1 Sean sean@cancerclimber.org 1 2009-11-10T11:48:13-07:00 1037 316 Only .0000003 percent of the population has been able to summit Mount Everest. Sean did it after two life-threatening bouts with cancer, laying in a medically-induced coma for a year and with just one fully-functioning lung. Now, he wants to take on even greater challenges. Sean was diagnosed with two completely different types of cancer, once at the age of 13 and again at the age of 16 where he was given two weeks to live and read his last rights. He astounded the medical community when he survived this brutal disease not once, but twice. Sean realized that after defeating cancer, no challenge would ever be too great or any peak too high. Sean proved his theory when he crested the peak of the highest point in the world (Mount Everest) with only partial use of his lungs. As the first cancer survivor to do so, Sean decided to continue climbing and has since topped the highest peaks in Africa, Europe, South America, Australia, Antarctica, and North America. Sean’s latest feat was the nationally televised 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship that he successfully completed in October, 2008. Sean competed in a 2.4 mile ocean swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. Next up: Sean has his sights set on trekking to each of the world’s poles. This will designate Sean as the first person ever to complete what will be known as the “Ultimate Adventure Grand Slam.” As Sean continues to defy the odds and test his own personal endurance, he continues his dedication toward his mission of sharing his message of healing, hope, and triumph with cancer patients worldwide. Sean also serves as a source of inspiration as the founder of his non-profit organization The CancerClimber Association, as author of the book Keep Climbing, and as a motivational speaker to corporations, universities, and organizations around the world, encouraging others to climb their own Everest and to make a difference in other lives around the world. 2009-11-10T13:00:02-07:00 1 Jeremy Nicoll eltiare@gmail.com 1 2009-11-06T19:00:16-07:00 1033 315 When looking at our problems it can seem quite impossible to even budge them, much less make a significant impact. Often momentum matters more than strength, and persistence more than initial impact. I heard about this being done when I was in high school: A teacher hung a bowling ball from the ceiling and told disbelieving students that he'd be able to make the ball swing with a ping pong ball. The story has stuck with me ever since and has been an inspiration to keep trying. The bowling ball weighs 8 pounds, the ping pong ball roughly 0.006 pounds - a weight difference of over 1,333 times. Just as the laws of physics dictate that everything has momentum, everything that we do builds momentum. The question is whether or not the decisions that we make build momentum in the directions that we wish to go. 2009-11-10T16:02:00-07:00 1 Doug Ryder redyr4@yahoo.com 1 2009-11-04T03:23:53-07:00 1027 314 We were coming home one Sunday afternoon from a fun filled weekend at our ranch in South Texas. I remember the conversation was starting to get a little grumpy in the car with my two girls. Mom and Dads tempers were as well. As we were driving down a long stretch of deserted road, we came upon an elderly gentleman having trouble with a flat tire. I said we should stop and lend a hand for this poor guy. I got a resounding NO from my passengers. You should never stop out on deserted roads in the middle of nowhere Daddy, plus were hungry and the next DQ is coming up soon. Well…I did stop; I asked the girls to lock all the doors and said I would only be a minute. The elderly man had been there for well over an hour in 95-degree hot humid weather. He was confused as to how all this new tire changing stuff worked. I smiled and asked if I could lend a hand. Well in no time I had his tire fixed and all his stuff put back in his trunk and he was on his way. My girls watched this whole experience through the window of our suburban. My littlest commented that that was a really nice thing to do Daddy and it really didn’t take that long. The coolest thing that happened was the elderly man as it turned out was one of my wife’s father’s best friends from years ago. My father-in-law passed away 35 years ago but it sure made all of us feel good. Not to mention that building anger that was in the car before I stopped was gone, it was replaced with conversation on how to lend a hand when someone needs help! 2009-11-04T03:23:53-07:00 1 Linda Zerangue llzid@hotmail.com 1 2009-10-24T10:32:21-06:00 1022 313 I have wanted to tell this story for many years since it occurred when I was 16, and I am now 67. This is the perfect place and I hope the people involved who helped me and my friends so many years ago will see it and know how truly grateful I am to them. I was riding in the back seat of a car when suddenly the car slid off of the wet road and turned upside down. The roof of the car was crushed and my head was trapped in the rear window. I could not move my head because of the glass on my face and the pressure from the roof. I was terrified and prayed. It was raining and I was afraid the ditch we were in would fill up with water or the car would catch fire. This was before seat belts and we were all tumbled about. My four friends were stunned but managed to get out of the car. They tried to help me but could not release me. Some of them tried to stop other cars to help us as they were injured also. I remember many people