Resilience in Motion: Jessica Long’s Reflection on Vulnerability and Strength Part 1
This week, Doro and Tricia welcome Jessica Long, a Paralympic swimmer with a record 18 gold medals, to Health Gig to learn about her inspiring journey from being born without legs to being adopted and later becoming a celebrated athlete. Jessica’s honest reflection of her experiences highlight not only her physical challenges but also the emotional complexities she faced throughout her life, revealing her determination to embrace all aspects of her identity.
Her resilience is reflected in her sports performances, as well as in her advocacy work, where she fights for better representation and awareness for individuals with disabilities. Jessica’s journey underscores the importance of vulnerability and the healing process, which she approaches with honesty, particularly under the pressures of societal and personal expectations. Through her story, Jessica aims to inspire others and emphasize the significance of mental health and mindfulness in achieving success, empowering others to embrace their uniqueness.
This is the first of a two-part episode.
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Website: https://jessicalong.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicatatianalong/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicatatianalong?lang=en
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jessicalong?lang=en
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qUOTES:
“When it comes to weight, I definitely think that there are a lot of damaging words. You have to reframe your mindset and think,as long as you’re being healthy, you will feel good.” –Jessica Long
“I see it every day that this world was not designed for people with disabilities. And I want to stand up for those who might not feel like they have a voice.” –Jessica Long
“I didn’t want to be different, I didn’t want to be born without legs, I didn’t want to have to go into surgeries. But I didn’t have a choice and I wasn’t going to let my legs stop me.” –Jessica Long
Show Notes:
In this episode of Health Gig, Jessica Long shares her remarkable journey from being born with a disability to becoming a celebrated Paralympic athlete with 18 gold medals. She candidly discusses her adoption, the challenges of surgeries, and the emotional complexities of her early life. Jessica emphasizes the importance of representation in sports and advocates for individuals with disabilities, highlighting the significance of vulnerability and healing in her personal journey.
She reflects on her resilience, both in her athletic performances and her advocacy work, confronting the pressures of societal and personal expectations while underscoring the importance of mental health and mindfulness in achieving success. Through her story, she inspires others to embrace their uniqueness and advocates for better representation and awareness for those with disabilities, reinforcing her commitment to empowering others on their own journeys.
Takeaways
Jessica Long reflects on her daily routines and the balance between training and personal life, highlighting the importance of mental health and open communication in her life and discussing the role of family support and personal faith in her success.
Adoption can be a complex and emotional journey.
Forgiveness played a crucial role in Jessica’s life.
Swimming provided Jessica Long with a sense of freedom.
Jessica Long advocates for individuals with disabilities and their rights, declaring that representation in media and toys is important for children. She expresses her desire to inspire others through her story and upcoming book.
Strength is found in vulnerability and sharing one's story.
Healing is a non-linear process that requires responsibility.
Jessica Long shares her personal experience with eating disorders and the impact of societal expectations on body image.
Jessica Long discusses the significance of breath control and mindfulness in athletic performance.
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