New Friends in Europe (part 1)

Inspiration - Paul Potts Singing Opera

Watch this incrediblevideo.

Asperger's Syndrome

Here are two young people sharing about how they live with a mental/cognitive disability:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-4o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKzY3u_cUhk&mode=related&search=

It makes me wonder if I have aspergers too. I really can't tell if I'm just shy, psychologically affected by my being "different"m or really having something cognitively different. Bravo to the videomakers anyway! I'll make my own video someday. Someday....

The Question of how much you could have Done

We seldom stop to think how much impact we could have on someone else's life if we'd just put our hearts and minds into it. Sometimes we are simply too occupied with ourselves to pay attention, and then we avoid thinking about others altogether so we don't feel the guilt deep inside us. But how long can you suppress these feelings? How long do you think it'll take before you wake up one morning and feel like a complete loser? For not standing up for what is right, for not loving someone deep enough.

How long will it take? Not long, I think. Because even for me, I wake up many mornings thinking just that to myself. When you get to the bottom of it, you'll find that guilt often stems from a sense of gratitude unbalanced by the act of giving back. We've all received so much, but often it is those who don't give back who feel the worst. Unless, of course, in the case that they don't feel grateful at all. If there's even a trace of morality and integrity in you, most likely your conscience will beckon you to do something.

Schindler's List, considered to be one of the finest films ever made, brings that message across in a terribly poignant way. The farewell scene at the end makes you realize what life is all about. After all, when those times of fear, courage, and compassion have finally passed, you're still left with just yourself--who you are and what you believe.

Have you done enough, with your life?

"This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern... for this."
- Oskar Schindler

Perhaps the first step is to recognize how fortunate and blessed you are.

Three Year Challenge

To you, my friend! You can do it if you put your mind to it. Watch this!

A Glass Half Full - Inspirational Story from Reader's Digest

I came across this article a few minutes ago in the Chinese Reader's Digest. I felt as if God had directed me to it to show me just how necessary it is for me to press on. The author, Danielle Bruce, a 28-year-old counselor from Melbourne, truly has a life story that makes her somewhat different from most other people. I can relate so much to her feelings---the kind of burden and dread that build on you from the constant reminder that you are DISabled.

Well, here's an excerpt. Read on!

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I like to think I’m normal, but I’m not. I like to think I can do whatever I want, but I cannot.

I remember the first time this reality hit me, as a skinny, energetic, ringlet-haired six-year-old. That’s when I had my first public seizure. At school. In the middle of the classroom. On the mat.

But it wasn’t until a few days later that I got an insight into how it would affect my life. I’d been given time off school and my cheerful mother was driving us home from a visit to the shops when we pulled up behind the school bus. It was the first time I’d seen my classmates since the episode and suddenly a number of them began pointing out the window at me and talking animatedly. We sat like this for a few minutes as I wondered what would happen next. Nothing did.

As we slowly drove home, my thoughts were in conflict. Part of me had decided to put off returning to school for as long as possible, but the other part knew I had to face my fears. It was the first time in my life I realised that I was different... (continue).