“Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” – Roy Bennett, The Light in the Heart
Gregory Pollard’s strong will and determination have allowed him to live a happy and comfortable life in spite of being born without arms.
The 57-year-old Welch Village, St John resident told Easy magazine that since he gave his life to God when he was 31 years of age he started focusing on the positive things in life.
Pollard lives by a motto “Anything you put your mind to you can achieve” and he said he constantly repeats the phrase when he is faced with challenges.
Although he only has hands with two fingers each, he is able to manipulate the creative ideas his mind develops. He has a keen interest in interior design and decorated his home as such. As a hobby, he airbrushes, paints and does tie-dye T-shirts. He raises pigs and rabbits and he created a picturesque garden in front of his house.
For the past four years, he competed in the Community Independence Celebrations Garden And Mini-Park Competition, placing in the top three. This year he came second in the Traditional Flower Garden section of the competition. For him, gardening is a form of relaxation and it helps him to appreciate the beauty of the earth.
Though Pollard lives an easy-going lifestyle and you can always catch him with a smile on his face he said growing up was tough and painful at times.
“A lot of children used to tease and fret me at primary school,” he said. “They made me feel so bad that sometimes I was ashamed to come out of the house. I never used to show my face to strangers in the district either. I would see them when they drive in but never allowed them to see what I look like.
“I was struggling with the fear of what people might think and say about me into adulthood but that fear left me when I gave my life to God.”
The backyard farmer attends the Mount Ebel Pentecostal Church and stated that his life took a change for the better. He was able to realise his hidden talent within, and he opened up more to people and was willing and excited to tell others about his condition.
“I am blessed. After becoming a Christian I started to appreciate the finer things in life and give thanks for what I have and was able to accomplish.
“People may look at me and wonder how I am able to get something as simple as buttoning a shirt done. But I tell them it is a mind thing. If you believe you can get something done it will be done.
“When I look at what I was able to do and how far I have come, I wonder why some young men are not as ambitious. They prefer to live their life smoking every day on a block than find a job and become a contributor to society.” (SB)