standing around but they did not seem to know how to help. An ambulance even went by, but I guess it was on its way to another accident and did not stop. Then two male truck drivers came forward and helped. They got a car jack and pried apart the roof and top of the car and released me then helped me out of the car. Then two young women stepped forward and offered to take me and my cousin to the hospital. I knew immediately that I had hurt my back and I was in a lot of pain. At the hospital I was x-rayed and it was determined that I had two crushed vertebrae so I was put in traction. At some point the cuts on my face were also stitched up and I was given pain medicine. The next day the two young women who had brought me to the hospital came back to check on me. I was told later that they seemed to be down on their luck. They had taken my clothes, washed and brought my clean clothes back to the hospital. I was asleep and under the influence of the pain medicine so unfortunately did not get to see them that day and would never ever see them again. After 4 weeks of great care and being in traction flat on my back I was released from the hospital in a back brace. I have not had any problems from the accident except for a few small minor scars. In time my friends recovered well also. I never saw the men or women again since the day they rescued me. No one at the hospital had any information about them so I could not get in contact. They just helped me and then went on their way. They did not expect anything in return as I never heard from them again. I call them my guardian angels as I had prayed for help while terrified and trapped in that car. This event occurred in the South in 1958 in the South. A time of segregation between the "black" people and "white" people. As a young person growing up in a small town, I never felt any animosity to or from African Americans. We seemed to get along though looking back on their situation I know now how difficult and humiliating life that it was for them. I would like to apologize for that ignorance. As it happens, the two men who were so kind to help me out of the car were African American. At this time I would like to say thank you as I have said many times in remembering them in my daily prayers. Wherever you are I hope life has been good and kind to you as you were to me. I hope in many ways you have been rewarded in this life for your bravery and kindness. I would like to say that your bravery and kindness has made me more brave and kind, but that is an attribute that I pray for daily also. 2009-11-10T15:54:28-07:00 1 Dani Dorian danimarie1252@gmail.com 1 2009-10-20T22:35:32-06:00 1021 312 I was seventeen at the time and my grandma had just passed. It was one of the saddest things I've had to deal with. During the processional to the burial site, we had to drive through a well known gang area. My grandma purchased the plot next to her mother and father years before the neighborhood become a gang hangout. As we were driving down the street, we couldn't help but notice a group of "questionable characters" standing at the corner. It happened to be that we got stopped at a traffic light on this corner, and instinctively got a bit nervous. There were about five or six of them, and I will never forget this moment. As most of them looked at our new car, one stood from the bus bench he was on, and took off his hat. He made the sign of the cross as my grandmother's hearse turned the corner, and he didn't acknowledge his friends' laughter at the sight of it. Ever since then, I try not to make hasty judgments about people. In today's world, it's easy to label a person from where they are from, how they dress, or even by the company they keep; if you take the time to let a person show their true colors, it might surprise you in the end. 2009-11-10T15:45:58-07:00 1 John Roedel jroedel@hotmail.com 2009-10-20T10:28:55-06:00 1020 311 There are perfect moments every day. I pray that I look for them more…. I am typing this feeling better than I have in a very long time. I am sitting on the porch of our cabin with only the moon lighting the woods in front of me. I am a little freaked out that Bigfoot might come bounding out of the dark and play the popular monster game called “Make The Little Man Wear His Lungs Like A Hat”. Other then that fear I am as peaceful as my soul has been since before Scott Baio was a reality star. In many ways I worry way to much. I am not just a “glass half empty guy“. I am a “glass half empty, and the other half is filled with anthrax” kind of guy. I jump to the worst case scenario quicker then Sean Hannity goes through hair gel. I make mountain ranges out of Mole hills…. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MEANS THE CAR IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE LIKE THE DEATH STAR. THE PERSON WHO IS COUGHING BEHIND ME AT THE MOVIES HAS A MUTANT STRAIN OF GORILLA POX THAT HAS ALREADY ATTACHED ITSELF TO MY LYMPH NODES. WHENEVER I DRIVE UP TO THE ATM TO GET MONEY OUT I BEGIN TO WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS BROKEN INTO MY ACCOUNT AND WITHDRAWN ALL THE LIMITED MONIES I HAVE. WHEN A TEACHER CALLS OUR HOME I IMMEDIALTLY ASSUME ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAS STARTED A HARD CORE GRADE SCHOOL GANG WHO HAS TAKEN OVER THE SCHOOL. WHEN I GO TO BED AT NIGHT I WONDER IF HOW MANY SPIDERS WILL TREAT MY SLUMBERED BODY LIKE DISNEYLAND. I live my life with too many unfounded worries. The calmness of my experience this week has reminded me that there are enough real things