Category Archives: My journey towards independence

My journey from utter helplessness to independence

Day 2879: 16th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture delivered by Former U.S. President Barack Obama

“Let me tell you what I believe. I believe in Nelson Mandela’s vision. I believe in a vision shared by Gandhi and King and Abraham Lincoln.

I believe in a vision of equality and justice and freedom and multi-racial democracy, built on the premise that all people are created equal, and they’re endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights. And I believe that a world governed by such principles is possible and that it can achieve more peace and more cooperation in pursuit of a common good. That’s what I believe.”

– Barack Obama

It’s 12 : 02 PM on day 2879 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Recently I watched the 16^thAnnual Nelson Mandela Lecture delivered by Former U.S. President Barack Obama the lecture was hopeful yet grounded in today’s reality I really enjoyed it and think that anyone interested in leadership and the current state of the world should watch it. Watch the 16^th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture delivered by Former U.S. President Barack Obama below:

Day 2878: Unschooling: making the world our classroom

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“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” – Albert Einstein

It’s 11: 42 AM on day 2878 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside and do some work

Recently I watched an interesting Ted Talk about Unschooling and while I’m not sure I fully understand or agree with it I found the concept fascinating. Watch “Unschooling: making the world our classroom” below:

Day 2876: Mission Impossible: Fallout

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Escapism is not always a bad thing- that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11 : 59 AM on day 2876 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work.

Yesterday we watched Mission Impossible: Fallout it wasn’t the most intellectual movie in the world but I have discovered that a little escapism never hurt anyone.

Day 2875: Life-Changing Questions

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Questions are more important than answers- that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11 : 34 AM on day 2875 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Recently I was reading Choose Joy by Kay Warren and in it was a question which read something like “if being Christian doesn’t make a difference in the way you react to situations what’s the point calling yourself a Christian?” and I thought wow, so true I think that question may have just changed my whole life.

Day 2874: The Human Disadvantage

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One of the disadvantages of being human is that one can never completely see from another’s perspective – that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11 : 36 AM on day 2874 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside and do some work

Today I was dismayed by the realization that some fail to fully grasp that I only ask for help when I truly need help if I could do the things I wouldn’t ask anyone it makes me sad that people can’t see that but you know it’s their lives and their time everybody does what they can and nobody exists solely to help me I wish more than anything I didn’t need so much help I would be out there doing so much more.

Day 2873: Love and Acceptance

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Love and acceptance are not necessarily a package deal – that’s what I’ve discovered.

It’s 1 : 31 PM on day 2873 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

A few days ago I was shocked to realize you can love people completely without being completely accepting of them… love and acceptance are not necessarily a package deal.

Day 2872: The Counterintuitive Way of Filling Emptiness

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The emptiness some of the world feels is actually a self-centeredness that can only be remedied through giving – that’s my message to the world

It’s 9 : 00 AM on day 2872 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Recently I found myself thinking we spend money we don’t have buying things we don’t need all in search of life’s meaning which can only be attained through giving… ironic maybe just maybe things can’t fulfill us maybe what we seek is connection with humanity gained through genuine altruism

Day 2871: 4 Years Gone But Still So Loved And Never Forgotten

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Love never dies – that’s what I keep reminding myself

It’s 12 : 36 PM on day 2871 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse spend time outside and do some work.

Today marks the four year anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s death I thought the passing of time would somehow ease the ache but some days the pain of her absence crushes me like it did the day she died and I find myself missing her fish fry, our physiotherapy sessions and her funny life stories but most of all I miss sitting across from her and holding her hand (our house hasn’t changed much since before she died we use the same dining table and I sleep in the same room she used to run into every time I called the memories are part suffocating and part comforting).. I miss you every day Ammachi but I know you’re alive every time I remember you and I do so often with fondness and a smile.

Day 2870: July 23-30 Goals

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“People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going.” – Earl Nightingale

It’s 12 : 39 PM on day 2870 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse spend time outside and do some work.

Last Monday I set some goals and today I will again be evaluating myself to measure my progress and I’ll be setting some goals for the coming week as well. Take a look:

July 16-23 Goals Self-Evaluation

Continue to be kind, honest and generous [tried]
Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides [tried]
Spend time outside as often as I can [did most days]
Finish reading Choose Joy [still not done]
Learn 7+ new things [learned three thing ]
Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week [didn’t more often I did]
Eat or drink something new [not done]

Use social media to showcase the ability of differently-abled people and teach that Different IS COOL [tried]

Highlights of the Week

Co-ordinating a special project
What I was blessed to do on Mandela Day
Getting a positive update on a project my friend and I are working on this August
Spending time with new friends

July 23-30 Goals

Continue to be kind, honest and generous (give more, do more and be more)
Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides
Spend time outside as often as I can
Finish reading Choose Joy
Learn 7+ new things
Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week
Try new things
Call a friend
Use social media to showcase the ability of differently-abled people and teach that Different IS COOL!

Day 2869: Love Me As I Am

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People just want to know you love them for who and what they are not who or what they could possibly become – that’s what I’ve realized

It’s 12 : 02 PM on day 2869 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work.

Recently I had an interesting conversation with mom in which I told despite her hopes and prayers I would never walk because that was not God’s plan for me and in that moment I realized that all I wanted was for people to love me as I was not for who or what I could possibly become