Tag Archives: disability

Day 1788: Life and Laughter

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” – Charlie Chaplin

It’s 12 : 00 PM on day 1788 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 20, publish my Disability of the Day feature, have breakfast, learn one new thing –Freshwater animals are vanishing at a rate four to six times as fast as those on land or at sea. Lakes, swamps, and rivers are home to as many as 126,000 of the world’s animal species, including snails, mussels, crocodiles, turtles, amphibians, and fish. – and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 441 raised so far (thanks all ) .

Some days before my mom leaves for work (leaving me in the capable hands of Cynthia, our housekeeper) she says I’ll be back soon to which I often say I won’t run away life is short and none of us get out of it alive we should laugh in the face of our challenges and be grateful for all that we have.

Day 1787: The Awful Yet Not-So-Awful Things That Happen In Life

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Some awful things that happen in life in retrospect seem amazing – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 12 : 19 PM on day 1787 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 19, publish my Disability of the Day feature, have breakfast learn one new thing – Wolves are legendary because of their spine-tingling howl, which they use to communicate. A lone wolf howls to attract the attention of his pack, while communal howls may send territorial messages from one pack to another. Some howls are confrontational. – and promote my Educate Generations campaign – yesterday Dawn donated $44 and Rachel Rofe donated $25 (thank you Dawn and Rachel the support from both of you means the world to me ) which brings my total raised to $3 441 (it’s amazing how far faith and friends can take you thanks again God and everyone).

Last year something happened that I thought was the end of the world but looking back on it I see that that thing that happened only freed me up to be the best me that I could be life has a strange way of working out.

Day 1786: Gandhi’s Evergreen Words

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“A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble”. – Gandhi

It’s 12 : 49 PM on day 1786 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 18, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –bears are omnivorous – have breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far (thanks all 🙂 ) .

Yesterday I came across a quote by Gandhi that read A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble it’s so true an honest ‘no’ is better than a fake “yes” often in life people agree to do things they have no intention of doing in an effort to please others in the moment which is never a good idea because when you say you’re going to do something and don’t people will likely never take you at your word ever again.

Day 1785: Educate Generations Campaign Ten Months Later

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“Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. ” – Mattie Stepanek

It’s 12 : 09 PM on day 1785 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 17, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –Prognosticate [prog·nos·ti·cate] tr.v. To predict according to present indications or signs; foretell. “The armchair quarterback tried to prognosticate the play from his recliner.” – have breakfast, and promote my Educate Generations campaign – I really want to get to $3 500 only $128 short there’s something about round numbers that I find strangely comforting i’m 100% sure my parents would donate $128 if I asked them to but I won’t I’ve never been one to do things the easy way I can do this I know I can 🙂 .

Today marks the ten month anniversary of my Educate Generations campaign benefiting the Malala Fund so far sixty people (including me and my parents) have made ninety-eight donations totalling $3 372 I continue to be blown away by the world’s support. Thank you Juliet Parrott-Merrell and Ann Blackburn-Pann, Nancy Scott, Meg Guegan, Ellen Seidman, Madalina Cristea, Bruce Sallan, Catherine Cook, Stan Faryna, Clare Donaldson, Barbara Royce, Duane Dell’Oca, Priya Thomas, Susan Mazza, Justina Valentine, Simon Magid, Emma Lambert, Sylvia Phillips, Nan Marvell, Nisa Thomas, Laurieann Janssens, Vincent Ang, Sarah Britten, Francoise Van Rheede, Britt Michaelian, Diane Liggett, Wayne Mansfield, Robin Schwartz, Marlene Hester, Jim Mahar, Beverly Bernhardt, Juliana Mullan, Marie Wikle, Rema Mathews, Giuliana Bland, Gaye Crispin, Paul and Kathleen Springer, Julie Faughnan, Paul Angone, Tim Fargo, Niki Chiles, Caryn Gootkin, Jasmin Egner and Martin Langosch, Peter Yobo, Kevin Brooks, Mythri Sharath, Debra Gleason, Athira and chachen, Martin Holmér, Madalyn Sklar,Ronald Rip, Reshma Ravi, Benchawan Prasunnakarn and everyone else who chose to donate anonymously for your generous donations. Thank you Gaynor Young, Emma Lambert, Stan Faryna, Marianne Tarkusep, Kelly Hengler, Ashlyn Singh, Cazanne’Z, Paul and Kathleen Springer, Giuliana Bland, Sarah Britten, Pamela Eapen, Reshma Ravi, Benchawan Prasunnakarn, Sharanya Ria Rao, Meera Kesavapillai, Thara Palamootil, Anjali Nair, Jessica Ilunga, Lillian Notayi, Aiswarya Prasad, Sherin Manuel, Jacqui Mackway-Wilson, Kevin Varghese, Michèle, Joel Benjamin, Tim Fargo, Nigella Hurst-White, Sarah Bessey, Aleena Mathew, Madalina Cristea, Amy Oscar, Rachel Rofe, @thisisshedaily, Elizabeth Joseph, Babitha Babu and everybody else for helping spread the word about this campaign.

