He is a very talented young soccer star. Full stop. His work to make soccer a paralympic sport is also worthy of recognition. This boy has clearly worked very hard to get where he is. I would be happy to use him to inspire my son to get outside and practice!
I think, and of course you'd have to ask Stella to know, that she objects to the whole glorification of people with disabilities who are doing normal things, like when she gets cheers for simply for being on a train "oh you are so courageous" - that kind of yuck. I think she'd be happy for people to find her as an inspirational comedienne, because she is genuinely exceptional at that.