The very title Simona chose for her memoir reveals what matters most to her: stop fixating on what's missing, and find joy in what you have and who you are.
Simona was born without arms: "her arms remained in heaven, but nobody made a tragedy of it"—(Candido Cannavò) not her remarkable parents, not her beloved sister, and certainly not Simona herself.
Through sheer will and determination, she became an accomplished painter and dancer, and in that role she travels to exhibitions, conferences, and performances.
The book moves fast because you find yourself believing in her, rooting for her ingenious workarounds to the absence of two arms and two hands that we assume are indispensable.
We're with her the whole way, cheering her on, and we wish for her a day when she might be a happy bride and mother. Read this when you're down about trivial things.
M.B., 2012