“Bound or Free” — A Visual Story with Jamie Gane
Introduction
"If you don’t like it — change it. If you don’t change it — don’t complain. Act or complain? The choice is yours."
This isn’t just a motivational quote. It’s a challenge — to look at your life and ask: am I moving forward, or am I standing still, hoping things will somehow change on their own?
In this photo series, we explore that exact moment — the crossroad between taking action or remaining stuck in dissatisfaction.
I had the honour of working with Jamie Gane, a man who had every reason to complain. He lived in a wheelchair for 14 years, suffering daily pain. Eventually, he made a choice most would be terrified of — he amputated his own leg, not as defeat, but as a new beginning.
Jamie didn’t let his circumstances define him. He didn’t wait for the world to become easier. He took responsibility for his life and rebuilt it — stronger. Today, he is a world-class para-athlete, a speaker, a teacher, and someone who lives a fuller life than many who have no physical limitations at all.
This project is not just about him. It’s about the choice we all have — every day.
To act or to complain.
To stay stuck or to move.
To be bound or to be free.
When Everything Goes Quiet
Sometimes, you just sit. Not because you want to — but because you don’t know where to go next. Life is happening all around — trees are moving, the sun is warm, someone’s laughing nearby… But you feel separate. Inside — it’s quiet. You’re there, but not really. Maybe tired. Maybe lost. Maybe just no longer able to pretend that everything’s okay.
Thoughts spin in your mind: “How did I get here?”
“Why me?”
“Why is everything so hard?”
And while the world keeps going, you stay still.
With your crutches beside you.
With memories that won’t let go.
And with questions that have no answers.
When It Feels Too Heavy
We are all human.
We laugh. We cry. We fall — and sometimes we don’t get back up. There are times when you ask, “Why me?” “Why is this happening to me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” You carry so much for so long… until it becomes too heavy. Your hands drop. Your energy fades. You stop fighting — not because you don’t care, but because you’re just… tired. Tired of pushing. Tired of pain. Tired of always having to be strong. You repeat it in your head over and over: “I’ve already been through so much.” “I don’t want to keep doing this.”
The Weight of “Why”
Sometimes you look ahead… but you don’t really see the future. You see exhaustion Everything you’ve had to carry. Everything you’ve lost. And in your head, the questions start again: “Why me? “Why is it easier for others?” “Why does life feel so unfair?” The more you think about it, the heavier it feels. These “why” questions don’t move you forward — they hold you back. Like a shadow that follows you everywhere. Your feet may be planted on the ground, but inside, you feel suspended. And here’s the hard truth Self-pity doesn’t heal. It only keeps you stuck. As long as you’re lost in the “why,” you’ll never find the “how.”
Behind the Fence
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t what you’ve lived through — it’s watching others live freely while you feel stuck Freedom, movement, joy… And you’re just an observer. Looking from the outside in. Someone runs, someone laughs, someone makes summer plans. And you’re still standing there, wondering: Why can they — and I can’t That’s the most dangerous place to be — not physically, but mentally.
When you start believing you’re “less,”
That you’re “not enough,”
That you “won’t make it.”
That’s when self-pity begins to grow.
And self-pity?
It’s a poison — quiet, slow, and powerful.
On the Other Side of the Barrier
You see the track.
Right there.
Open. Clear. Waiting.
But between you and it — bars.
Not real ones. But they feel real.
They’re the mental barriers we build ourselves:
fear, doubt, anger, self-pity.
And you stand there, holding onto those bars,
staring at your “maybe” —
but still not sure if it’s meant for you.
It’s the moment before a decision.
Stay where it hurts —
or start breaking the barrier from the inside.
They’re the mental barriers we build ourselves:
fear, doubt, anger, self-pity.
And you stand there, holding onto those bars,
staring at your “maybe” —
but still not sure if it’s meant for you.
It’s the moment before a decision.
Stay where it hurts —
or start breaking the barrier from the inside.
The Moment It Feels Like Too Much
Sometimes you just sit down. Not to rest — but because you can’t keep walking anymore. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. You hold on — to something, to someone, to yourself. You hold on… but you don’t know what for. And deep inside, a thought starts to form: “Maybe that’s enough.” Enough pain. Enough regret. Enough repeating what could’ve been. It’s not strength yet. But it’s silence — And in that silence, a choice begins to take shape.
And Then Comes the Choice
One thought. Simple, but powerful: “What if I don’t want to live like this anymore?” What if self-pity isn’t the answer? What if waiting for life to get easier is just another way of hiding? What if everything you’re hoping for doesn’t depend on someone else… But only on you? You can stay. In the pain. In the “why me.” In the heaviness. Or… You can rise This is the moment of choice Not a perfect one. Not an easy one. But a conscious one. If you don’t like it — change it If you don’t change it — don’t complain. Act or complain? The choice is yours.
The Choice Is Made
And here it is — the moment of action.
Not thinking. Not hesitating.
Just doing.
The crutches lie on the ground.
Still close — but no longer needed.
The body is ready to move.
And the shadow behind?