to concern myself with that I don’t need to make up stuff to worry about. In fact the one thing I worry about now…is…will I go back to worry so much when I get back home. I hope not. Because that would ruin the lesson I learned on Wednesday. I learned a new lesson on why we kiss people. Let me explain: One of the constant and real worries I have had is that my autistic son will never experience life to it’s fullest. Sure he might have a quality of life that my wife and I can provide for him until the day our souls call it a day. But will he know joy? Will he feel accomplishment? Will he experience the painful lessons of failure? Will he love? Simply put…will he live? This year has been an incredible leap forward for him. Thanks to so many people who help him all over the country he has started to be able to reveal the amazing child who is trapped down in the autism well. Our family has had so much support from selfless people who have prayed, counseled, tested, tapped, and loved out son that I will never be able to fully ever say enough “thank you’s” for. However, most of his growth this year has been cognitive…his reading, math, and comprehension skills have shot way past any goal we could have ever had for him. The one place it seems where autism still has it’s icy hold on his has been socially. I always worry about how lonely he must feel. Autistic children in many ways live in their own little world. Human contact for most of us is essential and natural, for autistic people social contact is sometimes as foreign as Tim Allen in a movie that is watchable. Last year for Noah he was in first grade I began to notice the other children forming friendships and bonds with one another. They had sleepovers, birthday parties, and play dates. Noah had very few invitations for these….and I felt crushed by this. It was not that the other kids were mean to him in anyway, in fact every indication is that he is extremely well liked by his peers. The problem is that the other children just have not been able to really connect with him. I know for me some of my closets friends were the ones I met in early grade school, and I desperately worry that he will not ever make life long friends. I don’t want him to be alone. I want him to connect with others. To share his feelings, to empathize, to have his heart broken, to be invited to the sleepover. I guess I want him to be a kid. I worry he will never be able to have a childhood he will remember as a good one. Heck…I worry that he will never have any memories worth a salt. Which made me feel very very guilty. A couple years ago I would have killed for having this set of problems. A couple years ago he could not really speak, or function independently at all. Now he has progressed so far that now I worry about these abstract concepts. I feel guilty because I should not be so ungrateful for what he has already gained…. I am a greedy daddy. So with this attitude I brought him to Adam's Camp. (A camp for children with autism.) We wanted the many wonderful people who work with him to focus on helping him break through the social bubble he has formed around himself. They have done amazing work, and I have already in just a couple days have seen results! In fact just last night I saw for the first time my brave little boy pull himself out of the well long enough to share a moment with a child his age. It was a moment that I will forever be thankful that I got to be a part of, and it is a moment that reminded me that I need to stop worrying about. Last night we had a sing-a-long bonfire. It was a chance for many of the younger autistic kids and their families to gather round a camp fire and sing some classic camping songs. It was a blast! No, really if you ever have a chance to be surrounded by ten autistic children all under nine years old in a sing a long then be a part of it! Each of the children had such an energy and innocence about them that it just made you feel happy to be singing next to them. They were all so thrilled to be belting out “She’ll be coming round the mountain” that it was infectious! There were even a couple little boys who are absolutely non-verbal who obviously could not sing…but dance they did. It was a celebration of life. Nobody cared who anyone was, what they looked like, what disabilities they had, or if they could even speak. It was just parents, special children, and typical siblings connecting in song and dance. Toward the end of the night most of the kids became fascinated with a little stream that flowed next to the fire. Inevitably the children began to fashion boats out of leaves and sticks to see how they floated down the stream. Noah was walking the river bank by himself with a stick. I could tell that he wanted to toss it in himself but was unsure where to do it. Then this little girl in pink came next to him and whispered something to him, and immediately he chucked it into the water. At once both of then laughed together, and for the next forty minutes became inseparable. “Wow..he found a friend!” I thought. I was not sure if I had ever been prouder of him. They spent the rest of the night walking up and down the bank together, talking. I kept my distance because I figured the little girl was autistic too and I did not want to break the groove they were in with a nosy daddy. So I just watched for a while. I watched as they sat down on the dirt pile that hovered over the stream and how each took turns throwing rocks into the current. Even though the sun was fading behind the trees I could tell that they were still talking, but