Tag Archives: Cerebral Palsy

Day 2221: Compete with Yourself

Life is not a competition between yourself and others but rather it’s a competition between yourself and previous versions of you – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 10 : 30 AM on day 2221 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Isaiah 47:4, have breakfast, learn one new thing – Austerity [aus·ter·i·ty] n. (1) Sternness or severity of manner or attitude. (2) Extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance.– and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $8 011.04 only $4 488.96 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 remembered a quote I once read the only person you should strive to be better than is yourself which is so true life is not a competition between yourself and others it’s a competition between yourself and previous versions of you.

Day 2220: Living Authentically

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My job in this life is not to make other people happy or comfortable but rather it is to live as authentically as I can – that’s what I realized yesterday.

It’s 11 : 00 AM on day 2220 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Daniel 7:13-14, have breakfast, learn one new thing – Bromide [bro·mide] n. A commonplace remark or notion; a platitude. “Her speech contained the usual bromides about teamwork.” A tiresome or dull person; a bore. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $8 011.04 only $4 488.96 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 after being rebuked for sharing a video of myself turning from side to side (apparently it makes people sad to see me struggle) I realized that my job in this life is not to make other people happy or comfortable but rather it is to live as authentically as I can (I refuse to be on social media and share only the newspaper articles, the blog posts and the pretty pictures because that’s part of my life not all of it and if I’m going to be on social media I’m going to be authentic and share both my struggles and my celebrations if only to make someone somewhere feel a little less alone in their struggles).

Day 2219: What am I?

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We are not what we do we are all just humans trying to figure out life – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 10 : 00 AM on day 2219 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Zechariah 7:9-10, have breakfast, learn one new thing – Experts agree that the fuzz helps the peach defend itself from various threats. Some feel the fuzz was developed to give the fruit more resistance to insects and diseases. Another theory is that the fuzz protects peaches from sunburn and potential water loss.- and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $8 011.04 only $4 488.96 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 thought somebody on Facebook asked me what I was (it turns out she actually asked where I was LOL) and I replied in part A work-in–progress trying to figure life out I said that because I know what I am and what I do are two separate things – what I am is a flawed human stitched together with good intentions and what I do is what I do – the danger of defining yourself by what you do is that if ever you stop doing it you will lose your identity so when people ask me what I am I will always answer a work-in-progress because whatever else I do with my life that’s what I will be my whole life.

Day 2218: 25 Smiles Campaign Nine Months Later

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“Always wear a smile because you never know who is watching” – Gracie Gold.

It’s 10 : 26 AM on day 2218 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read 1 Peter 4:10 and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday the Eapen family donated $36.04 (thanks SO MUCH aunty, uncle, Pam and Leslie) which brings the total raised to $8 011.04 only $4 488.96 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 nine month anniversary of my 25 Smiles Campaign benefiting Smile Train so far eighty-four people (including me and my family) have made donations to this campaign and between us we’ve donated $8 011.04 I am so humbled and thankful. 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 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, MJ Merk, Eapen family 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, 52 Feminists, Smart ZAR Girls, Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour, Minister Derek Hanekom, Catherine Constantinides, Nicolette Human, Mireesha Narsai, Nk Obi, Kerri Stein, Beverly, Andrea 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 2217: A Date with Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour

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“May your life preach more loudly than your lips.” – Catherine Constantinides

It’s 11 : 20 AM on day 2217 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Luke 12:33-34, have breakfast and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $7 975 only $4 525 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 ).

A while ago I decided I wanted to go ziplining and courtesy of my friends at Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour I will be doing just that on November 6, 2016 I want to make the words of my superhero Catherine Constantinides come to life impossible is nothing (I didn’t want to make an announcement until the doctor who did my back surgery years ago said it was ok for me to go ziplining which he has so I’m happy to say it’s all systems go and of course there’s a fundraising element to this as well I’m hoping to raise awareness and money for Smile Train by doing this). Exciting times ahead.

Day 2216: It’s Okay to Admit It’s Not Easy

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It’s okay to admit that your life is not easy even though you know that there are people in way worse situations than you are in – that’s what I learned yesterday.

It’s 10 : 31 AM on day 2216 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Romans 14:17-19, have breakfast and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $7 975 only $4 525 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 learned that it’s okay to admit that your life is not easy even though you know that there are people in way worse situations than you are in which is a lesson I needed to learn because I would always tell myself to stop whining whenever I admitted to myself that my life is harder than I let on.

Day 2215: World Smile Day

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“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

It’s 12 : 16 PM on day 2215 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Hosea 6:6, learn one new thing – Pejorative [pe·jo·ra·tive] adj. Expressing contempt or disapproval. Disparaging; belittling. “He used pejorative overtones in his speech.”- and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday MJ Merk donated $50 (thanks SO MUCH MJ) which brings the total raised to $7 975 only $4 525 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 World Smile Day and in honour of that I humbly ask that you please consider helping me help Smile Train sponsor cleft surgeries http://bit.ly/Give25Smiles (Dad said he would sponsor cleft surgery number 50 if I managed to get 49 surgeries sponsored-got 31 so far).

Day 2214: Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey

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“Jesus doesn’t belong to church people. But church people belong to Him, in Him, and through Him.” ― Sarah Bessey, Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith

It’s 10 : 47 AM on day 2214 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, learn one new thing – Spurious [spu·ri·ous] adj. Not genuine, authentic, or true; not from the claimed, pretended, or proper source; counterfeit. Not being what it purports to be; false or fake. “Spurious claims.”- and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – raised $7 925 only $4 575 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 I finished reading Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey it’s a book that answers questions that most Christians have about faith, God, Jesus and the Bible I would recommend it to all Christians if nothing else this book will make you sure of what you believe.

Day 2213: Wheelchair Parking and Common Courtesy

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Common courtesy is not so common anymore– that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 12 : 49 PM on day 2213 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Zechariah 8:16, have breakfast, go the bank, learn one new thing – You are more likely to get a sunburn between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, when the sun’s rays are the strongest. You might think the chance of getting a sunburn on cloudy days is less, but the sun’s damaging UV light can pass through clouds. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign – yesterday someone who would prefer to remain anonymous donated $250 (thanks SO MUCH to her) which brings the total raised to $7 925 only $4 575 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 had to go to the bank and when we got there a guy was parked in the wheelchair parking spot which would have been okay if he was using a wheelchair or was there with someone in a wheelchair but that was not the case my dad literally went up to his car and asked him if he was there with someone in a wheelchair which made him promptly move his car and pissed me off I mean there’s a wheelchair sign in front of the parking spot for a reason.

Day 2212: The One Thing I Keep Reminding Myself That Keeps Self-Pity at Bay

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Someone else is happy with less than what I have– that’s what I keep reminding myself.

It’s 10 : 35 AM on day 2212 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Judges 5:31, have breakfast, learn one new thing – in 1999, Astronomers focusing on a star at the center of the Milky Way measured precisely for the first time how long it takes the sun to complete one orbit (a galactic year) of our home galaxy: 226 million years.- and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $7 675 only $4 825 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 figured out why I never wallow in self-pity for too long and it’s because I hold tightly to this knowledge that someone somewhere is happy with less than what I have.