It happens; things don’t go always our way. As Chris Koch, Canadian farmer and motivational speaker would say, we each have unique struggles we face.
Koch knows more about that than most since he was born without arms and legs. In his opinion, it’s how we face these challenges that tells the story of the type of person we are.
Speaking at the recent Ag Media Summit, Koch said, “We get caught up too often in the things we have no control over.”
In agriculture, that’s easy to do whether it’s the weather, the prices, or any number of other factors. If we dwell too long on the things we can’t control, we lose the opportunity to enjoy everything else, Koch shared.
Koch’s life has been a constant example of how hard work and a good-natured personality can improve an situation, no matter the challenge.
He said from an early age, he was encouraged to be self-sufficient and active on his family’s farm. As he grew up, that turned into a challenge to take on great adventures just to see if he could. That’s what spurred his idea to travel the world, giving him the chance to meet people of many cultures, see incredible places, and even swim with sharks.
“I am always putting myself out of my comfort zone and testing myself,” Koch explained.
That mindset carries through every element of his life, and particularly in his motivational speaking career. His take home message is “If I can . . . why not you?”
It’s so easy to reflect on all the things that aren’t going right and all the things we can’t control, but more often than not, that is a downward spiral we can’t escape. Koch would say, “Every day is a gift, and I encourage you to make the most of it.”
What are you doing today to make the most of it?
Maggie Seiler
The author is an associate editor. She covers feeding and nutrition, youth activities, and heads up the World Dairy Expo Supplement. Maggie was raised on a 150-cow dairy near Valley Center, Kansas, and graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in agricultural communications and animal sciences.
