Quotable Quotes: Making A Difference

"There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: Those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed." Ray Goforth

Quotable Quotes: On Despair and Hope

"I have learned two lessons in my life: first, there are no sufficient literary, psychological, or historical answers to human tragedy, only moral ones. Second, just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings." Elie Wiesel

Quotable Quotes: On Suffering

"Suffering could either make you a bitter person or a better person." Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD

Joke Time: What's Up Doc?

Doctor: Nurse, how is that little girl doing who swallowed ten quarters last night?
Nurse: No change yet.

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Patient: Doctor, what should I do if my temperature goes up five more points?
Doctor: Sell!

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Patient: How much to have this tooth pulled?
Dentist: $100.00.
Patient: $100.00 for just a few minutes work?
Dentist: Well, I can extract it very slowly if you like.

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A man, seeking to lose some of his excess weight, visited the local doctor.
John: How can I lose twelve pounds of ugly fat?
Doctor: Of course! Cut your head off.

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A doctor has come to see one of his patients in a hospital. The patient has had major surgery to both of his hands.

"Doctor," says the man excitedly and dramatically holds up his heavily bandaged hands. "Will I be able to play the piano when these bandages come off?"

"I don't see why not," replies the doctor.

"That's funny," says the man. "I wasn't able to play it before."

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Patient: Doctor, what does the X-ray of my head show?
Doctor: Absolutely nothing!

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Patient (to cosmetic surgeon): Will it hurt me, doctor?
Surgeon: Only when you get my bill, Mrs Brown.

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This old man visits his doctor and after a thorough examination, the doctor tells him, "I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?"
Patient: Well, give me the bad news first.
Doctor: You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left.
Patient: That's terrible! In two years, my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this?
Doctor: You also have Alzheimer's. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you.

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Mary: My daughter believes in preventative medicine, doctor.
Doctor: Oh, really?
Mary: Yes, she tries to prevent me from making her take it!

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Patient: Doctor, I have a serious memory problem. I can't remember anything!
Doctor: So, since when did you have this problem?
Patient: What problem?

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Source: Aha! Jokes

My Random Thoughts: Memorable September

What is so memorable about September? Well, for one it is the beginning of the "BER" months and for many Filipinos it is a sign that the Christmas season is fast approaching. I noticed that TV shows here in the Philippines particularly GMA-7's "Unang Hirit" and ABS-CBN's "Magandang Umaga Pilipinas" already have christmas trees and decors on their sets as early as the first of September. Weird? No, it just goes to prove that Filipinos celebrate the longest Christmas Season in the world.

On a personal note, September is more special to me because of three very special persons in my life. My Nanay, who is celebrating her 76th birthday on the 15th, my Tita Curing also celebrating her 81st birthday on the 25th, and my Mommy Belen's first death anniversary also on the 25th. They are my three moms, the "Tres Marias" as they would jokingly call themselves.

I could compare my life to the movie "Three Men and A Baby", because I grew up practically with these three great mothers. I was brought to this world by my Nanay, my real mother, who loved me very dearly, provided me everything together with my Dad. But because of my Spina Bifida, I had to live in the city with my Mommy Belen, my mother's elder sister, so that I would continue to get proper medical attention and later on the best education. She was also equally loving and caring together with her whole family. They were my second family. When difficult choices had to be made, when difficult moments in my life seemed unavoidable I turned to Tita Curing, my mother's eldest sister, for strength and guidance. She, together with my cousins gladly accepted me and helped me cope until I was ready to live independently.

I would not be the person that I am today had it not been for the love, care, affection and generosity of these three great ladies in my life.

To my Nanay and Tita Curing, happy birthday and may you have more to birthdays to come. To my Mommy Belen you will always be in my heart wherever you are. Thank you, my three moms.

Motivational: Don't Quit!

When life leaves you hanging... DON'T QUIT

Anything can happen.

Bend, don't break.

Challenge your potential.

Destiny is a choice.

Effort creates opportunities.

Follow your intuition.

Get back up and try again.

Hold on to your vision.

Impress yourself.

Just dig a little deeper.

Keep knocking on doors.

Learn from mistakes.

Motivate with compassion.

Nothing worthwhile comes easy.

Own a positive attitude.

Problems hold messages.

Question what's not working.

Regroup when you need to.

Stand up for your principles.

Think outside the box.

Unite perseverance with resolve.

Value knowing when to walk away.

Work smarter, not just harder.

Xhaust all possibilities.

You can, if you think you can.

Zzzz's, take naps as needed.

Unknown Author

Funny Pix: Illusion Anyone?

from: www.humorsphere.com

Reflections: Come to Me and Rest

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Everytime you feel so down and problems seems so endless, whenever you feel that you are carrying so much on your shoulders to the point of giving up, there's only one thing to do. Call on Jesus! Believe that he will give rest to all our burdens, like what he promised. Jesus will not turn us down. Just believe.

reflections bible rest burden

My Poem: Uniquely Complete

I do not have eyes to see,
but I have the vision,
to change the world around me.

