The Greek philosopher, Epictetus, once famously said: “It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” This is especially true in the instance of tragedy.
It’s easy to slip into a deep depression after a trauma. But when a person can take that challenge and use it to discover inner strength, that’s when they become truly admirable.
Take Noah Galloway, for instance. He is an American veteran who lost an arm and leg due to a roadside bomb in Iraq and since his catastrophic accident, he has participated in marathons, Iron Man competitions, and came in third on Dancing With the Stars.
Kellie Mencel was a regular 17-year-old when, in 2009, she was involved in a horrible accident.
Then, just a few months later, she experienced yet another — and more horrific — tragedy. It was enough to make any person want to throw their hands up and give up, but Kellie’s story, as reported by BuzzFeed, is the definition of inspiring…
In 2009, Kellie Mencel was your typical 17-year-old preparing for her last year of school.
Then, tragedy hit. Kellie was involved in a horrible accident when she fell asleep at the wheel while driving her car through the South Australian countryside going roughly 60 mph.
She was awoken by the sensation of her car flipping over five times. Upon impact, Kellie was knocked out cold. She was trapped inside her upside-down car until she was discovered and rushed to the hospital.
After the accident, Kellie was petrified of driving and getting into cars. Once she was no longer bed-ridden her parents decided to whisk her away to their cabin for a little relaxation to clear her head. They never would have guessed that tragedy would strike again…
While at the cabin, Kellie decided to go waterskiing with her dad, but their boat wouldn’t start. All of a sudden, it exploded. It was a freak accident, and no one is sure how or why it happened.
She was rushed to the hospital with burns all over her body. She told BuzzFeed what she recalls from the incident: “I remember the flames coming towards my eyes and all I could do was close them. I tried to jump out of the boat into the water but I slipped. I looked back to see my dad and my legs were on fire.”
“As I jumped into the water I went into shock. My dad was still stuck on the boat. I was just screaming and screaming. A nearby boat came and rescued us but as soon as I got out of the water the pain became so bad I thought I was dying,” she told BuzzFeed.
Kellie’s physical recovery was a long process, including years of in and outpatient treatment. Yet, her emotional recovery was even more difficult.
“People were telling me I was a miracle and a strong person. So I tried to act like a strong person, but deep down I was dealing with PTSD, depression, and anxiety.”
“It was a year or so after that I actually let myself go, I let myself be upset and stopped being this ‘strong person’ everyone perceived.”
Yet two things kept her going: family and exercise. The latter of the two she learned to appreciate through the physical therapy. “Living an active and healthy lifestyle has been my savior. My family also played a massive part. My mum was right by my side. She is an angel. She had to bathe me, take me to the toilet, brush my hair — you name it, she did it.”
After recovery, getting back to her normal life wasn’t easy. “I got looks from people who didn’t know what happened because I was wearing compression bandages, gloves, a hat, and carrying an umbrella.”
But Kellie never let that get her down.
Now, at 22 years old, Kellie is studying fitness and nutrition and she works as a personal trainer.
Her Instagram is filled with inspiring mantras that reflect her journey.
They also show her strength.
And why does she want to become a personal trainer? “Living a healthy and active lifestyle is what helped me get through all this.”
“The most rewarding thing in the world for me is helping people achieve there goals [sic], release all those endorphins and to feel good about themselves! It’s what I love and am so passionate about.”
Even after all that has happened to her, Kellie doesn’t get down. All she thinks is: “I’ve come a bloody long way!”
What do you think of this remarkable young lady? Let us know!
Please SHARE and remind others who may be going through a rough patch that life is what you make of it!
h/t: BuzzFeed
