This spring, Angelina Martinson reminds us that the joy isn’t in being perfect, it’s in being willing to try.
By Rick Bontkowski,
Spring doesn’t arrive quietly. It pushes its way in, warming the air, stretching the days, and nudging all of us back outside. There’s something about this time of year that invites movement. Walks get longer, trails call louder, and for many of us, it feels like a fresh start.
But for amputees, “getting back out there” can mean something entirely different. It can mean uncertainty. It can mean discomfort. It can mean trying something new and not being very good at it.
And that’s exactly where Angelina Martinson lives. Angelina is a below-the-knee amputee, a biomedical engineer, an athlete, and the creator behind Adaptive Amputees, a growing online platform that brings honesty, humor, and authenticity to life with limb loss. Her content doesn’t just celebrate what’s possible; it shows the process. The awkward moments. The failed attempts. The learning curve that most people never see.
In a world that constantly pushes perfection, Angelina offers something far more valuable. Permission. Permission to try something new. Permission to struggle. Permission to be, in her own words, average at something.
That idea might not sound revolutionary, but it is. Especially in a community where social media can sometimes highlight only the highlight reel. Angelina reminds us that the joy isn’t in mastering every activity. It’s in showing up. It’s in being willing to hike the trail, ride the bike, or step into something unfamiliar without the pressure of getting it right.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Angelina recently on The AMP’D UP211 Podcast, and what stood out most wasn’t just her accomplishments. It was her perspective. Her willingness to talk about the uncomfortable parts of this journey, including the comparisons and criticisms that can exist even within the amputee community.
She doesn’t shy away from those conversations. She leans into them. And maybe that’s what makes her voice so important right now.
As spring invites all of us to move, to explore, and to start again, Angelina’s story is a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be perfect. It just must be honest.
So, whether it’s a walk around the block or a climb up a mountain, maybe this is the season we give ourselves permission to try. Not to be great, but simply to begin.
Rick Bontkowski, a Chicago native and amputee, is the host creator of The AMP’D UP211 Podcast. A drummer, cyclist, and advocate, Rick shares the stories of people with limb differences to inspire, inform, and challenge perceptions worldwide. Contact info: Ampup211@gmail.com, ampup211.com, youtube.com/@theampdup211podcast6, instagram.com/rick_bontkowski.
{Discover additional stories from Rick’s podcast on our website at thespringsmagazine.com/category/health-wellness/ampd-up211/.}
