In his pursuit of a career as an artist, Phil Hansen developed a shake in his hand.

That disorder would hinder many careers, especially one built around pointillism — creating art by drawing or painting tiny dots.

“Eventually these dots went from being perfectly round to looking more like tadpoles, because of the shake,” Hansen said.

He left art school, and art for a few years, but art never left him.

In search of a cure for his condition, he sought the advice of a neurologist, who told him the nerve damage was permanent. The doctor then issued Hansen a challenge that changed his life: “Why don’t you just embrace the shake?”

It was a question Hansen has answered with beautiful works of art created by his trembling hand.

He released his gift through squiggly lines, words written in huge circles and paint applied to a canvas with karate chops.

It is well worth ten minutes of your time to watch his video on the TED Talks website.

Hansen’s potential to create beauty in this fashion would have been left untapped had he become bitter and angry over his condition.

In going beyond what he thought he would do for the rest of his life, he has discovered a future he couldn’t have imagined if left to his own devices.

His is one life, one story, one example of someone forced to try something different … someone who didn’t stop at the roadblock presented, but turned and found another path.

Is there a shake you need to embrace?

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.