How Bethany Hamilton Survived a Shark Attack and Preserved her Love to the Ocean and Her Body
Bethany Hamilton is definitely an iconic personality in professional sport. Not only because she’s been riding the waves since the age of 3 and continues to take part in competitions at the age of 32. Bethany is the embodiment of persistence and strength, when faced with difficulties, because after fighting a shark, she was not afraid of returning to the sea.
CHEERY is going to tell you a story about Bethany’s courage, who lost an arm because of a shark attack. It didn’t stop her from doing what she likes, finding the love of her life and having 3 children.
“I wouldn’t change what happened to me.”
When Bethany was 13, she was attacked by a tiger shark and lost her left arm. But just 1 month after the attack, Bethany returned to the board and started training to become a national surf champion.
It was hard for Bethany to learn to stand on the board again, but she wasn’t going to give up her passion. She decided not to use a prosthetic with flexible joints when she realized that it wouldn’t help her. To make it easier to control the board, her father Tom made a special handle to prevent her from falling off while paddling out to the waves.
In 2004, Bethany released an autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. In 2011, the book was adapted for a movie, Soul Surfer. Once, she was asked if she would like to prevent the shark attack, and she said, “I wouldn’t change what happened to me because then I wouldn’t have this chance, in front of all of you, to embrace more people than I ever could have with two arms.”
“I’m happy with the way that I look.”
The passion for surfing allowed Bethany to return to her training fast and to understand a lot of things about life, “I’ve learned that life is a lot like surfing. When you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up because you never know what’s over the next wave... and if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all.”
But she also said that despite her willpower, she’s also affected by the pressure of the society, especially when it comes to appearances. The cultural obsession with the perfect body had an effect on Bethany. She said she was trying to focus on true beauty, such as “kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness, determination, honesty, loveliness, just being a good friend, and all of the true good that you have to offer to this world.” Physical perfection is often overly celebrated, in her opinion.
Now, Bethany is a confident woman that knows and loves her own body and helps others having faith in themselves, “I’m happy with the way that I look, and I don’t need an arm to be beautiful. Instead of focusing on what I didn’t like about my body or my limitations, I choose to be grateful for the remarkable body that I have.”
But it hasn’t always been like this. As a teenager, she was worried about not looking like others, and she was shy about her arm, especially when she was on the beach. Years later, she realized that all of us are unique, and she’s chosen a path of gratitude for what she has. And here’s a piece of advice she follows every day, “I encourage you to find routines, foods and exercises that keep your body healthy and make you feel good. Just take small steps at a time and don’t focus on trying to be ‘skinny’ or looking a certain way, but on taking care of yourself.”
“I choose him every day.”
Bethany had to deal with a lot of difficulties on her path to success and self-acceptance. And her husband, Adam Dirks, gives her a lot of support. They met through mutual friends, and started a relationship almost right after. Bethany remembers, “The first thing we did was jump off a cliff together! And you could say it was love at first cliff jump.”
In 2013, they exchanged oaths in Hawaii, and Bethany left a moving message on her social media, “I met an amazing man, now we will spend the rest of our lives together, and I’m so excited! I love you Adam!”
They had Tobias, in 2015, Wesley, in 2018, and Micah in 2021. In 2018, the documentary film Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable was released and talks about the happy life, marriage, and motherhood of Bethany.
Hamilton loves sharing the secrets of her happy marriage, publishing her thoughts on social media, “I choose him every day. I believe love can be a choice beyond just a ‘falling in love feeling’. Faithfulness, commitment and forgiveness lead to beautiful things.”
“Motherhood is better than I even dreamed.”
Bethany said that her sons taught her how to love and to understand the true power of this feeling. She is ready to die for them if she has to, “I have 3 lil’ guys at home now and there is never a dull moment! Motherhood is better than I even dreamed!”
In her life, she has had to deal with a lot of difficulties, but the hardest thing is the everyday concerns and raising the boys. She honestly says that it’s not easy to make the boys enjoy the water. And because surfing is part of Bethany’s life, she takes the boys on the board with her, “You can’t just expect every kid to fall in love with the ocean at the age of 5 and having no fear.”
She doesn’t keep their children from going to the ocean, on the contrary, she teaches them to be strong and never give up, “I’m so excited to tell my son about my accident, as he will see how I’m not a typical mom. I want to show that a shark might have bitten off my arm, but that doesn’t stop you in life. It just makes you even more determined and strong.”
Maternity couldn’t have zero effect on her surfing. Bethany said that her first time in the ocean after Micah was tough, “I was so out of shape paddling, so I was missing so many waves, and just standing up on the board, I felt extra slow and like I could barely do it. But, I was just so happy to be in the ocean and feel the sunshine.”
After each pregnancy, she never pushed herself, but instead, she gave her body time to recover slowly, eating good food and having enough sleep. It seems that she knows how to find the perfect balance between maternity and surfing. She devotes enough time to the things that matter.
Bethany told about what makes her really happy, “My family, the ocean, and surfing, quality time with friends, delicious healthy food, and of course my faith.” When she feels scared or lost, she tells herself, “I don’t need easy, I just need possible.”
How do you manage to be a parent and still have enough time for your hobbies?