had no idea what they were talking about. Finally my curiosity took a hold and I walked over. Noah looked at me and proudly said to his new friend “This is my daddy.” She looked at me quickly and gave me a slight wave, to which I said “You guys ok?” Neither of them said anything but exchanged glances as if they were speaking telepathically with each other. “We’re fine” Noah said and with that the two of them got up and walked over to a six foot tree branch. Each picked up and end and carried it to the flowing water. “Will it float?” Noah asked her. “Let’s not be chicken. Lets find out!” the little girl in pink shouted. With as much effort as they could the two autistic children hoisted the thick heavy branch into the air and into the water. The branch floated down the river, and the two of them danced triumphantly! I left the two of them to celebrate and I went back to sit by the bon fire. I kept a close eye on them, and watched as they interacted with one another. It felt so incredible to watch my little guy that I have in my heart be so worried about show me that perhaps my fears were kind of unfounded. He had found his Winnie Cooper…and I have never been prouder of him. A little while later it was time for the party to end. I thought this might be a potential problem for Noah as I was sure that he would not want to go. When I told them it was time to go they gave each other a quick hug and then she ran off to find her dad who was in a field down below walking with her little brother. “What a great night Noah!” I said to him proudly while grabbing his hand. “Mmm.” He said. I could tell his mind was racing. I could tell this because when he is over thinking something he chews on his bottom lip. “What was her name?” “Shauna. She is my best friend” Noah responded. Those words felt really nice in my ears. I have never heard him so excited about someone else. “What did she say to get you to throw your stick in the water when you met her?” I pressed. “She told me not to be chicken” He smiled. “How old is she” I asked as we started walking toward the car. “Dad” Noah said as let go of my hand. “I have to do something” And with that he turned around and ran down toward the field were little Shauna was. I am semi-proud of myself because my normal overprotective reaction to this would be to tell him to wait for me. I did not tell him to stop. I just watched…and I knew what he was going to do. She was standing next to her mom and dad and when she saw Noah she left them to run to him. I saw him say something to her in her ear. She smiled at him, and then I saw something I will never forget. He gave her a kiss. Sorry Little Mermaid, Spiderman, or Friends there has never been a kiss more romantic then this! It is frozen in my mind from here on out…. Once his time stopping first kiss ended he turned around and came sprinting back toward me. Shauna turned to her parents and ran excitedly into their arms. I caught the smiles on the faces of the parents…they were just as proud for her as I was for Noah. This was not pride because I think eight year olds should be “smooching,” it was pride because Noah had allowed himself to feel something. When he came back to me I gave him a bear hug. I asked him if he had asked her for permission to kiss her. Noah said “I told her I was going to kiss her…and that I was not a chicken”. He was smiling from ear to ear and breathing heavily now. I asked him one last question. I asked him “Why did you kiss her?” “Because dad. I always want to remember her”. He looked at me square in the eyes as he said this with complete seriousness. With that response the needless part of me that worries for him was smashed into pieces. One way or another he is going to be just fine. He will find a way out of this maze…and when he does the world better look out. I won’t be chicken either anymore Noah. I will not parent out of fear anymore. I am glad you found your Winnie. He is going to have a life filled with wonder and joy. He may have lost some early battles…but he is destined to win the war. How do I know? Because he is the wisest person in the world right now: Why do we kiss? We kiss to remember the person we are kissing. What a perfect night…and how peaceful I feel. 2009-11-10T16:21:40-07:00 1 JUSTUS KYALO MUTHINI kyalom1@gmail.com 1 2009-10-20T00:07:49-06:00 1019 310 I met her at my place of work, she was my boss at a local bank. Though I am a Christian and she is Muslim, something about her told me she had a beautiful soul. She earned good money but she was always broke and I took it upon myself to sort her out by helping her come out with a budget. As I sat down with her to come up with the list to cut down from her budget, it became clear it was going to be hard because most of it went to supporting poor and orphaned kids get an education. Much of her free time went to supporting free community based organizations like hospitals and self help groups. I forged a close relationship with her and I must say I have learned a lot from her, especially through the smile of the person who has benefited from her pure generosity. She does all this and expects nothing in return. Two years ago my late mum was admitted in hospital after a tragic road accident and as she accompanied me to the hospital to visit her, we came to know two men who were paralyzed over 20yrs ago through an accident and could not be released from the hospital due to pending bills. Their relatives had long abandoned them having lost hope in their recovery. She organized for them to be taken to a local old men