Tag Archives: disability

Day 2169: Focus and Miracles

What we focus on is EVERYTHING – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 12 : 41 PM on day 2169 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read James 2: 17, learn one new thing – Crabs that have lost legs can regenerate them over time. The leg breaks off at a special joint. Before molting, a new limb bud, with all the remaining leg segments, grows out of the joint. After molting, the new leg is smaller than the others. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Recently with the bunch of infections I’ve had I was finding it hard to be grateful but I keep realizing what we focus on is EVERYTHING when we live as though everything is a miracle things start going in our favour.

Day 2168: Show Up For Life

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Show up for life even when it’s hard, even when it’s uncomfortable and even when it hurts – that’s what I was reminded of today.

It’s 4 : 18 PM on day 2168 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read John 8:12, have breakfast,attend the Indian Independence Day celebration put together by our community – learned a lot about India’s struggle for independence and enjoyed watching people take part in Tug-Of-War – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Today I was reminded that all of us should show up for life even when it’s hard, even when it’s uncomfortable and even when it hurts (people often give me a pass and say I can opt not to do stuff if it’s too hard but at that rate I would be laying in bed every day doing nothing because everything is hard for me).

Day 2167: Compassion, Wheelchairs and Other Stuff

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Practice compassion for yourself and others – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 10 : 33 AM on day 2167 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Revelation 3:21, and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Today I was thinking about motorised wheelchairs I wasn’t keen on getting one when I was younger because I thought it would be a failure on my part to use one when one of my hands was perfectly functional but now I realize it would be hard to push myself on a manual wheelchair with only one hand so I’m going to swallow my pride and get a motorised wheelchair in a few years (it will be easier for my family as well – they won’t have to push me around all the time).

Day 2166: To live to carefully

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To live to carefully is not to live at all– that’s what I realized today.

It’s 9 : 20 AM on day 2166 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Romans 1:17 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Recently since my infections I’ve been so careful not to re-injure myself it’s almost ridiculous but today I realized that to live to carefully is not to live at all.

Day 2165: “This Is What It’s Like to Go Undercover in North Korea”

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Freedom should never be taken for granted – that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 9 : 51 AM on day 2165 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read James 1: 27, have breakfast and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Yesterday I watched “This Is What It’s Like to Go Undercover in North Korea | Suki Kim | TED Talks” after that I was even more grateful to live in South Africa. Watch This Is What It’s Like to Go Undercover in North Korea” below:

Day 2164: Try

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To fail in life is inevitable not to try is inexcusable – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 11 : 56 AM on day 2164 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read 1 Corinthians 13:12, and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Today I realized that whether people succeed or fail is inconsequential to me as long as they try their very best at all times.

Day 2159: My Message to Girls and Women

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“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” – Simone de Beauvoir

It’s 11 : 35 AM on day 2159 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read Habakkuk 3:17-18, and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – Bev B donated $25 (thanks SO MUCH Bev) which brings the total raised to $7 225 only $5 275 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far 🙂 ) .

Yesterday in honour of Women’s Month (here in South Africa) I recorded a message for girls and women everywhere. Watch “My Message to Girls and Women” below:

Day 2158: “My year of saying yes to everything” by Shonda Rhimes

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Play is essential – that’s what I have realized.

It’s 12 : 11 PM on day 2158 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read 119:28 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – Stan Faryna donated $25 (thanks SO MUCH Stan) which brings the total raised to $7 200 only $5 300 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far 🙂 ) .

Yesterday I watched “My year of saying yes to everything” – a Ted Talk by Shonda Rhimes about how the power of play changed her life – I could kind of relate to some of what she said oftentimes we become defined by what we do forgetting that love is what matters most. Watch “My year of saying yes to everything” below:

Day 2157: 25 Smiles Campaign Seven Months Later

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THANK YOU – that’s what I’d like to say to everyone who continues to support everything I do.

It’s 12 : 00 PM on day 2157 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Lamentations 3:31-32 , learn one new thing –Bette Nesmith Graham. Bette Claire Graham (March 23, 1924 – May 12, 1980) was an American typist, commercial artist, and the inventor of Liquid Paper. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 175 only $5 325 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far 🙂 ) .

Today marks the seven month anniversary of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train so far eighty-one people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $7 175 thanks so much guys. Thank you Sneha Abraham, Frank Burns, Gaynor Young and Barbara Royce, Justine Perry, Madalyn Sklar, Catherine Cook, @Maewmb, David Boutin, Sarah Britten, Jim Mahar, Nancy, Rema aunty, Paul and Juliet Merrell of Big Planet Radio, Bev Bern, Julie and Don Faughnan, Amit Abraham, Benjamin and Amelia, Athira Issac, Liesel, Priyachechi, Joubert Botha, LA Janssens, Anatoli, Arun Babu, Stan Faryna, My Paper Parties, Happy Odd Girl, Adam Butler, Deepuchachen, Tinuchachechi and Jerynchachen, Duane, My Paper Parities 2, Joyce Childers, Jacqui Mackway -Wilson of Go Social SA, Kevin B (on behalf of Lesley), Meg Guegan, Susanchechi, Reshma Jacob, uncle Abraham Matthew, Debbie McMannis, Anish Krishnankutty, Ellyn Harris, Zak Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist’s Son: A Story of Choice, Joseph John, Reshma Ravi, Wayne Mansfield, Jinuchachen, Samuel Kochukanayathil, Laura, Tim Fargo, author of Alphabet Success – Keeping it Simple. My Secrets to Success and founder of TweetJukebox (soon-to-be Social Jukebox), Shari Mason, Benjin Thomas, Bruce Sallan, Nithin Yohannan, Juliana Mullan, Fireman Max, Yusuf Abramjee, Nisha Kotecha, Deepthi Abraham, Jiya, Seema, Anush Alex, Daleen Bernard, Teresa Williams, Stacey Chassoulas, Maddie, Nay731 and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you uncle Abraham Matthew, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Susannah Schaefer, Sue-Ann Allen, Caryn Gootkin, Britt Michaelian, Lakshmi Pillai, Akhil Tomy, Thara, Anjali, Sherin, Pamela Eapen, Good News Shared, ViralFlash, GoodThingsGuy, Andrea, Moushumi Ann and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign. ‏

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]

Day 2156: “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara on Women’s Day

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“Women are the real architects of society.” – Cher

It’s 12 : 19 PM on day 2156 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Psalm 145: 14, have breakfast and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 175 only $5 325 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ) .

Today is Women’s Day here in South Africa – a day that commemorates the 1956 march of approximately 20 000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s pass laws – and in honour of that I’m sharing “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara – a song for EVERY WOMEN. Listen to “Scars To Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara below: