Chadwick Boseman Quote on Struggles and How they Shape You For Your Purpose

“The struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.”

Chadwick Boseman

Beyond the Quote (239/365)

Chadwick Boseman, the iconic “Black Panther” star, has died at age 43 after a 4-year battle with colon cancer. He was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, battled it until it progressed to stage IV, and up until it ended up taking his life here in 2020. And like so many others, I knew nothing about his cancer or that he was even sick at all.

What’s most notable is that, not only did he keep his cancer on the low for the most part, but during the time he was battling it he gave us Civil War, Marshall, Black Panther, Infinity War, Endgame, 21 Bridges and Da 5 Bloods. An incredibly remarkable feat when you consider they all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. Talk about a real life “superhero.”

As suggested in his own quote above, these struggles that must have been significant for him to endure, only shined a greater light on his character and purpose. He was someone who embodied the characteristics of a superhero beyond all of the special effects, scripting, acting, and choreography. He was a person who exemplified indomitable spirit and lived to his potential during the time he had on earth—short as it was. And he is a person who will undoubtedly be remembered for it.

I think his example is one that should be celebrated and shared as it defies the narrative that so many people usually default to when they think about cancer and sickness in general. It sheds light onto a narrative of spirit, grit, will, and perseverance that inspires and may encourage people to change how they define their own life and limitations.

Rather than letting the cancer or sickness define who they are, they might consider deliberately defining their own life as they want it to be and then include that they also have cancer or a sickness, secondarily. This redefining of narratives for people who are living with illnesses is one that first came to light for me from the amazing Claire Wineland.

Claire was a mover; a shaker; a YouTuber; an inspirational speaker; a fighter; an activist; a non-profit founder; a no-bullsh*ter; and a compassionate, kind-hearted, genuine soul with a strong mind and a powerful message—who also happened to have Cystic Fibrosis (CF). One of her key speaking points was that you can live a beautiful life AND have incredible challenges. She never wanted to be defined as just another person who had CF. She continue to live her life to the best of her ability, dreamed big, did what she was able to do, and lived wholeheartedly all the way until she died at 21 years old.

As Wineland said so brilliantly in a public speaking engagement when she was only 19, “I have lived a life of a lot of pain and I’m not pretending that I haven’t.  I’ve had to deal with death; I’ve had to deal with painful surgeries; I’ve had to deal with being alone and scared in the hospital.  But I have had a beautiful life—and one that I am so incredibly proud of.  And that is not in spite of having Cystic Fibrosis… That’s because of it.” Making your life beautiful isn’t something that happens to you—it’s something that you make happen.

The point that I find myself so inspired by through Chadwick Boseman and Claire Wineland’s examples is that you should never stop trying to live your best life. In a statement released by his family, it was mentioned that for Chadwick, “it was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.” An honor that he made happen despite colon cancer. Had he let his cancer define him and his role, he may never have been able to share that incredible honor with us. King T’Challa wouldn’t be who we know him to be today. And what a sad thought that is, indeed.

May Chadwick Rest In Peace and may we forever remember his legacy and the roles that he played in shaping our society. From King T-Challa, to Jackie Robinson, to Thurgood Marshall, to James Brown—he left behind a legacy that impacted the lives of millions. And it was on this day, August 29th, 2020 that his family reported that he died in his home, with his wife and family by his side. May his next journey in what’s beyond this life be one that is just as inspiring as this one was. Cheers.

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This post became the introduction for: 25 Remarkable Chadwick Boseman Quotes on Struggle, Work Ethic, Authenticity, and Life

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