I had the absolute honour of meeting Billy Monger at the Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre and I can honestly say, it’s a moment that will stay with me for a very long time.
Billy is resilience personified. A young man who had his whole life mapped out, only to have it all change in an instant after his devastating racing accident. But what struck me most wasn’t the tragedy of what happened, it was the incredible strength with which he’s chosen to move forward. He hasn’t let it define him, and he hasn’t let it stop him. Instead, he’s focused on what he can do and he’s doing it with passion, purpose, and courage.
Meeting someone like Billy is exactly why I do the talks I do.
Because life doesn’t always go to plan. Sometimes it hits hard and unexpectedly. But what I’ve learned and what I try to share is that resilience is a skill we can all build. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond. And in that choice, there’s power. There’s hope.
Billy reminded me of that in the most powerful way. His story, like so many others, is a living example that setbacks don’t have to mean the end, they can be the start of something new, something meaningful, and something brave.
That’s why I share my story, not for sympathy, but to show what’s possible. To say to anyone listening: you are stronger than you think, and your story isn’t over.incredibly lucky to have been a part of it, even just for a short while.