sanctuary, did a charity walk through our town and raised funds to support them. Now they have wheel chairs and have moved to a better place where other well wishers have joined in helping them. They are very grateful to at least have a wheel chair, a place to sleep and people visiting them. To me this young lady is a hero for not only is she doing great things to the society, she expects no reward neither does she tire in this. People like her remind me there are still Angels among us. She is my Hero. 2009-11-10T13:52:26-07:00 1 Barry Holcomb bholcomb002@bellsouth.net 1 2009-10-12T17:16:13-06:00 1013 309 I work hard at a thankless job; as a restaurant manager, I put in sweat and effort, being pleasant to those who are not, serving plates over and over to people who are often rude and complaining. And then I come home to someone who cannot work; my friend is disabled due to epilepsy - and he only has a few years to live. His illness drains him of energy - and he often suffers pain. Even a short ride to the store exhausts him. So when his glasses broke at the hinge, it was a bit of a problem. He could not see without them - but going to an optometrist's office would be both a big expense and would drain him. I took the glasses and put them in my shirt pocket; "let me see what I can do." I had several errands to run before going to work that afternoon - buy groceries, pay a bill, pick up his medicine at the pharmacy. I called the optometrist's office and left them a voicemail. Giving them his name I told them the problem. "Medicaid paid for the glasses about a year ago. I don't know if they have a warranty or not. Ill call back later to see what you can do to help him." My last errand took me close to the office, so I decided to drop by and see if they had an answer. The person who worked with fitting and repairs was gone to lunch, but she was expected back soon. The receptionist told me that Medicaid would not pay to repair the glasses. I waited. Very shortly the lady returned from lunch. I explained that I had left my friend at home - that travel was very difficult for him. She nodded her understanding. She examined the glasses and said that they could not be repaired - the frames would have to be replaced. I asked her to check and see if Medicaid could pay for another set of frames. She flipped through her card file and checked the date - no, they weren't covered. Perhaps she looked and saw my look of sadness. She put her hand to her temple and thought for a moment. "We don't usually have those frames in stock . . . but let me check." In a moment she found a pair of frames identical to the broken ones. In just a moment she had removed the lenses and placed them in the new frames - she carefully cleaned them. And then she did something truly amazing - she carefully examined the broken frames - and bent the new ones exactly the same. She spent several minutes carefully examining her work. She handed them to me with a smile - "now he won't have to come out to have them adjusted." I asked her what I owed her, and she waved her hand in the air. "Not a cent," she said, "I'm just glad we had them." By this time my eyes were filling up with tears at her kindness and thoughtfulness towards someone she had never even met. I thanked her for her generosity and her thoughtfulness. Nearly a year has passed - and whenever I think I have a thankless job - I remember her kindness. Good deeds are rewarded. 2009-11-10T13:22:48-07:00 1 Rodney Williams rruffian@swbell.net 1 2009-10-12T06:10:29-06:00 1012 308 Help can be either a noun or transitive verb depending on the use. I prefer it as a verb as I like action. I like giving help. It allows me to share life experiences and learn new things. Most every time I help someone, I learn something new during the process. In fact, I like to think of H.E.L.P. as an acronym for the way I aspire to live. Hope In its purest form, hope is a belief. It is the belief that “things” in your life will have a positive outcome. Things can be defined as spiritual, events, circumstances, relationships, etc. You learn and come to expect the best through hope. It is the foundation of positive thinking in my opinion. Expectancy The root to expectancy is that simple word I touch on often: choice. If you expect good things to happen and be in your life, they will appear. Dr. Victor Vroom actually has a theory called the Expectancy Theory. He relates it to job performance, and my interpretation goes something like this. More Effort = Better Job Performance Better Job Performance = Better Company Performance (raises, bonuses, etc.) Better Company Performance = Improved Job Satisfaction Improved Job Satisfaction = More Effort (the cycle repeats) Expecting positive outcomes leads to positive outcomes. Love I have to snicker a little at this one as the definition of love can be all over the map. In fact, one online site suggests that love can not officially be defined…”This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states.” Personally, I choose the following definition. Love is a commitment, a consistent and determined decision to think of others first, to put their needs above your own, and to serve them. Positivity The irony of this section is that Wikipedia does not recognize positivity as a word but as a process emphasizing hope and focusing on positive outcomes. Webster’s defines positivity as a noun meaning – the state or quality of being positive. I define positivity as a lifestyle choice. I take in positive energy from people and my surroundings, project positive energy, read