Nick Vujicic’s Speech

 

Vocabulary

drum	freak out	drum stick
wish	couple	concentrate
key (2)	principle	get through it
storm	sum up	challenge (2)
hold	share (2)	the way you are
worth	patient	overcome
scary	disorder	gorgeous
sort of	purpose	perspective
key (2)	apply (2)	issues (2)
give up	conquer

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Video

 
 
 
 

Transcript

I have no arms and legs — but I’m very thankful that I have my little chicken drum-stick here.

People freak out when they see me for the first time.

There were times when I sort of looked at my life and think, ‘well I can’t do this and I can’t do that.’ And you keep on concentrating on the things you wish you had or the things you wish you didn’t have.

And you sort of forget what you do have.

And there’s no point I believe in my life where I wish I had arms and legs…I wish I had arms and legs…I wish I had arms and legs…

Wishing won’t help.

But what I’ve seen in life is just a couple key principles.

And the first thing I’ve seen is to be thankful. It’s hard to be thankful, man. I tell you when I was eight years old, I sort of summed up my life, and thought, “I’m never going to be married. I’m not going to have a job. I’m not going to have a life of purpose.

What kind of husband am I going to be . . . if I can’t even hold my wife’s hand.”

It’s a lie to think that you’re not good enough!
It’s a lie to think that you’re not worth anything!

I love life.

You know so many people come to me and say, “How come you smile so much?”

And I’m like, well . . . it’s a long story . . .

But it’s very simple at the same time.

So it’s very hard to smile sometimes in life. There are things that happen that you don’t know, and that you don’t understand.

And you don’t know if you’re going to get through it.

You know you go through your storms in life and — you don’t know how long the storm’s going to be.

Today I’m going to share with you some principles that I’ve learnt in my life that you can use in yours.

Being patient is beautiful. I tell you it’s the hardest thing.

But I realize that I may not have hands to hold my wife’s hand . . . but when the time comes — I’ll be able to hold her heart.

I don’t need hands to hold her heart.

You know it’s scary to know how many girls have eating disorders. It’s scary to know how many people are just angry at life because of their situation at home.

And angry at others. It’s scary to know how many people feel like they’re worth nothing.

Every single girl right here right now, I want you to know that you are beautiful.

You are gorgeous just the way you are.

And you boys, you’re the man.

On this DVD I share my experiences in life of how I have overcome challenges and seen a new, fresh perspective in life: to be thankful, to dream big — and to never give up.

I speak to children, youth and adults about key issues and principles that I’ve applied in my life that has given me strength to conquer all that comes before me.

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Questions

1. Does Nick feel bitter or is he grateful and thankful?

2. According to Nick, how do people react when they see him for the first time?

3. Nick is always saying, “I wish I had arms and legs,” to his friends. True or false? Should people concentrate on what they don’t have and what they wish they had?

4. Did he feel pessimistic or optimistic at a certain time in his childhood? How does he feel now?

5. What are some of the lies he mentioned?

6. What does he say about smiles, storms, hands and hearts?

7. For Nick, wars, terrorists and criminals are scary. Is this correct or wrong?

8. He has a basic philosophy on life. Yes or no? What is his philosophy?

9. Does he lead and active or passive lifestyle?
 
 

A. Do you know any physically “disabled” persons? What are they doing?

B. What do you think about people feeling frustrated, disappointed, hopeless about their situation in life? Why do they feel this way? What should they do?

C. Have you attended or heard motivational or inspirational speakers? Who were they? What did they say?

D. Would it be helpful if Nick spoke at your school, company or organization?

E. I would like to become a professional speaker. Yes or no?