Katie Kirkpatrick: True Love Transcends Pain and Time

A sad, yet inspiring and beautiful story of Katie Kirkpatrick, a 21-year-old, “who did not let sickness stop her from living, take away the hope or faith that made her believe she had a future …“, according to snopes.com. A reminder to all that time is limited, and someday it may just be our last. How are we going to live the last of our days? Are we going to just lie in bed and wait for death to claim us? Or are we going to get up, dress up in our best, get out of the house and live life to the fullest?

Remember that how we continue to live life, is purely our choice. Katie’s choice has inspired me and I hope her choice will inspire you to live the life that you truly deserve! To a friend who lost her life to cancer recently – you will always be dearly remembered.

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A tribute to a beautiful and inspiring soul – Katie Kirkpatrick

On January 15, 2005, twenty-one-year-old Katie—the girl “with a contagious smile and unrelenting optimism” who had been battling cancer for three years—married twenty-three-year-old Lapeer County sheriff’s deputy Nick Goodwin, her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, at Church of Christ in Hazel Park, Michigan.

Photos were taken by Romain Blanquart.

Katie Kirkpatrick and her fiance, Nick, rest prior to their wedding. Katie has terminal cancer and spends hours in chemotherapy. Here Nick waits while she finishes one of the sessions.

Even in pain and dealing with her organs shutting down, with the help of morphine, Katie took care of every single wedding plan. Her dress had to be adjusted several times due to her constant weight loss.

An unusual accessory at the wedding was the oxygen tube that Katie used throughout the ceremony and reception as well. Katie’s parents look on.

Katie, in a wheelchair, listening to her husband and friends

At the reception, Katie had to take a few rest breaks. The pain wouldn’t allow her to stand up for long periods.

Katie passed away just five days after her wedding. Seeing the smile on her face, it was priceless.

Nick said of the wedding and Katie’s passing:

It was wonderful. It was a dream come true. She was the most beautiful angel ever—just caring and selfless, and such an inspiration to everyone. She was always smiling no matter what happened, no matter what news she got. She was as close to perfect as they come.

Children Learn What They Live

Children Learn What They Live was a poem on child-rearing written by Dorothy Law Nolte for the weekly family column for the Torrance Herald in 1954. I think all of us have an important role to play in the upbringing of children; it doesn’t has to be our own children, it can be any children who come into contact with us. What do we want them to learn from us?

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

Change for a Dollar by Sharon Wright

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.

Mother Teresa

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The person who posted this video asked, “Is he asking for Change, or is he asking for CHANGE? A lot of times it takes very little to make a difference in the life of another, to make someone’s life better.

The questions are:

Have we been too caught up with our lives and we have become oblivious to what are happening around us?

Have we over amplified our own problems that they ‘blocked’ out everything else that is important and needed our attention?

The man in the video has obviously seen and heard much more than we do and let us followed him in his ‘magical’ journey to affecting the life of others in the video.

Written and directed by Sharon Wright
www.imdb.me/sharonwright
www.shesalwayswright.com

Winner – Best Short Film – Maryville Film Festival
Winner – Audience Choice Award – Gateway Film Festival
Winner – Audience Choice Award – Moonlight Film Festival
Nominated – Best Female Filmmaker Award – Action On Film Intl Film Festival
Nominated – Sirrocco Award – Action On Film Intl Film Festival
Nominated – Best Silent Film – BareBones Intl Film Festival

My name is Wen Guang, I have Autism

Just come across this video in Facebook, shot in Malaysia, about Autism which I would like to share with you. According to Wikipedia, although there is no known cure to autism, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. And as the message in the video, I believe that if we are patient with autistic children, we can discover their strength and the keys to their lives; they too, will Shine and become successful in life. A good reminder to all of us.

Juggling the balls in life by Brian G. Dyson

I believe that some of you might have already read this before; it was a 30 seconds speech by Brian G. Dyson, former CEO of Coca Cola. Although Brian Dyson gave this speech on September 6, 1996, the words which were spoken back then are as applicable today as they were many years ago. He had aptly used an analogy of juggling balls to compare to what most of us have been struggling to balance in our lives: namely work, family, health, friends and spirit.

And how true it was when he described family, health, friends and spirit as glass ball and if we drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. Work, on the other hand, is a rubber ball which will bounce back when drop. This is something which we have to remind ourselves often to juggle the glass balls carefully. I hope that his words of wisdom would give you an insight in life.

Juggling the balls in life

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for Balance in your life.

How?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be pave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings!

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Brian G. Dyson, former CEO, Coca-Cola Enterprises during his speech at the Georgia Tech 172nd Commencement Address Sept. 6, 1996
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Photo Credit: Gabriel Rojas Hruska

I’ve Learned by Omer B. Washington

How often have we heard someone said, “I’m too old to learn that?” I was talking to a friend about dancing and she said that she was too old to pick up dancing. I told her that no one is ever too old to learn something and she jokingly replied saying that it doesn’t apply to her.

And yet we have often heard of ‘being too old’ as a reason not to learn something new. Age had not deterred Anne from standing up to what she believes. In fact, she had put many, including myself to shame. It set me to think if I would have her courage to stand up for what I believe in if the similar thing happened in Singapore?”

As we grow older, we would also be growing up and realising important things in life. I believe there were many lessons that we had learnt and will continue to learn each day; learning is continuous and lifelong. The moment we stop learning is the moment we are six feet underground. The irony about learning is that the more we learn, the more we would realise how little we know.

Below is a list of ‘I’ve learned’ by Omer B. Washington and do feel free to leave a comment on other lessons you had learnt.
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I’ve Learned by Omer B. Washington

I’ve learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I’ve learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don’t care back.
And it’s not the end of the world.
I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.
I’ve learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I’ve learned that it’s not what happens to people,
It’s what they do about it.
I’ve learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I’ve learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I’ve learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can’t.

I’ve learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done
regardless of the consequences.
I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don’t know how to show it.
I’ve learned that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I’ve learned that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

I’ve learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they’re going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I’ve learned that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I’ve learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I’ve learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I’ve learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I’ve learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
I’ve learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I’ve learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I’ve learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I’ve learned that it’s hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people’s feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I’ve learned to love and be loved.
I’ve learned.
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Photo by StartupStockPhotos

This Too Shall Pass

I hope that this poem by Helen Steiner Rice will inspire you and I whom are all equaled in the Universe and whom are always loved. We will sometimes face challenges which we may think to be beyond us. However, bear in mind always that we will not be given a challenge which we cannot handle; we will always overcome these challenges to become a better person. And while we are caught in the undercurrent and seemed to be swept away, let us all continue to hold strongly the faith that ‘This too shall pass …’ As the sun set to signify the end of the day and that a new day is certain.

This Too Shall Pass by Helen Steiner Rice

If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be –

If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me –

If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too –

Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear –
For this is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.

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Photo by jitu1234