and listen to positive messages, write positive messages, and strive to find the positive in every encounter. Those are choices, which help me live a great life. 2009-11-10T13:21:02-07:00 1 Kobby Mensah kobby_mensah@yahoo.com 1 2009-10-04T13:43:05-06:00 1005 307 I cherish my life in the small suburb of New Takoradi, popularly known as "New York" in Ghana, all because of what this small suburb thought me as a child. New Takoradi is situated in Sekondi-Takoradi, also called "Twincity." For a fact, most part of my values in life was shaped by my earlier years of growing up in New Takoradi; to be tenacious, go-getter, aggressive, fearless and self responsible all shaped by the New Takoradi ideology of "suffer to gain." And how was I shaped by these values? First were the fishermen and the fish mongers. These are strong, hard working men and women who toil endlessly to make good use of what nature has given us, the sea. Then there is another layer of inspirers, the young, up and coming New Takoradi's. They are normally passionate with football. However the ambition to become future Sailors so they can return to "downtown" annually to enjoy Christmas with the locals always held them back from the football ambition as it was less lucrative at the time. Yet, most pursued and became great footballers. The next layer of inspirers was the Sailors who, when they descend on the town annually, send every young person's dream wild. With their "Seaman Joolie" (a big colourful handkerchief normally of American flag design or other multicoloured design) up in their back pocket with the larger part hanging. They portrayed the popular ideology of the town folks known as "suffer to gain." This ideology is what drives many of the young to venture on the popular journey called "stowaway," risking their lives to enter into Europe and the Americas. Although, I did not subscribe to the unorthodox, risky and sometimes illegal part of their ways, I gained a lot from their tenacity. And then of course my family; they offered the academic inspiration. Although it was not an aristocratic family, my Dad who served as Senior Mechanical Engineer at the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation, before then other corporations like the Railways and the State Transport, was an ardent newspaper reader. He will buy all the daily newspapers everyday and knowing that I enjoy reading, will hand them over to me first to read, after which he will. At the ritual 7PM radio news bulletins he will send for me, if I am not around, to come and listen to the news. We did not have a television then, that was somewhere 1989 when I could read and understand, at about 12 years old. Our black and white television had been sent for repairs some years back and never got fixed, I was told because I was a baby then and my Dad couldn't be bothered to buy another. So I and the other young kids in the household, just like many people in New Takoradi, never got the opportunity to experience television until my adolescent stage. The next layer of inspiration in the family was my big brother, Dan who was managing the family business, DANMENS Engineering alongside his Polytechnic Education in Takoradi. I was very good at technical skills and technical drawing at school because of my family background as technocrats. I go to the factory everyday after school. So knowing what I am good at, big brother Dan will always hand over his text and exercise books to me so I can look at and draw some of the tools like the bench vice, hacksaw and even the compound drill. Today, that young boy from that small suburban ‘New York’ in Ghana is an author of about ten journal articles and book chapters published in Britain and America, pursuing a PhD and plans to become a political strategist in Ghana? That couldn’t be possible without the values my small village, New Takoradi thought me, SUFFER TO GAIN! 2009-11-10T13:11:37-07:00 1 Megan megsmizzle@gmail.com 1 2009-09-29T17:31:04-06:00 1003 306 When I was only four years old my mother died. It was hard for all of us in such grief. My dad's mom (my grandmother), as the loving person she is, came from her house eight hours away to take care of us. At first, my brother and I hated her. I would call her mean things and scream at her, and make her go up and down stairs just for a cookie at night. I would be just as hateful as a four year old can be but my grandma was patient and kind and straightened us out. My grandma acted as my mother and helped me in every way my mom would have: she taught me how to cook and to be polite and encouraged me to be all that I can be and to never give up. After seven years my grandmother left our house because my dad got re-married. Its been hard on me to let my grandma go since I can only see her once a year but I'm thankful for everything she has done for us, and for her selflessness and loving attitude. She has to be the kindest person I've ever met and I love her. 2009-10-02T12:59:37-06:00 1 Emily E. 2009-09-28T16:05:03-06:00 1001 305 I am going to be honest. I am only ten years old, but why can't I make a difference too? I have been told many things in my life so far, simple things like "Eat your salad" and "Don't climb that." Half the time I don't even know those things are making an impact on my life. And sometimes, it's the other way around. Like my grandmother, who used to tell my mother, "Can't never did nothin'." I always try to work hard and remember those few words, however much bad grammar she had. 2009-10-02T13:08:19-06:00 1 Dennis Powell denmar@innernet.net 1 