In today‘s world， even though we may be fully conscious of the spiritual emptiness of material attainment， we still need reminders that fulfillment has nothing to do with having possessions. People certainly try the strangest options for attaining fulfi llment. They may drink a six-pack of beer. They may drug themselves into oblivion. They may alter their bodies to achieve some arbitrary standard of beauty. They may work their whole lives to reach the pinnacle of success， only to have it mercilessly yanked from them in a second. But most sensible people know that there are no easy routes to long-term happiness. If you place your bets on temporary pleasures， you will find only temporary satisfaction. With cheap thrills， you get what you pay for—here today， gone tomorrow.
Life isn’t about having， it‘s about being. You could surround yourself with all that money can buy， and you’d still be as miserable as a human can be. I know people with perfect bodies who don‘t have half the happiness I’ve found. On my journeys I‘ve seen more joy in the slums of Mumbai and the orphanages of Africa than in wealthy gated communities and on sprawling estates worth millions.
Why is that？
You’ll find contentment when your talents and passion are completely engaged， in full force. Recognize instant self-gratifi cation for what it is. Resist the temptation to grab for material objects like the perfect house， the coolest clothes， or the hottest car. The if I just had X， I would be happy syndrome is a mass delusion. When you look for happiness in mere objects， they are never enough.
Look around. Look within.
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As a boy， I figured that if God would just give me arms and legs， I would be happy for the rest of my life. It hardly seemed selfish since limbs are standard equipment. Still， as you know， I found that I can be happy and fulfilled without the usual appendages. Daniel helped confirm that for me. The experience of reaching out to him and his family reminded me why I am on this earth.
Once my parents arrived in California， we met with Daniel‘s family and I witnessed something so special. My parents and I spent hours talking to his mother and father， comparing experiences， discussing how we’ve dealt with challenges that await him. From those first days we formed a strong bond that remains to this day.
About a year after our first meeting， we got together again， and during our discussion Daniel‘s parents noted that his doctors felt he wasn’t ready to have his own customized wheelchair like mine.
“Why not？” I asked. “I was about Daniel‘s age when I started driving my own wheelchair.”
To prove my point， I hopped out of my chair and let Daniel take my seat. His foot fit the joystick perfectly. He loved it！ He did a great job maneuvering the chair. Because we were there， Daniel had the opportunity to prove to his parents that he could handle a customized wheelchair. This was one of the many ways I knew I could be there for him and help light his path based on my shared experiences. I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to serve as Daniel‘s guide.
We provided Daniel with a rare gift that day， but he presented me with an even better one in the matchless fulfillment I felt at feeling his joy. Not a luxury car. Not a McMansion. Nothing compares to fulfilling your destiny and aligning with His plan.
This gift just keeps on giving. In a later visit with Daniel and his family， my parents shared their early concerns that I could easily drown in the bathtub without arms and legs to keep me afloat. As a result they were very careful when bathing me as an infant， and as I grew older， my dad held me in the water gently， showing me that I could float. Over time I became more confident and adventurous and learned I could float easily as long as I held a bit of air in my lungs. I even figured out how to use my little foot as a propeller to motor myself through the water. Considering how frightened my parents had understandably been about me in the water， imagine their amazement as I became an avid swimmer， leaping into any pool of water I could find.
After sharing that story with Daniel’s family， we were delighted to learn later that one of the first phrases he said to his parents when he was old enough to speak clearly was： “Swim like Nick！” Now Daniel too is an avid swimmer. I can‘t express to you how awesome that makes me feel. To see Daniel benefit from my experiences gives deeper meaning to my life. If my story never touched another person， Daniel’s determination to “swim like Nick” would be enough to make my life and all the hardships I‘ve encountered worthwhile.
Recognizing your purpose means everything. I assure you that you too have something to contribute. You may not see it now， but you would not be on this planet if that were not true. I know for certain that God does not make mistakes， but he does make miracles. I am one. You are too.
