Inspirational: Nick Vujicic

Are you gonna finish strong?

Quote of the day (QOTD)

“The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity”.
 ~ J.K. Rowling.

Never too old

I found out recently that 2 of the choir members in my group will be celebrating their 95th birthday in the coming weeks. Wow! Even though they are clearly senior citizen they certainly did not look 95 to me. I am inspired that at this age, they are still active and contributing to the community in their own way. I learn that one of them is hard of hearing while the other uses a magnifying glass to read. The fact that they are undeterred is inspiring. It goes to show that you're never too old and as long as you embrace the right attitude, life can be that much more meaningful and fulfilling. Even at an older age.

Lessons from Cirque Du Soleil

I am a huge fan of Cirque Du Soleil. My very first experience with Cirque was via Quidam back in 2005. I was totally blown away and mesmerized by the mind-blowing performances. Since then my husband and I make it a point to watch Cirque's production whenever the opportunity presents itself. Our all-time favourite is KA :)


We went for our most recent adventure with Cirque via Ovo and once again I was reminded of why I love their performances so much. Other than the jaw-dropping acrobatics and outrageously beautiful costumes and sets, I draw great lessons and inspiration from the show. It is incredible how the performers use their bodies to sculpts stories, to carve ideas out of thin air in order to evoke the audience's emotions. Simply astounding.

When I shared my thoughts with my husband, he told me about Cirque du Soleil: The Spark - Igniting the Creative Fire that Lives within Us All. The next day, I was thrilled to find the book on the shelf waiting for me to devour it. Devoured it I did, most definitely. It was written in a form of a story to demonstrate the work ethics and passion of all those who are involved in the production of Cirque's performances. Engaging and inspiring, I managed to pick up important life lessons from the book.

• Passion is the key to everything we do.
  
• Learn to take the right risks that will allow you to fulfill your vision.
  
• Our fears hold us back, make us fall short of our goals. Only by taking risks can we hope to accomplish the extraordinary.
  
• You are never trapped in life. When you realize that, you find you're free to accomplish incredible things.
  
• You have to be confident enough to let your imagination spin off in all kinds of directions. And if you really want to make things happen, you have to be willing to crash.
  
• Risk-taking is inevitable in life – not just the big risks but the small chances you take every day that give your life a sense of excitement, of possibility.
  
• It is never my failures that I regret, it's the things I pass up because I am too scared, too safe.
  
• If you want to live fully, you have to trust.
  

After reading the book, I am even more in awe and inspired by the incredible work that they do in igniting that "spark" that we all need in our lives.

"This is what Cirque is about. We transform the dull and ordinary into something special and memorable, something that touches people's lives. All of us have that power no matter what we do."

Great stuff! I highly recommend the book especially if you are a fan of Cirque.

Quote of the day (QOTD)

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."
– Virginia Satir

Happy New Year

Wow, looks like this space has been neglected once again. The new year is here and I like to take this opportunity to wish you, dear readers a very blessed and happy new year. I always feel hopeful during this period of time because I feel like I have been given the chance to start over.

2009 is behind us and I feel excited about the year ahead. One of my resolutions is to keep this blog alive with more frequent updates. I find joy in sharing my experiences and knowledge through writing. I am thankful for your readership and your feedback is always appreciated.

Something meaningful that I found on the net.

I enter the new year with the understanding that I am making a fresh start. I begin by discarding thoughts, attitudes, and habits that are not compatible with an excellent life. I let go of whatever caused past discouragement, disappointment, or disagreement. I know that seemingly negative outcomes are desires or goals that are yet to be fulfilled. I am open and receptive to new ideas, activities and relationships.

Each day, I can follow a fresh plan of fulfillment. I act on divine ideas that I receive in moments of prayer and inspiration. These ideas flow through wholesome, positive thoughts. As I use creative thinking to build upon divine ideas, my activities become more dynamic and my abilities are enhanced. Therefore, I enter this new year with optimism, joy and enthusiasm.

An Irish blessing

You know how sometimes you hear a song or a hymn and it speaks to you? This morning, there were several hymns that spoke to me during mass and one brought tears to my eyes. I decided to approach one of the choir members to find out the title of the hymn. The title is May the road rise to meet you.

The choir sang it so beautifully and the words went straight to my heart. I am reminded that God is always here with me. I like to share this blessing with you and I pray that the road will rise to meet you especially if you are in need of His grace at this moment. Peace be with you.




May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face,
May the rain fall softly on your fields
And until we meet again
May you keep safe in the gentle loving arms of God.

For everything there is a season
a time for meeting , a time to say goodbye
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

For everything there is a season
a time for loving, a time for letting go
in all things God is near
always guiding your way.

Quote of the day (QOTD)

"Do not be timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice? Up again; you shall never be so afraid of a tumble."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Responding with affection

Listen to Marianne Williamson on this here.

Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

John C. Maxwell

Quote of the day (QOTD)

"Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing."
– George Sheehan

2 questions

Something to ponder on:
Question 1: Have you experienced joy in your life?
Question 2: Have you brought joy to others?

Source:

the movie - The Bucket List

Quote:

You measure yourself by the people who measure themselves by you. ~Carter Chambers

Quote of the day (QOTD)

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be."
– Groucho Marx

Quote of the day (QOTD)

From the recovering community such as AA I learn that slogans and quotes are helpful to keep them focus. I love keeping quotes that speak to me and when I go through challenging situations, I draw inspiration from them.

Here is a quote that spoke loudly to me when I had to go through the treatments for Moya-Moya Disease 2 years ago.

A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.
~Helen Keller

I read the memoir of Helen Keller- The story of my life - and was totally impressed. She had more challenges and obstacles than an average person and yet she was determined to pursue her education and contribute to society.

When one hears stories like that it is hard to feel sorry for oneself when one's life is not half as difficult.