MY Role Model - Lance Armstrong

In the 21 century, there is no dearth in finding a role model. So many people have accomplished great feats in a short span of their lifetime, thus making them capable contestants for the post of role model. So how do I choose one?!! A very tough question which is answered by another question. Who do I define as a role model?
A role model is the one who inspires me to smile at adversities , teaches me to appreciate the smallest things in life, and helps me to find the reason for living. In short,role model is the one who dares me to be different!

I closed my eyes to find that young celebrity, and there I found my role model. All of 34 years, this person who swept people off their feet with his determination and athletic skills, made me fall for him! A person who was given 40%chance to survive after diagonised with testicular cancer, goes on to become a legend in the field of athletics. So was life a bed of jasmines when he was on his way becoming legend? Not at all, he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to win the races and people didn’t appreciate his determination.But he carried on, and on to win the TOUR DE FRANCE seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005.Yes, its none other than LANCE ARMSTRONG, the bicycling champion.

He taught me to dream big and showed that it is possible to achieve the impossible. Though I appreciate his determination, here were two things which bowled me over: He made people realize that life is not about winning or losing but about living, living meaningfully. He founded the “LIVESTRONG CANCER FOUNDATION” when he was still recovering This marked the beginning of Lance's life as an advocate for people living with cancer and a world representative for the cancer community. This foundation has provided moral and financial support to so many cancer patients. Thus Lance found a way to bring a smile on the faces of millions of people.

Lance once said,“Without cancer, I never would have won a single Tour de France. Cancer taught me a plan for more purposeful living, and that in turn taught me how to train and to win more purposefully. It taught me that pain has a reason, and that sometimes the experience of losing things–whether health or a car or an old sense of self–has its own value in the scheme of life. Pain and loss are great enhancers." This attitude to “make an obstacle an opportunity , make a negative a positive” was the best.

I strongly believe if we, women can incorporate his attitude in our daily lives, we would reach places.Everyday when I have to find my way out of situations (I wouldn’t call them problems!!!-dats Lancce’s miracle for you),I just think of Lance and my day is brightened. Thank you Lance,you have made a difference!! Refernce:"It's not about the bike, My journey back to life"-Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins.

-Mrunalini Sesha

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