“Mark's personal story proves his knowledge and understanding of life's struggle more than most people I have met.” - Christan S., USA
Life throws you a lemon
I could not move my head. The desire to lift my head was met with a deafening silence from my body. To make matters worse, I was lying face down in a body of water. I fought to hold my breath, but my body's lack of oxygen created a reflex that was irresistible. As I let out a gasp for air, cool ocean water flooded my airway and with it, I slipped into unconsciousness.
At the time, I was enrolled in Semester at Sea, a college program that gives students an opportunity to travel around the world from port to port taking classes while crossing the vast oceans. They said the voyage would change us, that we wouldn't be the same person we were before we left. They had no idea how right they were about to be.
It was October 26, 2001, at a beach in the Seychelles, when I dove into the surf and struck my head against the sandy ocean floor. I am told that friends dragged me out of the water and onto the beach where a vacationing German doctor, who I'd met hours earlier, brought me back to life. I would later regain concionsness en route to the small island health clinic, unable to feel anything but a friend's hands wrapped around my head. I had a broken neck.
Squeeze the lemon
It’s not uncommon for people to see my paralysis as my misfortune. Breaking my neck, now that’s misfortune. Living with the ensuing paralysis, is just life.
Nine months after my injury, I was back at school working towards a college degree. After completing college cum laude in 2005 with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from Northeastern University, I formed a disabled sailing team to campaign for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. While my attempt at earning the right to represent the US in Beijing would not come to pass, it did afford me the chance to travel and meet amazing people.
You cannot go through life with the naïve thought that the road you choose will be the road you travel to the very end. Know that there are many roads that lead to the same point, and that each road has its own drawbacks and benefits. Know that the duration of the journey is never really known, and look to live somewhere between. After all, it's the journey that counts.
Screw the glass, drink the lemon
What would life be like had I not dived into the surf that evening? Does the answer really matter?
I'm too busy taking on life.
Aside from my passion for sailing and traveling, I also aspired to be a successful entrepreneur long before I was paralyzed. My accident may have changed the timeline some, but I am now an entrepreneur with a mission. Life hasn't stopped me from accomplishing my mission: it has just given me the opportunity to be more creative in how I go about accomplishing it.
So there you have it, that's my story. Now tell me your story!
Take on life Inc.
Based on my life's experiences and ambitions, this business was born. Take on life is a socially conscious for-profit business.
Our sole purpose is to spread the message to take on life and not settle or succumb to life’s challenges. It is our absolute belief that life is not without its challenges and that these challenges give us opportunity to enrich our quality of life.
What's your story?
I've told you my story, now tell me yours. It's quick and easy, and you have the chance to inspire others with your experience.