[Update October 3 2015: Campaign over. Final total raised is $5 285]

Day 1784: “The Rose” by Westlife

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It’s the one who won’t be taken,

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul afraid of dying

That never learns to live.

– Westlife, “The Rose”

It’s 12 : 46 PM on day 1784 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 16, publish my Disability of the Day feature, publish my Kid of the Week feature, have breakfast, learn one new thing –Honey bees are fab flyers. They fly at a speed of around 25km per hour and beat their wings 200 times per second! – and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far (thanks for your support everyone)

Yesterday I heard “The Rose” by Westlife (it was originally sung by Bette Midler) the lyrics were so beautiful and true they left me speechless. Listen to “The Rose” by Westlife below:

Day 1783: What Leigh-Anne Williams Taught Me About Vulnerability

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“Being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness” – Leigh-Anne Williams

It’s 12 : 01 PM on day 1783 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 15, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – Attenuate [at·ten·u·ate] v. 1. To reduce in force, value, amount, or degree; weaken: “The layoffs attenuated the company’s sales forecast.” – have breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign – I can’t believe that 60 people have made 98 donations totalling $3 372 so far which will go to the Malala Fund and be used to help educate girls in some of the world’s toughest places (I love you guys so much thanks so much for helping me make a difference in the world 🙂 )

Yesterday on Strictly Come Dancing (South Africa’s version of Dancing With The Stars) Leigh-Anne Williams said something I will never forget she said being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness which is something I really needed to hear because I’m this tough- as-nails chick who seldom lets anyone see her cry and hardly complains when she’s in pain people have to do something really spectacular to get past the emotional walls I’ve built up it’s not something I say with pride it’s just the way it is.

Day 1782: Why is it such a big deal when differently-abled children get adopted?

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Children are a heritage from the Lord,

offspring a reward from him.

– Psalm 127: 3

It’s 1 : 20 PM on day 1782 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 14, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – the vast majority (more than 90 percent) of bird species are monogamous. That doesn’t necessarily mean mating for life. Some species are monogamous for just one breeding season. – have breakfast, make sandwiches for Cynthia’s ( our housekeeper’s) neighborhood with mom’s help as part of Virginia’s Sandwich Run – (thank you sisi Cynthia for all your help) – and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far (thanks everyone )

Recently while on Facebook I came across a story about a couple adopting a girl who has Down Syndrome from China and although I was happy for the little girl and the family I hated the article because it made the adoptive couple seem like saints for adopting the girl with Down Syndrome meanwhile that little girl will give to her adoptive family as much as they give to her I hate it when the media perpetuates this idea that differently-abled people are burdens on society people like me and that little girl have much to contribute to this world because we’ve had to learn how to do things differently.

Day 1781: What I’ve learned about people with age

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Some people love you and support your work while others just love the bi-products of your work – that’s what I’ve learned with age.

It’s 12 : 11 PM on day 1781 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 13, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – Solicitous [so·lic·i·tous] adj. 1. Marked by or given to anxious care and often hovering attentiveness. 2. Extremely careful; meticulous: “solicitous in matters of behavior.” 3. Anxious or concerned: “a solicitous parent.”– have breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far (so appreciate everybody’s support 🙂 ).

This morning I was reflecting on the different types of people in my life with age I’ve learned that some people love you and support your work while others just love the bi-products of your work it hurts a bit but it is what it is.

Day 1780: My story is painted on my body | Chantelle Brown-Young

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Every successful person with a potentially life-defining medical condition makes a conscious decision to change their perception of their condition and make it work for them – that’s what I have realized.

It’s 12 : 39 PM on day 1780 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 12, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing -Sandhogs are a unique corps of underground workers who carve out the utility shafts that keep New York City alive. Sandhogs earned their name in the 1880s while clearing sand to build the Brooklyn Bridge. More recently they’ve been working on City Tunnel No. 3, a 60-mile water line scheduled for completion in 2020.– have breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far (thanks so much everyone).

Recently I watched “My story is painted on my body | Chantelle Brown-Young | TEDxTeen” – a Ted Talk by Chantelle Brown-Young (a model who just happens to have Vitiligo) – which made me realize that every successful person with a potentially life-defining medical condition makes a conscious decision to change their perception of their condition and make it work for them. Watch “My story is painted on my body | Chantelle Brown-Young | TEDxTeen” below:

Day 1779: The World’s Worst Place to be Disabled

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Every human life has value and every human being has the potential to be extraordinary – that’s one of my core beliefs.

It’s 12 : 09 PM on day 1779 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Matthew 11, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing -Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname, a small country along the north coast of South America. Formerly known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname gained independence in 1975 – have breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign – $3 372 raised so far.

Yesterday I read The World’s Worst Place to be Disabled it painted a gut-wrenching picture of how differently-abled people are treated in Ghana which broke my heart because it is one of my core beliefs that every human life has value and every human being has the potential to be extraordinary. To all the people of the world: Please, please don’t hurt differently-abled people. I know that there are plenty of people who’ve done a lot more than me for our world but I also know that there are people who’ve done less if I was murdered because I happened to be different then all the good that God has done through me would not have been done so I again say to the world please, please don’t hurt differently-abled people. Every human life has value and every human being has the potential to be extraordinary.