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Stand Up or Sit Out by Anthony Candela is a poignant memoir that really touches the heart. If you want a read that's guaranteed to get your heart pumping and your tear ducts working, this is an all-around recommendation! It's sure to give you a new perspective on what it really means to be resilient, what it means to be aware of your limitations, and how you can go beyond your limitations.
Exceeding Boundaries and Becoming
Stand Up or Sit Out is a thorough and inspirational exploration of what it means to live an extraordinary life from the perspective of a man who's always been defying the expectations set for him.
The subject of the book, author Anthony Candela, is a humble man who keeps describing himself as simply an "all-around regular guy." In Stand Up or Sit Out, he shares his experiences navigating a world that wasn't really built for folks like him. You see, Anthony Candela has a progressive visual impairment that essentially leaves him blind. But never does that fact stop him from standing up and doing his darnedest to reach his dreams.
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Beyond Your Limitations: A Life Illuminated
The first part of Candela's brilliant book is all about his childhood. It sets the stage for his miraculous and awe-inspiring journey throughout life.
Born with imperfect eyesight, Candela was born into this world already with a notch against him. Yet, that did not diminish his spirit. From the challenges of school to the inexorable joys of playing sports and finding friendships, readers learn of the inextinguishable spirit of humanity. It's his candid depiction of youth while his vision gradually fades away that serves as a powerful mirror into the psychological and emotional impact that comes with being deprived of life's colors--a privilege most people take for granted.
Beyond Your Limitations: The Athlete's Spirit
The indomitable will of the human spirit is best displayed in Candela's unwavering determination to pursue athletic excellence. Although his visual impairment greatly hindered his prospects in most sports, he went beyond his limits, excelling in a variety of sports--wrestling and running, to name a few. In sections of Stand Up or Sit Out, he shares the many experiences and strategies he developed to compensate for what he believed were his limitations. These involved simple but difficult-to-master techniques like relying on his sense of touch and hearing, where his vision could not help him. Should you go beyond your limit? Candela's experiences as an athlete and the methods he developed himself highlight that the answer should always be yes! Beyond talent, perseverance, and resilience are far more important!
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Beyond Your Limitations: A World of Possibilities
What makes Stand Up or Sit Out just a stand-out book is that it is a stark reminder that there is always hope. While some may despair at the thought of losing their vision, Candela adapted to the new challenges it brought and embraced the new opportunities that came along with it. Where others might decry the loss of life, Candela saw a new one flaring to brightness. In the last pages of the book, he discusses at length his forays into the study of blindness and visual impairment.
Candela has dedicated his life to helping others, being a counselor, teacher, and advocate for his community--and this book is a testament to his compassion and commitment to being and making a difference in the world.
Reflections on a Life Well-Spent
In the final pages of Stand Up or Sit Out, Candela gives readers a rundown of the lessons that his life has taught him. He discusses the importance of gratitude and acceptance despite what life may have thrown at him. He explains how he finds joy in the simplest things. The depth of his insights into the human condition and the human spirit is profoundly inspiring.
Stand Up or Sit Out
Anthony Candela's memoir Stand Up or Sit Out: Memories and Musings of a Blind Wrestler, Runner and All-around Regular Guy is a remarkable piece of work; it is an inspiration to anyone who picks the book up and gives it a read. It reminds us that we always have something to give and always something to pursue. If you want to grab a copy of the book, you can click this link right here.
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