2009-09-18T16:40:13-06:00 998 304 This is the story of Western Emergency Management Association. (Commonly known as WEMA by the locals.) We are a group of volunteer Local Emergency Management coordinators from 7 small municipalities in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. In late 2001 we signed an agreement to work together as a group to back each other in time of an emergency, whether natural or man-made. With help from our municipalities, fundraisers and grants, We have purchased a vehicle and equipped it with generators, lights, pumps, traffic control, and scene management items. We also carry animal rescue items in support of the county animal rescue team. This is all supported on a budget of around $1,400 per year. 2009-11-10T13:03:44-07:00 1 Sandie sandie211@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-17T07:34:56-06:00 997 303 In August of 2000, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She was a fighter and a survivor and became stronger and more beautiful than ever. However, in the early morning hours of March 3rd, 2009 her fiance called me as I was coming in from Starbucks. My mother had brain cancer. Surgery was done, however it was diagnosed as terminal, the tumor had grown aggressively into her brain and she had 6 more lesions on the back of her head and cancer cells in her spinal fluid and in the lining between her brain and her skull. The doctors gave her six weeks, she survived for ten. During that time, I was able to be there for her and take care of her in her final few months. What a bittersweet experience! My mother introduced me to this site well over a year ago, sending me quotes that she deemed appropriate for me to read. As I go through the grieving process, with my two younger brothers, my father and my son, who was very close to his Mimi, it helps to read words of encouragement and inspiration from this site and especially from the billboards. The billboards are so simple, yet so poignant and meaningful. My mother was a courageous, beautiful woman, full of strength and compassion, living everyday to its fullest. She inspired people on a daily basis and anyone she encountered was just naturally drawn to her. She exuded these qualities until that day in May when she flew away in the arms of an angel. I love her and will miss her dearly everyday for the rest of my life, I only hope that I can use what she had given me for the past 32 years and apply it to my life, my family and my friends. I will work my hardest everyday so that her life will remain a shining light in the people I encounter in the present and the future. To a dear angel in heaven, I love you mommie… 2009-11-10T13:02:19-07:00 1 Randy G. gollay@comcast.net 1 2009-09-11T12:19:38-06:00 995 302 What I’ve learned from my wife would astound you! It’s theoretically simplistic, emotionally hygienic, morally sincere, and spiritually uplifting. She never went to college and reading books is not her passion. Her repertoire doesn’t consist of greed, disrespect, or ego. Bridget can’t stand up. She can’t walk - not even a baby step. She can’t even hold a baby in her arms. She has MS. The damage done to her body has no known reversible cure. As the disease progresses it exacerbates the devastation physically and emotionally, not only to her, but also to her loved ones. Nevertheless, she’s a terrific role model as a mother of an eleven-year-old (going on eighteen!) and wife to a man who’s been accused of selective hearing! All the excruciating pain, the hospital surgeries, pharmaceutical pill popping, daily needle shots, drug infusions, multiple doctors visits, lab and blood tests, physical and occupational therapies, etc… only temporarily circumvents what some octogenarians experience before they pass on. She’s half that age. Her disease has been present for half of that. One minute you’re healthy and the next… Things you take for granted, like: driving, shopping, bathing, baking and even going to the bathroom, can’t be done by herself. I can go on, but I'll spare the specifics because it’s not appealing. It’s not fair that a lady as sweet as she is would be burdened with this type of challenge. In LIFE, anything can happen. So what have I learned by being married a quarter century to this angel? No man is an island. God put all of us here for a reason. If we can’t count on each other, there’s no hope for mankind. If we abandon our ways in adversity, we have our work cut out for us. If we deal with complications by avoidance or irrationality, no positive gain is inevitable. Faith, love, and honest hard work are our only hope! Muscles, money, and luck will only carry us each so far. Kisses, smiles, hugs and handshakes can carry us a lot farther. There are many frail-appearing "Bridget’s" that you will refute or embrace on your journey through life. Those opportunities you engage will not only enrich your bloodstream, but assist you in understanding what strength really is!! That wow factor is what our daughter and her generation has to have from us. Nothing short of that will do. