Book 165 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title: The Human Spirit is Contagious!

Book – Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Book Description: In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will.

Reflection:

The story and life of Louis Zamperini was truly incredible. What this man endured and survived is the epitome of the human spirit to never give up, to maintain hope when all is lost, to embrace head on whatever is thrown in our path, and to find a way forward no matter what lot this world gives us.

In my opinion, you cannot read this book without walking away feeling inspired and proud to call yourself a human being after taking this journey with Louis.

The portion of Louis’ story I felt most connected with was his epic ordeal of being stranded at sea with 2 of his bomber crew mates for 46 days with no food, fresh water, and exposed to all the elements after their plane was shot down. In an instant, Louis’ whole life changed, and he found himself in an epic fight for survival.

As I listened to their story out at sea, it is in that moment that I’m reminded of watching my daughter’s similar journey of being safe in her mother’s womb one day and the next finding herself exposed to the world and finding herself in a fight for her life. Neither Emilia or Louis was prepared. Neither of them knew what to do. Both I’m sure were terrified, afraid, scared, and lonely. Both never gave up! Both never lost hope! Both were going to fight until someone, or something forced their hand and made them leave this Earth.

When the human mind and body are tested, we have 2 simple options, we either fight or we give up.

With special humans like Louis and Emilia, they only ever had one option in their minds…to fight and never give up!

Hearing Louis and his stranded crew mates use all their mental strength to endure was remarkable. They used everything at their disposal, which wasn’t much, to stay mentally engaged. They tried visualization of eating to feel full, they played mental games all day to keep their minds strong, they did everything they could to not lose hope while dealing with the brutal facts in front of them each day on that boat. They had no idea what their futures held, if they would ever make it off that raft, or even what lied ahead of becoming a POW even if they did. However, that didn’t stop Louis and Phil from holding on to the hope of the future while dealing with the brutal facts presented to them in the present. Ultimately someone did rescue them, only to have this story turn even worse by becoming POW’s for the next 2 years where they would suffer unimaginable human inflicted trauma and torture only to prove again that they can make it through anything.

I’ve often wondered and thought about why humans fight so hard and endure so much ever since watching Emilia’s epic 39 day fight for life? Why when we are thrown into a traumatic situation do some of us become Louis’ and Emilia’s vs. Mac’s (the other guy on the raft that gave up the fight)? Where does this come from?

While I obviously don’t know the answer, I think my best guess is that “life” itself is just that powerful. I takes me back to my reflection for A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson when I wrote that Life goes on! As I listened to Bill recap a short history of the universe, that is the message I kept hearing…life goes on! If there is one theme I’ve seen from my YOML journey, it is understanding that life has this innate goal to simple just exist. It is the most powerful thing in this world. I don’t know why, but it does, and we see it every day with stories of Emilia and Louis.

We all have this power in us deep down, but it truly shines brightest when we are put to the test. The best of us fight! That is what we do, that is what Emilia and Louis taught us, and that is what I’ll continue to do as well.

Fight and Never Quit...because you must!

Question: What stories of others inspire you to fight when hope looks like it may be lost?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand