We spend our whole life trying to make the most money, trying to move on up in the world, trying to get everything that we want. During this competition we sometimes forget who got us there in the first place and push others out of the way. In this competition there is never truly a first place, since our wants and needs forever increase. We want more money and a nice sports car and nice clothes, but do we ever want more friends or more relationships? It never really seems like that is what we are out to get, but it should be.
(These things are what make up The Unforgotten)
Today I went early in the morning to visit my nurse’s father who is 88 years old. He is an amazing guy that has been through so much in his life. He has made it through 4 years in World War II and years of raising his family of all daughters. Most of his long and full life is over and there is no turning back for him. Like most people at his age, he is slowly losing his memory and has a hard time remembering some things. What he does remember is the truly inspirational thing, he remembers The Unforgotten.
He remembers the friendships he had over the years. The time he spent with them is what he lived for. They were the ones that made him laugh when the days grew dark and made him smile when sun shined. They made him who he is today and he will never forget them.
(His friends are The Unforgotten.)
He remembers the years of marriage and raising his children from a small baby to a fully-grown adult. He saw the beauty of life come alive when they were born. He gave them an education that allowed them to make hundreds of friends along the way. But most importantly, he was able to pass down his beliefs to his children and make them see life through optimistic eyes.
(His children are The Unforgotten.)
The love he gave to his wife also passed down to his children. She brightened every single day from dawn to sunset. She helped him take care of his family when times got rough. She allowed him to follow his passion of singing, albeit just singing lullabies and Sinatra songs to his children. She transformed him forever and she will never be forgotten.
(His wife is The Unforgotten.)
But his memory is falling apart for other things. He cannot remember all of the lyrics to his favorite Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin songs that he used to sing in his youth and later on to his children. He forgets the money he made. He forgets what kind of car he had or how much it had cost. He forgets about everything except friendship and love.
(So what does all this mean?)
It means that the truly important things in life are friendship and love, nothing more than those two short words. It means that you should not always try to strike it rich and forget about creating and forming relationships with the amazing people around you. It means that fame does not replace a need for love and friendship. Near the end of your life, fame will not be important, money will not be important, prosperity will not be important. What will truly be important will be the children you raised, the love you shared, and the friendships that changed your life. These things can never be forgotten, no matter what financial state you are in or how bad life gets. These things are The Unforgotten.
(“Money will not change the world, in the end it will only be paper, but love and friendship can change the world, and can never be reduced to nothing.”)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Decision-Free Day
Our society revolves around planning. Planning to go to the grocery store. Planning to go to the mall. Planning to go anywhere. What’s next, planning when to breath in and out? We never stop for a second to admire the beauty all around us or do things that we really want to do. It’s not the end of the world to stop planning for one day and go on a trip to a new or exciting place. You could go a mile down the road or hours away going wherever the road may take you. Life is a highway, so why not ride it all night long?
I’ve had so many Decision-Free Days in my life so far. From monster truck shows to Washington DC, I’ve been to hundreds of cool and indescribable places, too many to name. Below I will describe one of my DFD’s and hopefully inspire you to take a break from all the stress and pain of life and go on your own Decision-Free Day adventure.
Right before I sat down to write this blog entry, I had returned from a 6-hour Decision-Free Day with my nurse with a story that you would think belongs in a week trip. The night before I had called my aide from high school and asked him if he would be home the next morning. He texted me back and said that he would. So the next morning I left all technology and stress behind at 8:30 in the morning and took a half hour ride to his house with my nurse. He showed me his house, his pool, and his cat and two dogs. The three of us sat by the pool and ate potato chips with sour cream and drank some soda. But more importantly, we sat back and talked about our lives and reminisced on the good times we had in high school together. He could have not been happier to see me and we spent about an hour playing War with playing cards next to his pool. Then the three of us went on a walk around his community and he told me everything about his neighbors and how the houses had changed over the years. My nurse and I were going to leave right after our walk was done, but then I had an idea that literally just popped into my head. But unlike I, and probably many of you, usually do, I listened to that idea and went with it.
That took us to the diner about a mile down the road where I had fish and chips, my friend had a grilled cheese with tomato, and my nurse had a chicken sandwich. We continued to reminisce and talk about life during our lunch and had a great day. But yet again, the trip did not end there like it normally would have with all the woes of life. My nurse and I followed my friend and continued another mile or two down the road to a rustic Main Street in an old-fashioned town. The bridge that we crossed overlooked a waterfall and two water wheels churning the water. My nurse and I found a parking spot on the street and took a stroll down the sidewalk looking at the shops that we passed. My friend told me about how all the shops and restaurants had changed and about what used to be there. After walking up and down the street two times we all decided to stop and get some ice cream. I got a flavor called Lobster Tracks with chocolate and red candies and we sat on a bench and yet again talked about life.