I do not have ears to hear,
but I have the compassion,
to understand you dear.

I do not have tongue to speak,
but I have the enthusiasm,
to express I'm not weak.

I don't have hands to work perfectly,
but I have the talent,
to do things differently.

I do not have feet to walk,
but I have the will,
to travel life's catwalk.

I do not have sense of balance,
but I have the sagacity,
to weigh the importance.

I do not have strength to compete,
but I have the faith,
that makes me uniquely complete.

My Poem: The Survivor

Confined in a prison cell with no walls;
Shackled by fear and prejudice he falls.
Each race is met with envy and despair;
He's yearning for fullness beyond compare.
Amidst a world chaotic and noisy,
Helplessly, a small voice cries in frenzy.
Its gentle graceful mitts, the only link,
To a hostile place that is out of sync.
Plunged into the deep pit of emptiness,
Everywhere there is shivering darkness.
The heart becomes the only spring of strength,
Pushes the will to stretch the entire length.
Though the field isn't fair, the game goes on;
In a contest called Life, the clock moves on.
When the time is through, the judge shall ask you,
Did each hurdle bring out the best in you?
Then the real challenge comes not in winning,
But tackling each test without conceding.
'Coz ultimately, there are no victors,
Only the best and finest survivors!

Inspiring Stories: Hospital Friends

from: www.indian.cl/incredible/hospitalfriend.htm

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Quotable Quotes: On Blindness

"Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision.” Stevie Wonder

Funny Pix: Taking a break?

Trivia: Famous People with Disability

Question: What did Tom Cruise the famous actor, Winston Churchill the Prime Minister of England, Walt Disney the creator of Mickey Mouse, Alexander Graham Bell the telephone inventor and Albert Einstein who formulated the theory of relativity have in common?

Answer: They all overcame their learning disabilities which they had since early childhood and became successful in their own fields.

Dyslexia, is a condition which causes difficulty with reading and writing. It is a learning disability that is likely present from birth. Its standard definition is a difficulty in reading and writing in spite of normal development of intelligence, cognitive and sensory abilities. (wikipedia.com)

Reflections: Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3

This passage from the Bible should remind us that we should not blame ourselves, our parents or anyone for our disability. But rather we should think of it as God's way for making us instruments to show the world of His infinite power, His great love and overflowing mercy.

Imagine, a painter without a canvass, a wood sculptor without a chisel, a doctor without a scalpel. Impossible isn't it? The greatest miracle worker has chosen us to take part in his masterpiece, by being instruments of love.

The miracle we expect might not happen today, tomorrow or perhaps not even in our lifetime. But little did we know that by touching other people's lives through our condition, we already took part in a miracle, the miracle of love and humility.

Rest assured that God has not abondoned us. Never lose hope. Always have faith. Everything happens for a reason. And in God's time all this will be revealed to you.

True Stories: The Ray Charles Story

Ray Charles Robinson , more popularly known as Ray Charles, was an icon in the American Music Industry. He was a 12 time Grammy Award winner whose musical genius popularized soul music, a fusion of gospel music, and rhythm and blues. He elevated jazz, country music and rhythm and blues to a higher level in his more than four-decade long career. An epitome of success despite his disability, he was famous for playing the piano despite being blind.

He came from a poor family in Georgia, USA, he lost his eyesight at the age of 6. At the age of 7 he went to a school for the blind in Florida where he studied Braille and took up some lessons in music. He counterbalanced his blindness with his keen sense of music. He left school at the age of 15 after her mother died, to hone his gift for music.

He made his debut album in 1947 but it was not until the early 60's that he made a name for himself and was later recognized for his great musical genius through a series of album hits. Despite his physical handicaps and a lengthy addiction to heroin that ended only after a 1965 arrest in Boston, he is a very accomplished performer. He received various awards, commendations and honorary college degrees. He performed for heads of States and royalties in various occasions.

He passed away in June of 2004 at the age of 73 due to a liver disease. Ray Charles is survived by 11 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Motivational: Overcoming Disability

Mr. Webster defined disability as 1 a: the condition of being disabled b : inability to pursue an occupation because of a physical or mental impairment; also: a program providing financial support to one affected by disability ex. went on disability after the injury 2: lack of legal qualification to do something 3: a disqualification, restriction, or disadvantage.

But if we look closely everyone of us experience a certain kind of disability at a certain point in our lives. This may either be physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, social, or financial disability. Here's a tip to overcome them.

Discover your unique talents
Improve yourself as best as you can
Show courage in the face of rejection and defeat
Accept your fate but never lose faith
Believe that you have a mission and purpose
Inspire others by your example
Let go and let God take over your life
Instill in you a positive attitude
Turn your weakness into strength
Yes you can if only you'll try harder.