The downfall of a man should not be the end of his life. This phrase totally summarizes the inspirational story of Muniba Mazari.
Mazari is a 28-year-old Pakistani artist, model, activist, motivational speaker, and television host. She became confined to a wheelchair due to injuries sustained in a car accident at the age of 21.
However, the beautiful woman did not let the setback bar her after the incident, as she went on to become Pakistan’s first wheelchair-using model and also the National Ambassador for UN Women Pakistan.
According to Mazari,
I was 18 years old when I got married. I belonged to a very conservative family. My father wanted me to get married, and I said if that makes you happy, I’ll say yes. Just about two years after getting married. I met with a car accident. Somehow, my husband fell asleep, and the car fell into the ditch. He managed to jump out and save himself. But I stayed inside the car. And I sustained a lot of injuries; the list is a bit long. But that injury that changed my life completely was the spine injury.
Those two and a half months in the hospital were dreadful. One day, a doctor came to me and said, “Because of your spine injury and the fixation that you have in your back, you won’t be able to give birth to a child again.” I was devastated. One day, I asked my brothers, “I know I have a deformed hand, but I’m tired of looking at these white walls in the hospital. Bring me some colors, bring me some small canvas; I want to paint.” So the very first painting I made was on my deathbed. What an amazing therapy it was. Without uttering a single word, I could share my story. And that day I decided that I’m going to live life for myself. I am just going to take this moment, and I will make it perfect. That I’m going to fight my fears. So I wrote down all those fears and decided to overcome them. You know what my biggest fear was? Divorce. But the day I decided that this was nothing but my fear, I liberated myself by setting him free.
Number two was that I won’t be able to be a mother again, and that was quite devastating. But then I realized, there are so many children in the world; all they want is acceptance. Just go and adopt one, and that’s what I did.
You know, when you end up being in a wheelchair, what’s the most painful thing? People think that they will not be accepted by other people because we, in the world of perfect people, are imperfect. So I decided to appear more in public. I decided that I’m going to join the National T.V. of Pakistan as an anchor. I was featured in BBC 100 Women for 2015. I’m one of Forbes 30 under 30 for 2016. This life is a test and a trial, and tests are never supposed to be easy
Sometimes, when you are expecting ease from life, life gives you lemons; go ahead and make lemonade. Embrace every breath that you are taking. Real happiness lies in gratitude, so be grateful.
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