This trip made me wonder why everyone spends their days whining that there is nothing to do when there is really a world of excitement waiting for them outside their small, secluded world. It also made me see how fast the world around us can change and how we should take in everything before it disappears from view. Look at how simple everything I did was; it was not like I had decided to go skydiving or anything like that. I had only let my mind and the road take control of my day and turned just a simple visit into an extraordinary and memorable journey.
So take a few hours out of your day, call up that friend you have not seen in years, and go wherever the road may take you. Follow through with any idea that may go through your head and that idea will take you to many other places you never thought you would go. Put your stressed mind and life to the side for a bit and see what the world can truly offer.
I’ve had so many Decision-Free Days in my life so far. From monster truck shows to Washington DC, I’ve been to hundreds of cool and indescribable places, too many to name. Below I will describe one of my DFD’s and hopefully inspire you to take a break from all the stress and pain of life and go on your own Decision-Free Day adventure.
Right before I sat down to write this blog entry, I had returned from a 6-hour Decision-Free Day with my nurse with a story that you would think belongs in a week trip. The night before I had called my aide from high school and asked him if he would be home the next morning. He texted me back and said that he would. So the next morning I left all technology and stress behind at 8:30 in the morning and took a half hour ride to his house with my nurse. He showed me his house, his pool, and his cat and two dogs. The three of us sat by the pool and ate potato chips with sour cream and drank some soda. But more importantly, we sat back and talked about our lives and reminisced on the good times we had in high school together. He could have not been happier to see me and we spent about an hour playing War with playing cards next to his pool. Then the three of us went on a walk around his community and he told me everything about his neighbors and how the houses had changed over the years. My nurse and I were going to leave right after our walk was done, but then I had an idea that literally just popped into my head. But unlike I, and probably many of you, usually do, I listened to that idea and went with it.
That took us to the diner about a mile down the road where I had fish and chips, my friend had a grilled cheese with tomato, and my nurse had a chicken sandwich. We continued to reminisce and talk about life during our lunch and had a great day. But yet again, the trip did not end there like it normally would have with all the woes of life. My nurse and I followed my friend and continued another mile or two down the road to a rustic Main Street in an old-fashioned town. The bridge that we crossed overlooked a waterfall and two water wheels churning the water. My nurse and I found a parking spot on the street and took a stroll down the sidewalk looking at the shops that we passed. My friend told me about how all the shops and restaurants had changed and about what used to be there. After walking up and down the street two times we all decided to stop and get some ice cream. I got a flavor called Lobster Tracks with chocolate and red candies and we sat on a bench and yet again talked about life.
This trip made me wonder why everyone spends their days whining that there is nothing to do when there is really a world of excitement waiting for them outside their small, secluded world. It also made me see how fast the world around us can change and how we should take in everything before it disappears from view. Look at how simple everything I did was; it was not like I had decided to go skydiving or anything like that. I had only let my mind and the road take control of my day and turned just a simple visit into an extraordinary and memorable journey.
So take a few hours out of your day, call up that friend you have not seen in years, and go wherever the road may take you. Follow through with any idea that may go through your head and that idea will take you to many other places you never thought you would go. Put your stressed mind and life to the side for a bit and see what the world can truly offer.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
To The World
Have you ever
Knew the truth, but decided to lie?
Have you ever
Failed to touch the sky?
Have you ever
Had your dreams slip away?
Well all that’s going to change today.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
And if you say you can’t,
That all your life
Is on a slant,
Get up off that cold, hard ground,
And watch the world go round and round,
It will never stop turning
Through all your pain, your tears,
The lessons you’re learning.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
And when you look back and see
What opening up has made you be,
You’ll be speechless
By the cleaned up mess,
The path you have taken
Is the one to success,
Keep telling your story
Because life never rests.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
Knew the truth, but decided to lie?
Have you ever
Failed to touch the sky?
Have you ever
Had your dreams slip away?
Well all that’s going to change today.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
And if you say you can’t,
That all your life
Is on a slant,
Get up off that cold, hard ground,
And watch the world go round and round,
It will never stop turning
Through all your pain, your tears,
The lessons you’re learning.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
And when you look back and see
What opening up has made you be,
You’ll be speechless
By the cleaned up mess,
The path you have taken
Is the one to success,
Keep telling your story
Because life never rests.
Because now it’s time to open up,
Open up
To the world,
Go bungee jumping
Without the cord,
Tell your story
Stop being mute,
Skydiving
With no parachute.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Unlock the Door
Once again defeated you fall to the ground
Broken into pieces, and you keep going down
And when everything is wrong you relieve it with more pain
Feels better for a second, but you know it’s just insane.
So hide away your problems, like you always do
Put on that fake smile, but tell yourself it’s true
No one will ever know that you’re bleeding inside
Don’t want your fear to take away your pride.
So put it in a box and never let it go
And if you add a lock then no one will ever know
The secrets, the pain, your traumas and your fears
The stuff that piles up after so many long years
But by hiding all your problems you can never let them go
So stop crying alone maybe it’s time that they should know
Learn to trust, know they care, and open up your heart
Break free of the pain by making a new start.
So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.
Sitting in your room crying, alone again
And at times like these you wish you had real friends
Maybe forgetting the pain will make it go away
But if you don’t accept it then it will always stay
So take a deep breath and let it go
The answer to your problems might be closer than you know
Don’t keep the agony bottled up inside
At some point even the toughest people have cried.
But when I look in the mirror I hate what I see
How is it possible for someone to be as ugly as me
Tired eyes and broken dreams
I wonder if life is as hard as it seems?
But you’re beautiful so be who you wanna be
The only person judging you is the reflection that you see
Be outrageous and express how you feel
What matters is what’s inside so make sure it’s real
So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.
And as time goes by this aching will no longer exist
No more problems, no more fears, no more cuts on your wrist
Maybe the old scars still might remain
But after awhile you will no longer feel the pain.
So let out all your problems, they all want to know
You’re loved by many people even if it doesn’t always show
Have faith in yourself and never forget
All that you’ve overcame, the blood and the sweat.
Broken into pieces, and you keep going down
And when everything is wrong you relieve it with more pain
Feels better for a second, but you know it’s just insane.
So hide away your problems, like you always do
Put on that fake smile, but tell yourself it’s true
No one will ever know that you’re bleeding inside
Don’t want your fear to take away your pride.
So put it in a box and never let it go
And if you add a lock then no one will ever know
The secrets, the pain, your traumas and your fears
The stuff that piles up after so many long years
But by hiding all your problems you can never let them go
So stop crying alone maybe it’s time that they should know
Learn to trust, know they care, and open up your heart
Break free of the pain by making a new start.
So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.
Sitting in your room crying, alone again
And at times like these you wish you had real friends
Maybe forgetting the pain will make it go away
But if you don’t accept it then it will always stay
So take a deep breath and let it go
The answer to your problems might be closer than you know
Don’t keep the agony bottled up inside
At some point even the toughest people have cried.
But when I look in the mirror I hate what I see
How is it possible for someone to be as ugly as me
Tired eyes and broken dreams
I wonder if life is as hard as it seems?
But you’re beautiful so be who you wanna be
The only person judging you is the reflection that you see
Be outrageous and express how you feel
What matters is what’s inside so make sure it’s real
So…Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them see! (Let them see)
That there is more to you than what they expect you to be
Let it out! (Let it out)
Let them know (Let them know)
That you have another side that doesn’t always show
So let them see (Let them see)
Who you are (Who you are)
Because hiding things away won’t get you very far.
And as time goes by this aching will no longer exist
No more problems, no more fears, no more cuts on your wrist
Maybe the old scars still might remain
But after awhile you will no longer feel the pain.
So let out all your problems, they all want to know
You’re loved by many people even if it doesn’t always show
Have faith in yourself and never forget
All that you’ve overcame, the blood and the sweat.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Whatever is Given
Why is everyone so angry,
When I am happy?
They get angry,
At anything that’s different,
They are not used to change,
But I am,
So why can’t they just,
Be like me?
I am happy,
With whatever you give me,
I am very used to change,
I know that when,
Anything goes wrong,
I’m ready to get through it,
Again and again and again,
And again and again…
I know a guy,
Who has nothing at all,
Just his family,
And very few friends,
He goes through each day,
Always happy,
Making sure,
Everything is okay.
He is happy,
With whatever he’s given,
He is very used to change,
He knows that when,
Anything goes wrong,
He’s ready to get through it,
Again and again and again,
And again and again…
My friend knows this girl,
Who is at the top of the world,
But to her it’s really the bottom,
She’s the CEO,
Of a big company,
That’s now about to go bankrupt,
Even through all of this,
She’s never lost hope.
