Adversity isn’t an obstacle that we need to get around in order to resume living our life. It’s part of our life. I think of it like my shadow — sometimes I see a lot of it, sometimes there’s very little, but it’s always with me.

Source: "The Opportunity of Adversity." TEDMED 2009. Oct. 2009. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote is from athlete and advocate Aimee Mullins' 2009 TED Talk about how adversity -- difficulties in one's life -- can actually help us develop character and aid us in achieving our full potential. This quote means that the goal of life is not for it to be free of adversity, but for us to accept it as a constant part of life that will always be present to some degree, like one's shadow. Mullins herself is no stranger to adversity, as she was born without shinbones, yet she overcame this challenge to become a record-breaker at the Paralympic Games.

“The Opportunity of Adversity.” TEDMED 2009. Oct. 2009. Conference Presentation.