Tag Archives: disability

Day 1692: Nepal Earthquake, Gratitude and Life

Appreciate the life you have because it can change in an instant – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 17 PM on day 1692 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Daniel 3, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – Unlike the Force, with its dark and light sides, gravity has no duality; it only attracts, never repels.– feed myself a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– $2 774 raised so far 🙂

This morning I was thinking about those affected by the earthquake in Nepal thousands have been left dead, injured or homeless and on the other side of the world people like me have a family, food, water, shelter, healthcare and clothing I can’t describe in words how grateful I am for the life I have in this very moment. My thoughts and prayers are with Nepal.

If you would like to help those affected by the Nepal earthquake donate to the World Food Programme who are delivering much-needed food to those affected by the earthquake.

Day 1691: Flight of the Falcons by Shehzad Hameed Ahmad

Leave a reply

“Filmmaking can be a fine art.” -Terri Windling

It’s 12 : 00 PM on day 1691 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Daniel 2, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – Nebulous [neb·u·lous] adj. 1. Lacking definition or definite content. 2. Lacking definite form or limits; vague.– feed myself an egg sandwich for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– – $2 774 raised so far (SO GRATEFUL).

Yesterday I watched Flight of the Falcons by Shehzad Hameed Ahmad – an enlightening documentary about the barriers to girls’ education in Pakistan – this documentary is both heartbreaking and inspiring on the one hand you see the hopelessness of parents who see no point in educating their daughters and on the other hand you see Sister Zeph’s relentless fight to educate girls in her community.

Day 1690: Ignorance, Bliss and the Progression of a Girl’s Life

2 Replies

Ignorance would be bliss sometimes – that’s what I’ve recently realized.

It’s 12 : 34 PM on day 1690 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Daniel 1, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – Weight [of wildebeasts]:330 to 550 lbs (150 to 250 kg ) – feed myself an egg sandwich and a banana for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– $2 774 raised so far SO GRATEFUL (a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has supported this campaign so far you are helping to get girls in school and keep them there thereby breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a generational change).

Recently I’ve noticed that everybody I know in my age range is either getting married or wants to get married it’s a bitter-sweet thing it’s sweet because I’m sincerely happy that they are progressing in their lives and it’s bitter because I know my life is not following the same path as theirs sometimes I wish I was oblivious to how a girl’s life is supposed to progress it would make life so much less painful but alas I’m not oblivious some nights I lay awake and despite my best efforts to envision a different future for myself I see myself being a third wheel in my family members lives which is basically my worst nightmare come to life.

Day 1689: Knowing your worth and standing up for yourself

Leave a reply

You are a human being of worth never let anybody treat you like you’re less than– that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 24 PM on day 1689 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Ezekiel 49, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –Some frog species have also developed unusual ways of toting their offspring, Gibbons says. The Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) of South America, for instance, may win the award for parental sacrifice.Instead of leaving her fertilized eggs in the water, where they’re vulnerable to predators, she embeds the eggs in the skin of her back. The amphibian then carries the eggs with her as the embryos mature into tadpoles. When they finally hatch, they simply emerge from the skin on her back, and then she simply sheds the damaged skin. [source of fact: 5 Strange Ways Animal Mothers Carry Their Babies] – feed myself an egg sandwich and a muffin for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– Bineshchachen and Mythrichechi donated $50 (thanks so much chachen and chechi I so appreciate the support from both of you 🙂 ) which brings my total raised to $2 7 74 I am humbled every day by the world’s support so far 53 people, most of whom I’ve never met in person have chosen to help me help the Malala Fund get girls in school I am forever changed by the generosity of people all over the world.

Today I was thinking about the fact that for some people acceptance is a birthright while for others it’s something that has to be earned I’ve been to a country that made me feel like I was a crime against nature because I happened to be on a wheelchair I dealt with it the best way I could and tried to educate people but now I’ve reached a point in my life where I realize just because I can handle discrimination doesn’t mean I should have to I am a human being of worth who deserves nothing but the best and if I should ever encounter people who feel like they have the licence to treat me like I am less than they will know that it’s not okay with me.

Day 1688: “One Life” by Danny Gokey

Leave a reply

Cause tomorrow isn’t promised

All we have is one life, is one time

To live and love and make it right

Yesterday is written

All we have is right now, is right now

To celebrate this one and only life

– Danny Gokey, “One Life”

It’s 12 : 11 PM on day 1688 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, listen to Ezekiel 47, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –there are three reasons wolves howl, according to Doug Smith, senior wildlife biologist at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. (See “Wolves Identified by Unique Howls, May Help Rare Species.”) One is “to communicate to other wolves that this is their territory, or stay away,” he says via email. Wolves also howl to find fellow pack members when they’re apart—gray wolf howls can carry for miles—and for social purposes, such as maintaining relationships within members of the pack. [source of fact: Answering the Call of the Wild]– watch Introduction to RelationShift, read How To Go From Dreamer To Achiever: Success Living by Tamara McCleary – I love what Tamara writes in this post she’s right dreams without actions come to nothing everyone on the planet has dreams but what separates the dreamers from the doers is the actual doing – feed myself a peanut butter and banana sandwich for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– Kevin Brooks donated $24 (thanks so much Kevin) which brings my total raised to $2 724 I continue to be humbled by the world’s support (Note to self again: Thank mom and dad for all the prayers they ever prayed for me).

