Senior overcomes adversity through remarkable morning routine

Rather than searching for satisfaction by climbing up a ladder, a Victoria senior says if you take the time to notice the rainbows, you just might find something far more rewarding than gold.

Although Bert Arnold has always woken up before the sun, it wasn’t until recently that he really noticed it rise.

“I wouldn’t relax until the day was over,” Bert says. “It was always a constant battle to climb the ladder.”

But after decades of running his own businesses, the workaholic lost his leg to diabetes, and found himself in a deep depression.

“I got down on myself pretty hard,” Bert says.

After a lifetime of defining himself by being self-reliant, Bert suddenly couldn’t drive, couldn’t secure a wheelchair-accessible apartment and couldn’t find the strength to visit with anyone.

“I didn’t want to be here any more,” Bert admits.

But then, early one morning, in an attempt to clear his head, Bert felt compelled to wheel his way to the ocean.