Tag Archives: disability

Day 1934: 2015 To-Do List Update and Highlights of 2015

Looking back to see how far you’ve come is a great way to encourage yourself – that’s what I’ve realized.

It’s 12 : 23 PM on day 1934 of my journey towards independence prayed, read 1 Corinthians 16, had breakfast and listened to music.

Today being the last day of 2015 I thought I’d share with you an update on my 2015 To-Do List and some of my highlights of 2015. Take a look:

2015 To-Do List Update

Raise $2 500+ for the Malala Fund through my Educate Generations campaign (done [raised $5 307])
Be respectful, kind, honest and generous (tried my best to)
Learn one new thing every day (did it more days than I did not)
Continue trying to finish reading The Bible (doing it)
Continue to make sandwiches for sisi’s (our housekeeper’s) neighbourhood as part of Virginia’s Sandwich Run (did it every week of the year that I could )
Read 5+ books (done [have read 14 books])
Self-publish my book Life: My thoughts on everything from faith to beauty (still need to edit and publish)
Support myself financially through this blog (trying to [see Paypal ‘Donate’ button in right sidebar])
Learn to fully undress and redress myself (i have people to help me which makes me lazy have to restart learning how to do it)
Learn to help myself in the bathroom ( again i have people to help me which makes me lazy have to start learning how to do it)

Highlights of 2015

Raised $5 000+ for the Malala Fund by 3 October 2015 (more than double my original goal) (thanks SO MUCH to everybody who helped out I will be forever grateful)
Visited Josh Minter, his staff and the kids at UThixo Ulungile Ministries (it was one of the best days of my 24 years of life)
Played a role in an orange tree being planted in our garden
Played a role in getting blankets for some people in our housekeeper’s neighbourhood
With generous donations from my friends, Laurieann, Wayne and Stan, we bought Christmas gifts for kids at UThixo Ulungile Ministries (thanks SO MUCH Laurieann, Wayne and Stan for your ongoing support)
Met Caryn Gootkin
Met Sarah Britten Pillay
Met Catherine Constantinides (it was like even the airlines were conspiring for us to meet I was only supposed to be passing through Johannesburg but we missed our flight home so we had to stay the night I’m so glad that happened otherwise I would have had to wait a few months to meet this remarkable human being I’ve never met someone so humble in my entire life (she soars to new heights every day and somehow still manages to keep her feet firmly on the ground it’s really extraordinary))

Day 1925: India and open-mindedness

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India has become more open-minded in the last four years – that’s what I’ve noticed.

It’s 9: 58 AM on day 1829 of my journey towards independence and day 21 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 10, had breakfast and learned one new thing – Irascible [i·ras·ci·ble] adj. Characterized by or arising from anger. (of a person) Easily made angry. “He was always irascible and quick to get into a fight.”

Yesterday my family and I went to watch a Malayalam movie at the movie theatre the staff was very helpful and the other movie-goers barely noticed me I loved it I felt like a normal human being I’m so glad that India and Kerala in particular is becoming more accepting of the differently-abled.

Day 1924: Routines and me

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Routines are nice to have but you don’t need them to survive – that’s what being in India has taught me.

It’s 8: 02 AM on day 1828 of my journey towards independence and day 20 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 8 and had breakfast.

Today I realized that I’m surviving in spite of the fact that I now have no routine I always thought every minute of my day had to be pre-planned for me to get by and be happy I’m happy to be wrong.

Day 1923: The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

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“In reality, failure is simply feedback. It’s not that you are bad or not good enough or incapable. Failure (or feedback) gives you the opportunity to look at what’s not working and figure out how to make it work.” ― Lewis Howes, The School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper, and Leaving a Legacy

It’s 8: 24 AM on day 1827 of my journey towards independence and day 19 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 8 and learned one new thing – Elegiac [el·e·gi·ac] adj. Having a mournful quality. “An elegiac poem.” .

Last night I finished reading The School of Greatness: A Real-World Guide to Living Bigger, Loving Deeper, and Leaving a Legacy by Lewis Howes I loved the book it’s like a guide on how to be great I would recommend it to everybody before reading this book I felt like my laser-focus and my willingness to do anything to achieve my goals made me weird somehow but now I realize that those are the attributes of champions (thanks Lewis for making me realize that there’s nothing wrong with me).

Day 1922: The Kind Autorickshaw Driver

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The smallest acts of kindness take up the biggest space in one’s heart – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 1 : 49 PM on day 1826 of my journey towards independence and day 18 of our India trip traveled 3 hours from my dad’s house back to my uncle’s and had a fantastic vegetarian lunch at Rasam .

Two days ago outside of Shines – a restaurant – an autorickshaw driver saw my sister carry me from my wheelchair into the front seat of our car and he took it upon himself to load my wheelchair into our boot which would have been a kind gesture in itself but he went further by coming over to the front passenger side of the vehicle and folding his hands together in Namaste as if to show his respect for me I was so touched I didn’t know what to say.

Day 1921: The fantastic uncle Rajiv and family

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People who’ve been though a lot have a lot of compassion and love – that’s what I know.

It’s 6 : 55 PM on day 1825 of my journey towards independence and day 17 of our India trip continued reading School of Greatness by Lewis Howes – it’s a great book I’m enjoying it so far – went to Perumala – visited Saint Gregorios’s tomb and bed (it’s a place of pilgrimage and a very holy place) – had lunch at Hotel Raj – best butterchicken curry ever – and visited some of dad’s family

A few days ago I met uncle Rajiv – my dad’s cousin (I think) – uncle Rajiv brother’s nicknamed Big Son (in Malayalam) is unable to walk because he had Polio and we were told that his sister-in-law is also slightly intellectually disabled I felt that family’s compassion for me as soon as I entered their house I felt like they valued me as a human being it was really something.

Day 1920: Traditions in the church

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India is big on traditions and customs – that’s what I keep learning.

It’s 11 : 16 AM on day 1824 of my journey towards independence and day 16 of our India trip 2015 went to the organized in memory of my late grandmother at St. Steven’s Orthodox Church – the service was 2 hours long most of what was said went over my head but I think it’s lovely that people pray for those who have passed and besides the church is absolutely beautiful – and had breakfast.

This morning we went to a church service that was organized in memory of my late grandmother when she was alive she organized the same church service for my grandfather and those who had gone before her and we’ll probably do the same thing for our parents india is big on passing customs and traditions down from one generation to the next.

Day 1919: Community and India

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Family and community are of paramount importance in India– that’s what I learned from being in India.

It’s 9 : 15 AM on day 1823 of my journey towards independence and day 15 of our India trip 2015 today we’re go to visit my dad’s uncle and some of his cousins.

Yesterday from the crack of dawn people were over at our house (dad’s house) visiting reminiscing about the good old days it was so sweet in the western world I feel like that sense of community has been lost somewhat.

Day 1918: Road Trip in India

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There’s no road trip like an Indian road trip – that’s what I learned today.

It’s 10 : 34 PM on day 1822 of my journey towards independence and day 14 of our India trip 2015 went to visit some of my dad’s friends and came back.

Today we went to visit some of my dad’s friends and it took us literally the whole day to travel a total of 60kms it was ridiculous.

Day 1915: Fun

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You can have fun anywhere– that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 8 : 33 AM on day 1825 of my journey towards independence and day 11 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 7, learned one new thing – Acrid [ac·rid] adj. Having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell. Angry and bitter. “An acrid odor filled the room.” – and had breakfast

Yesterday we went nowhere and yet I still had the best time just me and a book it was pure bliss.