Flying without Wings….Yes it is Possible!

Losers says Why Me? Winners say it’s up to me!

We are so busy complaining and talking about our limitations that we don’t see our blessings. We all are so blessed but we hardly realize it. Here is another great example- Ms. Jessica Cox from US became the first pilot with no arms, proving you don’t need ‘wings’ to fly.

Jessica Cox (born 1983 in Arizona) is the world’s first licensed armless pilot, as well as the first armless black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association (she now has two black belts in Taekwondo). She was born without arms due to a rare birth defect.

She did not understand why she had no arms as did the other children “It was difficult to be different.”

Regardless of that, she took part in different activities such as gymnastics, dancing and singing, frequently participating in large presentations. When she was young she frequently felt opposed, downtrodden and on the verge of tears resulting from anger due to her lack of arms; given this, she placed all her energy in the practice of sports. For Jessica, the main challenge of being born without arms was the constant perception of others more than the physical adversity. “ I had the habit of becoming very upset when people look at me walking in the street or eating with my feet. However, I learned to look only at the positive side of situations and this gave me the ability to utilize these positive vibrations to become an example for optimism.

Jessica considers her parents as role models to be followed and as pillars for her. “My mother is my model and she always told me that I could do all that I wanted to do. My father never shed a tear since my birth as he does not consider me to be a victim. It is difficult to be the father of a handicapped person. He was my base during the difficult moments and it was he who forged the person I am today.

The first time I learned to drive a car, it was thanks to some modifications. Even with that, after having learned well, I decided to remove the modifications placed in the car and now I hold a driving permit without restrictions.

Holder of a degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona, she always attracts attention when she fills her car with gas. She is able to write 25 words per minute; dry her hair, put on her make-up, and wears her contact lenses at the same ease as anyone. This inspiring lady and heroine for numerous persons, irradiates always joy and is proof of having a great sense of humor ; on Mother’s Day last year she flew alone by herself without anyone accompanying her, dragging a notice board saying simply : “Look Mom, without arms !”

“Sometimes fear starts from the lack of knowledge of the unknown. As soon as I started flying, I realized that my fear came because I knew too much about the subject. There is a universal fear, that of the lack of confidence in yourself.

Jessica Cox hopes to marry and have children. “I know that it will be difficult to form a family, but I know that I will be a good mother.”

“The human being must live some difficult moments in life to have emotional moments.” “Our great fear is not so much to not be up to measure; it is that we are stronger over and above all measure”. “I do not have arms but that is not what determines where I can go; “The greater the difficulty, the greater the glory.”

Thanks to her confidence, her preparation and ambition, Jessica has traveled a long path to become that which she is today

Stay fearless…stay limitless…

Kanchan Chadha