Is there something extreme you’ve always wanted to do, but keep putting off? A man from Bolingbrook, John Moeller, inspires us to remember that there are truly no excuses. John recalls that as a teenager, he was healthy and athletic, but things changed in his early 20s when he noticed a difference in his walk.
“I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I think my last steps were in 1998. It’s kind of like a steady decline. You just manage the symptoms and hope they plateau and slow down.”
John says his wife of 20 years is crafty when it comes to adapting things around their home to accommodate him. However, he explains that the most difficult part of the disease is the mental challenge of dealing with a lifelong disability. “It’s a process. You’ve got to wrap your mind around it. You’re still alive, you’re still progressing, and you can still do things, but you’ve got to do things differently.”
While John knew he would never climb mountains, he had a different goal in mind: skydiving. He asked his doctor about it, and the response was, “Go for it, man.” So he did. On seven occasions, John jumped 14,000 feet out of a perfectly good airplane, teaming up with the Skydiving for MS team to raise awareness and funds for research and support.
Local psychotherapist Joyce Marder explains that it’s common for people to reach for extremes when facing major life challenges. “Challenges are opportunities for growth. Doing something like jumping out of an airplane for someone who has been through a disability or physical loss can be incredibly empowering. As a therapist, I think it’s amazing when people view themselves not as victims, but as survivors.”
Mike Wood, also known as Woody from Chicagoland Skydiving, has seen many people like John who take the plunge to jumpstart a new lease on life. “It’s just one of those things—when people realize life has changed, they know they need to get out there and start enjoying it.”
John says that when he sees the tiny dots on the landing field, knowing one of them is his wheelchair, he has a special request for his instructor: “Hey, see that’s my wheelchair. I want you to keep me out of there as long as possible.”
John believes that everyone faces unexpected detours in life, but these obstacles shouldn’t prevent anyone from setting goals and pushing forward. “My real statement is the act—just going up in the airplane, skydiving for MS. That’s my statement right there.”
John is a true inspiration with a positive outlook on life. Like John, always consult your physician before starting any strenuous activity, and share how you’re going to meet your extremes on our Facebook page.