Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, pierced me as a human being as the story of Louie Zamperini, a former Olympic distance runner and Word War II bombardier was told. This man lived multiple lifetimes in his still ongoing life of today. He is 93 years old and continues sucking the marrow out of his life.
Perseverance Producing Character And Hope
I like to study great people to understand what makes them tick. Though there are many attributes which differ, there is always one common thread. They all have perseverance running through their veins. Their ability to push through adversity and continually resist being broken, whether physically, financially or emotionally, is what allows them to overcome.
The story of Louis Zamperini often left me incredulous at the bleak and dark experiences he endured. Yet, from his boyhood, there was an innate thread running through his life by providence. His defiance and longing for freedom enabled him to survive horrific episodes in his life at the hands of the open sea in an emergency raft for weeks to the brutality of Japanese POW camps in World War II.
Why It’s Important To Read Unbroken
The lives of others matter greatly in spurring us on to greater things. In many ways, we have a life of privilege. To waste it away can come from an ignorance, whether chosen or not, of harsher and more demanding realities. We are given much. We should do much.
Unbroken puts my life into perspective quickly. It also motivates me in the areas that matter. What’s inside of us is much more important than what is outside of us. Perseverance matters greatly. It is the part of us which allows us to have dignity and freedom in an everyday challenging world, whether small and domestic, or large and painful.
This New Year, avoid the gimmicks of external trappings. Who you are and what you are becoming constitute the foundational pieces for your success. Allow the testament of Zamperini’s life to surge life into your own endeavors.