Recently I heard “One Life” by Danny Gokey and I swear the first few times I listened to it I was in tears it’s a beautiful song about appreciating life and living in the present. Listen to “One Life” by Danny Gokey below:

Day 1687: Happy Freedom Day South Africa

Leave a reply

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela

It’s 11 : 40 AM on day 1687 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Ezekiel 47, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –Never go up against a pupfish in a breath-holding contest. This wee swimmer, resident of warm springs near Death Valley in California, can go with almost no oxygen for up to five hours at a time, according to a new study due out this year – feed myself oat and banana for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– $2 700 raised so far .

Today is Freedom Day here in South Africa which, this year, marks 21 years since our first democratic election and though we still face many challenges as a country none are greater than the ones we’ve already overcome I am so proud to be South African. Happy Freedom Day South Africa. Use your freedom to better the lives of others.

Day 1686: “Caretakers of Creation”

2 Replies

Sometimes doing what you don’t want to do has great rewards – that’s what I realized today.

It’s 12 : 52 PM on day 1686 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, go to church, read Ezekiel 45 , publish my Disability of the Day feature, publish my Kid of the Week feature, feed myself Idli and sambar for breakfast, learn one new thing –stipple • \ˈsti-pəl\ • verb 1. engrave by means of dots and flicks 2. apply (paint) in small dots or strokes
3. make by small short touches that together produce an even or softly graded shadow, as in paint or ink 4. produce a mottled effect– Educate Generations campaign–$2 700 raised so far SO GRATEFUL 🙂 .

This morning I didn’t want to go to church it was cold and cloudy but I’m so glad I went because we were privileged to listen to a sermon titled “Caretakers of Creation” it was about creation belonging to God and Him entrusting us with the responsibility of taking care of it the reverend sounded like an environmentalist I wanted to stand up and cheer.

Day 1685: Living and the Gradual Loss of Innocence

Leave a reply

What hurts the most about living (don’t get me wrong I’m VERY grateful to be healthy and alive) is the gradual loss of innocence – that’s what I realized yesterday.

It’s 12 : 15 PM on day 1685 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Ezekiel 44, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing – The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and was completed in 1653. It took a total of twenty two years to complete the construction of this monument.– feed myself an egg sandwich and a banana for breakfast and promote my Educate Generations campaign– $2 700 raised so far (SO GRATEFUL as always 🙂 ) .

Yesterday I realized that what hurts the most about living is the gradual loss of innocence with age I’ve learned some things that I’m glad to know and other things I would rather not have known when we are children we tend to see life through rose-coloured glasses but as we age it’s like those glasses disappear and we see people and things for who and what they really are it’s an excruciating experience.

Day 1684: “Tomorrow” by Unspoken

2 Replies

I give an inch to doubt and worry

They take a mile and wreck the story,

I chase the future ’til I’m tired,

I catch it then it catches fire

I don’t wanna miss

This day cause it’s a gift

I can’t miss a chance

To leave it in Your hands

– Unspoken, “Tomorrow”

It’s 12 : 30 PM on day 1684 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Ezekiel 43, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –The Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Covering over 5.5 million square kilometres, it’s so big that the UK and Ireland would fit into it 17 times. – feed myself for an egg sandwich and a banana for breakfast promote my Educate Generations campaign– $2 700 raised so far I know that a lot more will be raised by 3 October 2015 girls’ education is such an important issue.

A few days ago I heard “Tomorrow” by Unspoken and I loved it it’s a beautiful song about living one’s life surrendered to God (I know that not everyone believes in God and that ‘s okay I’m not trying to covert you) and not worrying so much about tomorrow. Listen to “Tomorrow” by Unspoken below:

Day 1683: Judgement, South Africa and Xenophobia

Leave a reply

Don’t judge all South Africans by the cruel actions of some – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 16 PM on day 1683 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Ezekiel 42, publish my Disability of the Day feature, learn one new thing –Average life span [of scorpions] in the wild: 3 to 8 years– feed myself for an avocado sandwich for breakfast promote my Educate Generations campaign–special thanks to my friend, Jenni, for allowing me to mention the campaign in my guest post Disability Views Around the World: South Africa on her blog, Joyful Journey Mom – record and publish my message to kids who have Cerebral Palsy in Soshanguve, Pretoria -I was invited to speak to kids who have Cerebral Palsy in Soshanguve, Pretoria, but I can’t be there so I decided to record them a video message and upload it on YouTube [see the video at https://youtu.be/vBpG6HRqifU].

Recently parts of South Africa have been swept up by xenophobia and some people outside the country have seen that and taken the opportunity to label South Africa a “disaster” to those people I say don’t judge all South Africans by the cruel actions of some all the good people of South Africa will stand together and we will overcome xenophobia like we overcame apartheid.

(On another unrelated note: Today is World Book Day please take time out to read books have been my ticket to everywhere and my loyal companion).