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Jack R. jack@schooloflifefoundation.org 1 2009-09-10T17:06:17-06:00 994 301 Sixteen years ago I set out on a path of writing a life skills book for young people and creating a foundation to donate this book to youth organizations and schools. As a high school basketball coach my “Mission” was to teach and inspire kids around the world to “Achieve Straight A’s in the School of Life!” I recently turned age fifty and the book is now published in English as well as Spanish; plus, the foundation is launched. The organization is called the School of Life Foundation and the book that we give to kids is called Learn to “School” Your Toughest Opponent. Over the past two years we have placed this curriculum in the lives of close to 20,000 youth across sixteen states and eleven countries. The School of Life Foundation continues to grow each week. The “Straight A’s in Life” system contained in the workbook has ten steps as follows: • Appreciate – Have more gratitude in your life • Assist – Serve others everyday • Attitude – Choose yours each morning • Aim – Learn to focus by setting goals • Associate – Make good people a part of your life • Align – Get organized • Action – Make things happen or watch and wonder • Avoid – Stay away from things that will harm you • Adapt – Turn every challenge into an opportunity • Always – Remember to pray and ponder each day My heart and soul is touched everyday as I learn of a new story of a young person’s life improving by using this journal workbook while “Living the A’s” in life! I am now “Living My Dream” of making a difference in the world. I chose to not give up over the past sixteen years when obstacles and discouragement got in the way. You have to perform with passion! Your mission in life may be large or small, but is vital to all of us no matter what it may be. What are doing today to find it? Are you living your dream? I am simply the guy next door encouraging you to get started today! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Jordan R. jordangalloway@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-05T12:55:38-06:00 986 300 Three friends and I were driving on the highway, my close friend being the driver. While we were going at least 50 miles per hour, we passed a car stopped on the side of the road that had broken down. My friend slowed down, made a U-turn, and pulled up behind the other car. He got out of the car and before I knew it he was helping the other person push the car down the road to a spot that wasn't so close to the passing cars. From the way they were pushing the car, it looked like my friend my pushing the entire thing by himself, which was quite a distance for something like that. He even gave the stranger an extra pair of jumper cables he had, even though they had someone coming to help already. I thought my friend helping a complete stranger like this was a great thing, and I won't forget his good nature or character. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Travis C. travis.collins23@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-03T00:10:20-06:00 985 299 Growing up wasn't easy for me - I was a very mean and aggressive person because of my disorder. When I was twelve years old my counselor gave me medication to help me with my behavior, but I still lacked one thing and that was motivation. I did not have anything to look forward to. That all changed during my freshmen year in high school. An autistic kid had enrolled in our school district and after a while he and I became real close friends. Because of him I volunteered in the Special Olympics and I even wrote a book on autism while still in high school. During my senior year I decided I wanted to be a Special Ed. Teacher and it was my autistic friend who showed me my true role in life. I love working with special needs kids! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Linda V. lvaughn@flintschools.org 1 2009-09-02T12:06:44-06:00 984 298 My name is Linda and I decided to go back to college at age 60. I now have a 3.8 grade point average and I am so excited about my accomplishment. I never took school seriously when I was younger because one of my teachers in the 5th grade used to say that I was dumb and stupid. But I used that as my motivation - every time I prepare to take a test or write a report, I think of her and I persevere. Funny how things that are said to you as a child can sometime be a deciding factor in your successes or your failures. My children have inspired me and my parents are very proud of me, but the gift to myself was getting up the courage to take the first step and I am now attending Baker College in Flint, MI. I guess now I just want to encourage others - if there is something that you want to do, and it is important to you, then regardless of what people say about you and think about you, YOU have to live with you, so be good to yourself! 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00 1 Chris L. chrisladner56@yahoo.com 1 2009-09-02T09:55:27-06:00 983 297 My name is Christopher, and for 10 years I've been a member of the children's service club called Optimist International. I will become the volunteer Governor of the Illinois District in October, and hope that my leadership will increase the Illinois membership. In July, Illinois Optimists spend a day at a camp in Lake Bloomington for children undergoing cancer treatment. We sponsor a day of games and fun so they can be just kids again - not kids who battle a serious illness. The first event I assisted with was a relay race. The boy I was helping had a brain tumor and was blind. I thought he'd pass on the race, or ask for help. Not so - holding his cane like a lance in front of him, he took off at full gallop. He may not have run the fastest or straightest race, but he ran with the heart of a lion. He later said he was tired, because he had chemo that morning. What a hero! Suddenly, my own issue of unemployment seemed small, and I was reminded again that it is giving that we receive. 2009-09-12T00:00:17-06:00