Stephen Hawking was told that he had a motor neuron disease at the age of twenty and that he had just a few years to live. Not only he lived on for many more years, but he also revolutionised physics for about half a century.He is an inspiration to many people across the globe because he transformed our understanding of the universe. He was one of the few science personalities who succeeded in making science popular. Here are a few lessons that Stephen Hawking taught us about life.
- He overcame his disability
Prof. Hawking believed that the power of technology can change lives, transform the way we communicate and lead to great discoveries. He couldn’t speak, and he used technology to overcome his disability and made use of a voice synthesizer to communicate his ideas. He also used computer technology extensively to aid him with his research.
- He researched against insurmountable odds
Shortly after being diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and being told by the doctors that he only had a few years to live, Hawking fell in love with Jane Wilde and married her. They had three children. He also dedicated himself into his work and research as a physicist. He was always determined that his disability couldn’t become a hurdle for him.
- He was perpetually curious
Hawking had a childlike curiosity and he was always asking questions. He also had a desire to travel in space someday.
- He had a great sense of humour
Hawking always joked about his appearances on TV shows like The Simpsons, Futurama, Stargate Atlantis, and Star Trek. He had a great sense of humour and he always said, “Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny.”
- He always stood by his principles
Prof. Hawking was deeply concerned about the lack of funding and mismanagement of funding for scientific research and education in the UK. He was a man of principles and when he was offered knighthood, he turned it down.
- He didn’t believe in giving up
Stephen Hawking never gave up despite great odds, criticism, and controversy. A few years ago, he published his study on the nature of black holes that puzzled scientists since the early 20th century. His grit and determination will always be inspiring.
- He valued time
Stephen Hawking valued time as a precious resource. He is famous for his research on the definition and the nature of time and how time began. He concluded his book with a remark saying that it is impossible to turn back the clock.
- He shared his knowledge
Hawking was a firm believer in knowledgesharing. He wanted his books to be widely read,and that dream has already been fulfilled as his books are enormously successful.He made astrophysics and artificial intelligence interesting and accessible to all through his simple books. He believed in sharing knowledge through stories and always told fascinating stories. He recounted his publishertelling him not to use equations and formulae in his book as readers would be put off by it. He used a single equation (Einstein’s Theorem of Relativity) in his book A Brief History of Time and sold millions of copies.
While being extremely positive and independent despite the disabilities and illnesses is great, there is no wisdom in letting illnesses put you to the test. Better still is to protect yourself and your family financially so that they can avail the best treatments when the need arises.
For most, it may not be possible to create large enough pool of funds to look after medical emergencies from day one. Therefore, health insurance. You can select the best Mediclaim policy by comparing online and avail them with just a few clicks.
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