It's rare for me to rate a book at the highest level the site allows. Why does this one deserve it?
*It's inspirational
*Mallory Weggemann is honest about her struggles and her successes. She doesn't sugarcoat the mental effects her injury and setbacks have had. She doesn't make it sound like her success came easily. She's honest about having to change goals or get used to new normals.

Mallory Weggeman was a swimmer before she became a paraplegic at 18ish--but it doesn't sound like she was a very successful one. (At several points she states she "never made state" in high school. (To be fair, it sounds like her senior year of high school involved a number of health setbacks: mono which eventually settled into chronic fatigue syndrome, shingles which affected her nerves. And who knows if she would have made state if not for all those issues?

In fact, it is the residuals of shingles that sets up her paraplegia. Apparently, her doctors tried a series of spinal injections to ease the effects of that and on the third one, something happened and Mallory was left a paraplegic.

It sounds as if Mallory began journalling around this time--doing something similar to a technique I just recently hear about--where she wrote down her thoughts, fears, emotions, etc. as a way to get them out.

I am inspired by Mallory's fighting back a number of times in her life--redefining what her goals are, adapting to new normals, etc. At first, after she was injured and having to relearn many things/learn new ways to do things she did before. Then again after she achieved her goals of competing in (and winning) at the Paralympics (Olympic level) and Worlds. Then again after the defective shower bench at a hotel injured her left arm, leaving it with nerve damage. And again after the surgeries to assist with the nerve damage to her left arm. And even after COVID delayed her dreams of a paralympic comeback and motherhood.

I wonder how much of it comes from her (she mentions her "I do it" mentality from a young age) or her parents set up (her mom's "good overcomes" and her dad's positive bedtime message) vs. if someone else without those traits could still achieve this type of overcoming of circumstances. (Can we change our "stripes"?)

I admire that she realized her relationship with Chad wasn't what it should be for them to get married and called off the engagement (even though her dream was to be married with a family and at that point she didn't have any other prospects in mind). It turned out God had someone else in mind for her. (We shouldn't take this as our lives will work out this way--God has different plans for different people.) ( )

Limitless is an empowering story of overcoming obstacles to create a successful life. Mallory's strength and determination shines within each chapter leaving the reader to feel more inspired. Mallory's wisdom is relatable, encouraging and motivational. Highly recommend! ( )

motivational, family, friendship, physical-challenges, depression, Paralympics, swimming, romance, personal-growth, perseverance, perspective, PTSD*****

A true overcomer!
With the backing of her family and true grit Mallory rose to every challenge. I think that her real name might be Job.
It's been thirteen years since she started on her journey in Minnesota through paralysis, complications, PTSD, a return to swimming (this time in the Paralympics), world travel for competitions, a disastrous fall (hotel negligence), episodes of depression, love (twice), and marriage (she WALKED down the aisle with her father with the aid of special leg braces), a career as a motivational speaker, and not done yet!
She is as unsinkable as Molly Brown and continues to teach others that she is not DISabled and neither are others who are DIFFERENTLY abled.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Nelson Books/Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Thank you!
Fire in My Eyes: An American Warrior’s Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory by Brad Snyder, 2016 is about another Gold medalist in swimming. ( )