She is happy,
With whatever she’s given,
She is very used to change,
She knows that when,
Anything goes wrong,
She’s ready to get through it,
Again and again and again,
And again and again…
Everyone should be happy,
With whatever they’re given,
They should be very used to change,
They should know when,
Anything goes wrong,
They will be ready to get through it,
Again and again and again…
Friday, March 11, 2011
One Word
One hello can change the world,
Two hello’s can change your life,
More than two,
You will survive,
You need hello’s to stay alive.
So I dare you to go,
Out into the world,
And say hello to everyone you see,
It will show them your true love,
When life becomes push and shove.
Put a smile on your face,
Take away disgrace,
Give happiness a taste,
Make your heart open spaced,
Live your life as far as it can go,
You’ll change some lives,
Hey, you never know.
Remember how you felt,
When you thought,
Your heart would melt,
You took one step ahead,
But took a step back instead,
Until you saw that smile,
On a stranger’s face,
You picked yourself off the floor,
And knew inside,
You could do much, much more!
You’ve stood in their shoes,
When you thought,
That you would lose,
You’ve been there before,
Felt like asking for more,
So now you got to smile,
[Stay here a while]
Give all that you can give,
[Stay here a while]
Brighten someone’s day,
[Stay here a while]
You couldn’t want it any other way.
Smile,
Don’t frown,
Say hello,
Not goodbye,
Smile,
Smile,
Hello,
How are you?
Just say hello,
And smile…
Friday, March 4, 2011
A Grandmother's Love
I just heard the optimism of a grandmother of a child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It brought me the verge of tears and I know it will deeply affect you. After reading this, please feel free to leave a comment describing something you’d do for a loved one, your daughter, your son, your friend, anyone you hold dear.
“I drink in every day that I have with my grandson and I file it away in the deep recesses of my mind to be called up when I will want to look back at the memories. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He will never probably experience the girl/boy love thing. He gets crushes on girls on TV. But I think that’s ok with him. He lives in his world of video games, listening to music, playing on the computer and the love of his papa and me. He is happy as a lark.
I sometimes cry inside when I think of what he has before him and what all of you have before you physically as time goes on. I get angry and I want to do something about it so bad. No wants to see a loved one go through anything. But I don’t dwell on it. I dwell in the moment. It’s a gift to have each and every moment with him. I am here to help him through his journey every step of the way. It’s my mission in life. It’s my lot in life. I am his advocate when he can’t express what he needs, I am his fierce protector; I am everything I need to be for him. I see my grandson as a gift from God.
Kids who don’t deal with the things you all deal with don’t know how good they have it. It only shows what you are made of! That is my point, the mindset, the attitude; it’s wonderful. Life is a gift. Yes, some people are dealt a worse hand than others, but look at what they do with it. That’s the beauty of it. I sometimes wonder. How would I feel? I try to put myself into the place of someone disabled in a wheelchair, and I really can’t. And why is that? Because I’m not in a wheelchair. I’m not disabled. But then there are all kinds of disabilities. There is the disability of intolerance and ignorance at people who are physically challenged. Now that’s a deep statement isn’t it?
“I drink in every day that I have with my grandson and I file it away in the deep recesses of my mind to be called up when I will want to look back at the memories. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He will never probably experience the girl/boy love thing. He gets crushes on girls on TV. But I think that’s ok with him. He lives in his world of video games, listening to music, playing on the computer and the love of his papa and me. He is happy as a lark.
I sometimes cry inside when I think of what he has before him and what all of you have before you physically as time goes on. I get angry and I want to do something about it so bad. No wants to see a loved one go through anything. But I don’t dwell on it. I dwell in the moment. It’s a gift to have each and every moment with him. I am here to help him through his journey every step of the way. It’s my mission in life. It’s my lot in life. I am his advocate when he can’t express what he needs, I am his fierce protector; I am everything I need to be for him. I see my grandson as a gift from God.
Kids who don’t deal with the things you all deal with don’t know how good they have it. It only shows what you are made of! That is my point, the mindset, the attitude; it’s wonderful. Life is a gift. Yes, some people are dealt a worse hand than others, but look at what they do with it. That’s the beauty of it. I sometimes wonder. How would I feel? I try to put myself into the place of someone disabled in a wheelchair, and I really can’t. And why is that? Because I’m not in a wheelchair. I’m not disabled. But then there are all kinds of disabilities. There is the disability of intolerance and ignorance at people who are physically challenged. Now that’s a deep statement isn’t it?
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