When we feel like nothing is there but pain, hurt and great despair, that is when we should not give up. The most beautiful people are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. 

These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. Here's an inspiring story (derived from a forwarded email) of the triumph of human spirit over insurmountable adversity.

In life, we keep on complaining about what or why we don't have. Half the time, we seem to be dissatisfied, though full-bodied and free to choose. Fat people say,"I want to be slim." Skinny people say,"I want to be fatter." Poor people want to be rich and the rich are never satisfied with what they have.

Peng Shuilin is 78cms high. He was born in Hunan Province, China . In 1995, in Shenzhen, a freight truck sliced his body in half. His lower body and legs were beyond repair. Surgeons sewed up his torso. He spent nearly two years in hospital in Shenzhen, southern China, undergoing a series of operations to re-route nearly every major organ or system inside his body.

Peng kept exercising his arms, building up strength, washing his face,brushing his teeth.and whatever he could do by himself. He survived against all odds.

Peng Shuilin has astounded doctors by learning to walk again after a decade. Considering Peng's plight, doctors at the China Rehabilitation Research Centre in Beijing devised an ingenious way to allow him to walk on his own, creating a sophisticated egg cup-like casing to hold his body, with two bionic legs attached.

It took careful consideration, skilled measurement and technical expertise. Peng has been walking the corridors of Beijing Rehabilitation Centre with the aid of his specially adapted legs and a resized walking frame.

RGO is a recipicating gait orthosis, attached to a prosthetic socket bucket. There is a cable attached to both legs so when one goes forward, the other goes backwards.

Rock to the side, add a bit of a twist and the leg without the weight on it advances, while the other one stays still, giving a highly  inefficient way of ambulation.

Oh so satisfying to 'walk' again after ten years with half a body! Hospital vice-president Lin Liu said: "We've just given him a checkup; he is fitter than most men his age."

Peng Shuilin has opened his own bargain supermarket, called the Half Man-Half Price Store. The inspirational 37-year-old has become a businessman and is used as a role model for other amputees. At just 2ft 7ins tall, he moves around in a wheelchair giving lectures on recovery from disability. His attitude is amazing, he doesn't complain. "He had good care, but his secret is cheerfulness. Nothing ever gets him down." 

We have a whole body and have feet. Here's a man who has no feet. His life is a feat of endurance, a triumph of the human spirit in overcoming extreme adversity. Whenever we want to complain about something trivial, let us remember Peng Shuilin. To him, half is good enough.