How hard would you fight to finish something you started?
I can pose this question to myself because I’m always fighting hard to complete something I’ve started. From getting dressed, to picking my phone up off the floor, it’s a challenge. During these challenges, interruptions like fatigue and anger stop by to frustrate me, but I keep going until I get things done! When you have a disability, unexpected interruptions are just part of your daily routine.
Lewis Capaldi, an amazing singer, loves his craft to his core. His prognosis of Tourette Syndrome – a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can’t easily be controlled – interrupt his flow sometimes, but his love of singing and determination wins every time.
During one of Lewis’s recent performances, uninvited tics showed up. This episode was so bad it froze the singer in his tracks, making him unable to sing. Watching that awkward moment moved me. I’m a person that has or at least tries to have great empathy for others. You’ll truly never know how another person feels unless you have walked in their shoes or in some cases rolled on their wheels.
I imagined how Lewis must have felt – embarrassment was the first thing that came to mind. When you’re doing something in front of a crowd, the last thing you want is for something to go haywire – especially with your body. You don’t want to do something that will be considered weird that you’ll never live down. Everyone can remember a time they saw a concert or attended an event where the performer did something out of the ordinary you’ve never forgotten – even if it was 20 years ago!
Fortunately for Lewis, human kindness prevailed in this moment. His amazing performance would be remembered for the compassionate response it received, instead of being “weird”. When the crowd realized what was going on with Lewis, they waited for him to gather himself, start singing again, and they joined in to help him finish. Talk about a magical moment!
Life is filled with interruptions. But when you want to get something done, you’ll find a way. It also helps when you have people to help you carry the load, turning an interruption into a magical moment!