Category Archives: My journey towards independence

My journey from utter helplessness to independence

Day 2532: Conversations With Myself on Tough Days

The conversations you have with yourself on tough days either make you or break you – that’s what i’ve realized.

It’s 12 : 48 PM on day 2532 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read , have breakfast, read Revelation 3:21 and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $3 125 only $9 375 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot .

This morning I bumped my barefoot and it must be because I have poor circulation but it was actually more painful than it should have been I found myself in tears (I hardly ever cry no matter how much pain or discomfort I’m in I usually suck it up and plaster a smile on my face mostly for my family’s benefit because let’s face it everybody’s dealing with their own stuff) after my longer-than-usual burst of tears I found myself thinking I’m grateful for all the parts of my body that don’t hurt, this too shall pass, it’s going to be okay God and the things I say to myself in times of greatest suffering have been my saving grace.

Day 2531: On World Humanitarian A Thank You To All Trying

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“There is a myth that those who do humanitarian work have a saviour mentality, but the relationship is reciprocal.” Meghan Markle

It’s 10 : 59 AM on day 2531 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Romans 1:17, have breakfast, and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $3 125 only $9 375 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot .

Today being World Humanitarian Day I’d like to pause to thank all the good, kind and honest people of the world for everything that they do (both seen and unseen). Thank you Catherine Constantinides, Ella Bella Constantinides-Leite, Sebastian Schütte and the Panda Crew, Brent Lindeque, Kerri Stein, Yusuf Abramjee, Carolyn Steyn, Susannah Schaefer, Malala Yusufzai, Shiza Shahid Kayan Leung, Dave Batstone, Chesca Colloredo-Mansfeld and all the other good, kind and honest people of the world you make the world go around. I salute every one of you and I thank you so much.

Day 2530: 50 New Feet Campaign Two Months Later

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“Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do. ” – Khalil Gibran

It’s 10 : 55 AM on day 2530 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read James 1:27, have breakfast, and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $3 125 only $9 375 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot .

Today marks the two month anniversary of my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet so far 33 people have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $ 3 125 – enough to provide clubfoot treatments for 12 kids – I am SO GRATEFUL. Thank you to my parents, Gaynor Young and B, Priya Thomas, GregThis, BevBern, Stan Faryna, David Boutin, Sharon D’Agostino, A&P, Julie and Don, Simon Magid, Giving Miracles, Meg Guegan, Maya Anne Ninan,Keith, Sendil Devarajan,Bithun Babu, Koshy Thomas, Katy Mannot, Mervyn, Deepu George, Nadine Sander and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you Jacqui Cooks, Caryn Gootkin, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Stephanie Young, Yusuf Abramjee, Britt Michaelian, Rema Matthews, Catherine Constantinides, Stacey Holland, Stan Faryna, Nomawethu Masiza, Bianca Rungasamy, Lebogang Mokoena, Lisa Dewberry, Cindy Ross and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign.

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Day 2529: The World Is But A Mirror

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The world simply mirrors back to you how you see yourself– that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 11 : 26 AM on day 2529 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read 1 Corinthians 13:12, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –Yesterday Anonymous donated $250 (thanks so much Anon) which brings the total raised to $3 125 only $9 375 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot.

This morning I was thinking about my attitude of years gone by I had a giant chip on my shoulder because I thought the whole world pitied me but now I realize that what I saw in others was a reflection of how I saw myself because the truth is the world didn’t pity me; I pitied me I pitied my fragile body and the words that didn’t come out fluently but the moment I stopped seeing myself as somehow broken and less than and the moment I stopped making Cerebral Palsy the centre of my universe I saw something different in most people’s eyes I saw love and sometimes even admiration (though I still don’t get what there is to admire I’m just me doing what I do that hardly deserves a medal) now I hardly mention that I have Cerebral Palsy because it has no bearing on most of the things I do in life. I will always have Cerebral Palsy but I am determined that Cerebral Palsy will NEVER EVER have me!

Day 2528: Overriding immature Feelings

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At times when you don’t see the fruits of your labour override your immature feelings and keep working – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 51 PM on day 2528 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read James 1:2-4, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $2 875 only $9 625 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot.

Today I realized that the decision we make to override our immature feelings and keep working when we don’t see results is perhaps the most important decision we will ever make while we are striving to achieving our goals,

Day 2527: Warning: Exploiters Will Not Be Tolerated

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Recognize when you’re being manipulated and call people on their bluff – that’s my message to myself.

It’s 12 : 23 PM on day 2527 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Psalm 147: 3, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $2 875 only $9 625 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot.

Today I felt like I was in a situation where somebody was trying to manipulate me but unlike before I didn’t beg or plead with her instead I called her bluff and that stopped her in her tracks (people know that I’m in need of their physical help and some of them use it to their advantage I will be kind to them nonetheless but gone are the days where my physical needs will be exploited – I deserve the best in life because I try my best to be good and do good I won’t accept anything but the best treatment from all people in my life).

Day 2526: Thankful for my Detachable Table

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A sense of mastery over tasks builds self-confidence– that’s what I keep realizing

It’s 1 : 58 PM on day 2526 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 , have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $2 875 only $9 625 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot.

Yesterday we went to dinner at a family friend’s house and unlike previously because I had a detachable table I was able to feed myself sitting with people my age and my mom was able to eat with the other aunties (before I used to feel so guilty that my mom was stuck feeding me while the other aunties were having conversations and stuff not to mention it was humiliating being in my 20s and having to be fed by my mother in the presence of my peers (at home I am always able to feed myself because our dining table is perfect for me but when we go out it’s slightly more complicated because either we – the kids – wouldn’t be eating at a table or the table would be too high or too low) my detachable table has become my second arm it’s a road to guilt and humiliation free mealtimes no matter where I happen to be I’m so thankful for it.

Day 2525: Kindness is…

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“Kindness is just love with work boots on.” – Britt Michaelian

It’s 2: 41 PM on day 2525 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Isaiah 33:2, go to church – this morning we attended a Syriac Orthodox Service – two and half hours long (without consuming any food so that we could be as pure as possible before communion) it was a nice service (we are Syriac Orthodox we just go to Methodist Church sometimes because Father S can only come to our town every 3 months) – and have lunch

Yesterday I came across a quote by Britt Michaelian that read kindness is just love with work boots on I loved that she’s absolutely right kindness is just love with work boots on….. kindness is love in action.

Day 2523: Hope and South Africa

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Hope is essential to life and living – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 11 : 37 AM on day 2523 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Psalm 119:28, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $2 875 only $9 625 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot .

Recently I’ve look at the state of my country and felt deeply disappointed but I still have hope for a better day if only because citizens like myself are standing up and speaking out about issues that are of concern to us (feeling disappointed sometimes is okay but it’s not okay to throw your hands in the air and quit rather stand up, speak out and do something no matter how little that something may be).

Day 2522: Do Unto Others

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If you wouldn’t want it done to you don’t do it to someone else no matter how good your reasons – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 11 : 31 AM on day 2522 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Lamentations 3:31-32, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised to $2 875 only $9 625 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot .

Yesterday I realized that if I wouldn’t want it done to me then I shouldn’t do it to anyone else no matter how good my reasons (sometimes I rush to do things with the best of intentions and I find that I’ve crossed boundaries that I shouldn’t have crossed).