Rachael is a 19 year old high school cheerleader and homecoming queen. She also has Downs Syndrome and might be one of the wisest people out there.
Some of her advice?
It’s a great day or not… the choice is yours.
What’s in your heart goes to your brain like a big bubble. If it’s not good stuff, the bubble pops and you get bad feelings. Make good stuff in your heart so your brain doesn’t pop.
There’s two kind opportunities. The wrong opportunity you walk away. The right opportunity is the right path.
It’s okay. Things happen. That’s life.
Sometimes we just need relax, and move on. That’s life.
My life is really love. It’s the secret to my message.
If you can’t find your magic, look in your heart. You forgot it there.
Kyle traded a single red paperclip for a house. If that idea doesn’t make you smile, reading how he did it just might.
“I happened to be in town for the day and had never traded a paperclip with a vegan before, let alone two, so I figured, what the hay, let’s do this.”
“But not just any old doorknob, oh no, this l’il sculpted mofo looks like E.T. after he smoked a bat. A BIG bat. If I had to name it, which I do, I’d call it a Knob-T.”
“…faked my way to an appropriate ‘one of the boys’ level of comprehension. There was talk about ‘hertz’, ‘cycles’, AC and DC and a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember.”
What inspires you? What puts a smile on your face?
Have you woken up the morning after a long race and thought, “wow good thing I don’t have to get up and do that all over again today, my legs are shot.”
Well, what if you did do it all over again? And then again?
What if you ran a marathon 75 days in a row?
That’s what Terry Hitchcock did. 75 marathons, 75 days in a row.
We’re all running a marathon one way or another. Whether it is staying afloat as a single, working parent, battling a disease or trying to conquer a fear, it all involves a fight. Join Fathom Events for an inspirational story about a man who ran 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days to raise awareness about the struggle of losing a loved one and becoming a single parent.
Dove Foundations says: “An astonishing documentary – it’s truly a story of endurance and faith.”
See what’s possible when physical endurance and the will of the human spirit unite in MY RUN in theaters March 31st- a nationwide, one-night only event.
Interviews with Terry Hitchcock and his son and support member Chris Hitchcock follow the feature movie, which is narrated by Billy Bob Thorton.
A portion of proceeds from the MY RUN Premiere event will benefit the Livestrong Foundation.
I have to say I’m loving your comments on the post about my step sis’ not-so-PC doctor. 🙂 If you haven’t had a chance to ‘weigh in’ on it yet, go check it out.
What a busy day so far! I may not be at my regular day job any more, but I’m still working at a monthly clinic for patients with Lou Gehrig’s disease (aka Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis aka ALS). Today was clinic day!
First lunch, then ALS thoughts. 🙂
Lunch
Sugar snap peas!!
And a veggie burger with ketchup & spicy mustard on a whole wheat bun. Plus a pickle on the side 🙂
Lou Gehrig’s Inspiration
I only get to spend a few hours at the clinic, but those hours never fail to leave me draw-dropping-ly inspired.
Lou Gehrig’s disease is a devastating, progressive, and ultimately fatal illness. Over the course of just a few years (if that), people with Lou Gehrig’s become completely debilitated- losing the ability to walk, talk, swallow, eat, & breathe on their own.
Nobody would fault these individuals for coming into the clinic in depressed & miserable moods. That’s how I imagine I would feel.
But every single time I work this clinic, I am absolutely awed by the strength & determination these patients have. I would venture to say some of them have an even more positive outlook on life than I do. It’s simply amazing.
There are quite a few patients that come to see me that have lost their ability to talk. I hate to admit it, but my first reaction is that they’re not going to understand the education I’m giving them.
Woah. Back up. Did I really just say that?
Yes. The thought lasts just a fraction of a nanosecond, but it’s long enough to make me shudder at myself with guilt.
But what makes me proud is that I quickly, quickly toss that notion out the window, which is more than I can say for some people.
Other therapists & staff treat these patients like they’re idiots. They act as if they don’t understand anything, and talk down to them, as if speaking to a child.
But listen up. A person may not be able to talk- that doesn’t mean they can’t think & communicate.
I have two patients that constantly stick out in my mind. One of them carries a white board & dry erase marker with him. The other uses a handheld keyboard that talks a la Stephen Hawking.
Not only do they “talk” to me through these devices, they ask the most thought-provoking, brilliant questions. They just need to somebody to slow down enough to listen.
They teach me a lot.
I have no problems talking, and even I can’t form the words to say how amazing these individuals are. I feel extremely grateful to meet them.
What inspires you?
I'm Heather, a sports dietitian specializing in food sensitivities {and a implementation strategist for fellow health & nutrition professionals}.
5+ years ago the docs told me I'd never run again due to a chronic pain disorder. I'm here to prove them wrong.