It’s leaving the old self behind.
This isn’t about perfect confidence.
This isn’t about things suddenly becoming easy.
It’s about the decision.
Conscious. Internal. Yours.
Not Backwards. Forward
The crutches are behind.
And with them — everything that once held you back. The fear. The doubt. The self-pity. They no longer lead the way. Now, you do.
This isn’t about escaping your struggles.
It’s about moving toward your truth.
The version of you that chose not to complain — but to act.
The road may still be tough.
But it’s yours now.
And you’re no longer watching from the side.
You’re in it. Moving. Alive.
It’s Not About Legs. It’s About Power
Look at him.
He’s not just running. He’s flying.
There’s no trace of doubt. No self-pity. No “why me?”
Only a smile. Only motion. Only choice.
This is proof that life isn’t defined by what you have —
but by what you do with it.
It’s not about legs.
It’s about power.
The power to move.
The power to say:
“My life is mine to live.”
The Pain Is Still There. But It’s Different Now
It’s still hard. It still hurts. But this pain — it’s different. It’s no longer the pain of regret or emptiness. It’s the pain of effort. The pain of forward motion. The pain of choosing to keep going Because the deepest pain doesn’t come from your body — it comes from missed chances From knowing you could… but didn’t. Because you were scared. Because you doubted yourself. Now you still fall. But you rise. And this time — you know this won’t break you.
You’re No Longer Who You Were
Over time, facing challenges gets easier.
Not because the world becomes kinder.
Not because the road gets smoother.
But because you’re no longer who you used to be.
You’ve been through it.
You held on when you could’ve fallen.
You stood up when no one expected you to.
Now, it’s harder to knock you off the bar.
And even harder — to knock you down.
You Know Who You Are Now
Through the pain, through the falls through the rise you finally find what you’ve been searching for all along: inner balance. You no longer ask, “Can I do this?” Because now… you know. You know who you are. And most importantly — you know what you’re capable of.
It’s All Real
After everything you’ve been through — you’re smiling. You endured. You made it through. And now you realize — this is all real. And it’s real because you chose it you had every reason to give up. To shut down. To live a quiet existence filled with complaints, regret, and the questions:
“Why me?”
“Why did this happen?”
But you didn’t choose to complain.
You chose to live.
Only you define your limits.
Only you choose — to rise or to stay down,
to live or just exist.
You can keep complaining about your job, your boss, your life…
Or you can finally get up and start doing something.
Jamie Gane is a man who’s faced immense challenges.
And through his journey, he proved one thing:
Nothing is impossible.
This is proof that if you truly want something —
you can achieve it.
But only if you act and don’t give up.
So if there’s something you don’t like — start taking action to change it.
And if you do nothing — then don’t complain later.
Jamie Gane
Sports Achievements
Judo:
Silver medalist at the British National Judo Championships.
Silver medal at his debut international judo competition in November 2017.
Silver medal at the World Judo Games in 2019.
Reached 2nd place in the world ranking (Special Needs/Adaptive category) — all without using a prosthetic.
Obstacle Course Racing (OCR):
Ranked #1 in the world among adaptive athletes in OCR.
Competed in European and World OCR Championships, placing 3rd overall in one category — competing against over 60 able-bodied athletes.
Official ambassador for Tough Mudder.
Completed over 100 obstacle races, including the legendary 24-hour World’s Toughest Mudder.
Honors & Awards:
Named Adaptive Athlete of the Year 2024 by UK Obstacle Course Racing.
Nominated for a National Diversity Award in the category of "Role Model (Disability)".
Awarded the Mayor of Basingstoke’s Recognition for his work in promoting adaptive sport and inclusion.
Conclusion
Although I haven’t gone through anything close to the kind of challenges Jamie Gane has faced, this topic still feels deeply personal to me. I used to complain a lot about the circumstances in my life — probably because, where I come from, it’s common to believe that “everyone and everything else is to blame, except me.” Maybe it’s part of the Ukrainian mindset, shaped by a history of hardship But over time, I’ve realized that everything around you is just a reflection of what’s going on inside you. And usually, to change your external world, you first need to change yourself. And that’s incredibly hard to do.
It’s much easier to say “everything’s bad” and hope things somehow get better. But they won’t. Not unless you accept your reality and stop asking “why is everything like this?” Instead, you need to start asking, “how can I change it?”
There comes a point when you have to choose — between taking action and staying stuck in constant complaints.
That choice will shape your life.
Because if experience teaches us anything, it’s this: The world is changed by people who take action — not those who complain. And the ones who truly live fully are the ones who act — not the ones who stay bitter.
I think most people have never seriously asked themselves these questions.
So ask yourself:
Are you where you want to be?
Are you doing what you truly want to do?
Are you living the life you truly want to live?
If the answer is “no,”
then it’s time to either take action… or keep complaining.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
The choice is yours
I’m very grateful to Jamie Gane for taking part in the photoshoot and for sharing additional information about his life. His story made a deep impression on me, and I’m truly glad I had the chance to meet him in person.
