Day 2886: Happy Birthday Baby Brother

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“ Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet.”– Vietnamese Proverb

 

It’s 11 : 51 AM on day 2886 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside and do some work

 

On this day 18 years ago my brother was born and our family was complete I’m so honoured to such a kind and gentle soul for a brother  (i’ll never forget watching him comb our grandmother’s hair and giving her biscuits – a testament to his innate kindness and gentle spirit). Happy Birthday Kevin – Keep your gentle spirit as you enter into adulthood, believe in God and yourself and NEVER GIVE UP!

 

Day 2885: Name the Condition

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Name the condition differently-abled aren’t that fragile – that’s my message to the world

 

It’s 11 : 29 AM on day 2885 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside  and do some work.

 

This morning I was thinking about how most people don’t use the term Cerebral Palsy in my presence instead they refer to it as my “situation” or “circumstance” I know people want to spare my feelings and I truly appreciate it but I won’t break if people name my condition it’s not an insult to me it’s just a fact I’m unashamed of: I have Cerebral Palsy  .

 

Day 2884: August 6 – 13 Goals

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“Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.” – Ralph Marston

 

It’s 11 : 49 AM on day 2884 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse 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 30 – 6 August Goals Self-Evaluation

  1. Continue to be kind, honest and generous (give more, do more and be more) [tried]
  2. Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides [tried]
  3. Spend time outside as often as I can [tried]
  4. Finish reading Choose Joy [not done]
  5. Learn 7+ new things [didn’t more often than I did]
  6. Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week [did as often as I could]
  7. Try new things [working as part of a team locally to make things happen]
  8. Call a friend
  9. Use social media to showcase the ability of differently-abled people and teach that Different IS COOL! [didn’t do it as well as I’d like]

 

Highlights of the Week

  • Being a part of a special project with friends
  • Meeting and spending time with Esther and Yonna from Smile Train (Africa) and reading the card signed by everyone at Smile Train’s New York office (in all my years of working with non-profits I’ve never had a house visit before it was beautiful actually)

August 6 – 13 Goals

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

Day 2883: Architects of Great Moments

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What we need most in this life are people who are willing to be architects of great moments without necessarily being the centre of them – that’s what I learned yesterday

It’s 12 : 02 PM on day 2883 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Yesterday was a great day during which I was reminded of the true value of friendship, love and cooperation but most of all I learned that  what we need most in this life are people who are willing to be architects of great moments without necessarily being the centre of them. Work for causes not applause.

Day 2881: Depth of Life Not Speed of Life

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It’s not the speed of one’s life that matters but rather its depth – that’s what I’ve been made to realize.

It’s 2 : 05 PM on day 2881 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend some time outside and do some work

Yesterday I was reading Choose Joy by Kay Warren and there was a part that stated that it’s not the speed of one’s life that matters but rather it’s depth (what you invest your time in and who you spend it with) I was struck by those words because it’s so true.

Day 2880: A Huge Shoutout to my Smile Train Family

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“There’s nothing more confirming in your life than looking in front of you and seeing some really amazing people who you care a lot about who care a lot about you.” – Kathleen Edwards

 

It’s 12 : 23 PM on day 2880 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend some time outside and do some work.

 

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting and spending the day with Head of Smile Train Africa Dr. Esther Nyambura and  her colleague Yonna I was amazed that people would travel 2 hours by plane just to see me and to express their gratitude I live in hope that I was worth it and am so grateful to have met and spent time with them (i’ve seen a lot of things in my 8 years of working with all sorts of NPOs but never before have I heard of or seen people from said NPOs visiting supporters and bringing tokens of appreciation  it’s really the most awesome thing ever [the card really touched my heart it was signed by all the Smile Train staff based in New York]]. A HUGE THANKS to CEO of Smile Train Susannah Schaefer and her whole team for going above and beyond to make me feel appreciated I truly feel your genuine appreciation .

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

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“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 16th Annual 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 16th 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 2877: July 29-August 5 Goals

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Design your life – that’s my message to the world.

 

It’s 12 : 20 PM on day 2877 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, have breakfast

 

 

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 23-30 Goals Self-Evaluation

  1. Continue to be kind, honest and generous (give more, do more and be more) [tried]
  2. Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides [tried]
  3. Spend time outside as often as I can [tried]
  4. Finish reading Choose Joy [not done]
  5. Learn 7+ new things [didn’t more often than I did]
  6. Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week [did as often as I could]
  7. Try new things [figured out how to do a Soduku puzzle]
  8. Call a friend
  9. Use social media to showcase the ability of differently-abled people and teach that Different IS COOL! [didn’t do it as well as I’d like]

 

Highlights of the Week

  • Seeing the difference I played a small part in making
  • My sister coming back and spending time with her
  • Talking to a very special person
  • Learning how to play Soduku and finishing my first puzzle [even though it took me almost an hour]

July 29-August 5 Goals

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