Gender, age, IQ, appearance and race all have the power to label individuals and place them at disadvantages. It is an unfortunate occurrence for people to use these factors to set themselves limitations. How often is the phrase “I’m not smart enough” or “I’m not talented enough” voiced? The four words “I can’t do it” painfully resonate in so many hearts. It is a sad reality when people are more ready to find excuses to restrict themselves than find ways to excel and grow from obstacles.
How often are vibrant dreams and life-long hopes dwindled down to muted thoughts, smoothly tucked away in the corner of our minds? Often, it’s simply due to the realization that circumstances beyond our control hold us back.
We’ve all heard young children express their wishes of becoming astronauts, rocket scientists or world-class ballerinas. Why does the transition to adulthood often lead them to abandon these desires?
For me personally, it was always clear what I lacked and what prevented me from fulfilling my dreams. There were so many areas I might have deeply pursued if not for the shadow of self-doubt. I was once set on becoming a concert pianist only to quickly abandon the idea when I discovered I was rhythmically challenged. I’m quite sure there were several subconscious decisions I made on a daily basis which suppressed my potential to a certain degree.
Burdened not only with the knowledge of my own limitations, I was also very much aware of the limitations of others. I was always tremendously troubled seeing people held back for various reasons they couldn’t seem to control. I would think it was unjust that some people were given very difficult challenges to overcome. 
When I was in elementary school, there was a girl a grade above me named “Devorah” with Down Syndrome. I was never able to forget her, even years after I moved to a different country. Little did I know she would make an ever-lasting impact on the way I would fundamentally view the world.
One day, after a particularly long and unpleasant one, I turned to my mother and complained of the world’s injustices. More specifically, I imputed the unfairness of limitations defining my life.
“Do you remember Devorah, a girl from your old school?” my mother had asked. “Let me tell you something about her and what we can perhaps all learn from her.”

My mother went on to describe Devorah’s parenting. Her parents tried everything in their power to give her a normal childhood. They were determined to raise her thinking she was just as capable and deserving as any other child. Just like the average child in our neighborhood, she attended a regular school and filled her day with extracurricular activities such as dance and soccer. Her parents never succumbed to giving their daughter special, lax treatment.
Once, our families ate a meal at the home of a third party. Devorah was a toddler and while she was playing around during the meal beside the table she emptied out a whole shelf of its books. The hostess was gracious about it and told her parents that it was fine and not to worry. Devorah’s mother, however, did not find it amusing and instructed her daughter to pick up every single book and return it neatly onto the shelf.

In an article years later the mother wrote:

“Frequently children with Down Syndrome like other people, seek their comfort zone. They need just a little tension to keep them learning and growing. Devorah’s teachers and aides had to learn not to let her coast, not to let her underestimate her abilities and to resist the temptation to go easy on her.”

Today, this girl Devorah is basically a medical breakthrough.  What she has been able to achieve is astounding. She is fully immersed with her peers, she has participated in school plays, tutored young children, has gone to seminary and is planning on going to college. Her parents are widely recognized and received numerous rewards for their parenting. They are also an inspiration to entire communities.
“It’s all about pushing limits,” my mother continued.
No one would have deemed it possible that Devorah would be where she is at today. I have learned that life isn’t about accepting what you have been given, rather raising the bar and striving for growth. We can’t afford to use circumstantial factors as excuses. Who would have thought that there would be a black president in America? Who would have believed in the existence of the state of Israel post Holocaust? No one has the right to say something isn’t possible if they haven’t first put their heart and soul into making it possible. You only have yourself to blame if you allow others to limit your true potential.

Through Devorah’s touching life story, my mom was able to show me a new perspective on what I used to call limitations. Now I really just see them as opportunities and challenges to break boundaries and obstacles between myself and my goals.