A late night quick post to remind myself to talk less and do more. This was inspired by a post from a friend in Facebook. She posted a picture in her timeline sharing some words for teenagers.
Northland College principal John Tapene has offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth. “Always we hear the cry from teenagers. ‘what can we do, where can we go?’
“My answer is this: Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you’ve finished, read a book. Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun.”
Aren’t the words very truth? We have heard words like, “I’m bored. There are nothing to do and no where to go,” from today’s teenagers and sometimes even some adults will be guilty of saying those words. And they act like everyone owes them something, everyone else is to blame for all the mistakes except themselves, they take people and things for granted etc. Yet, in reflection, we also have to look deep into ourselves if we are actually the one causing these issues in our teenagers.
There is a saying, “Children see, children do.” What are the things that we are doing everyday? What are our attitudes in handling things and people? How are we treating the people around us? Are we spending quality time with them to nurture them? Are we treating them the same way as we are treating others? Are we the cry babies that we are seeing in the reflection of our teenagers?
The principal John Tapene then went on to share, “The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something. You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in sickness and lonely again. In other words grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone. Start behaving like a responsible person. You are important and your are needed. It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Someday is now and that somebody is you!”
Mark Twain had also said, “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”
So we really need to take responsibility for our actions and start focusing our energy on what we can do. As what principal John Tapene said, we have to realise that we are important and we are needed and it is too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Today is the day and we are that somebody to do something! When we start living our lives that way and walking our talks, would our younger ones do likewise?
I saw this paragraph in Chinese today and translated it into English to share it with you. I thought that it was absolutely beautiful and yet touching. Don’t most of us have a father like this?
Somehow when I was reading that short paragraph, I was reminded of my own father. He was such a father in many ways to us. Although he is no longer with us, he is always closed in the hearts of those he had loved unconditionally. Whatever we had given unconditionally, no matter how small they might seem to be, would never be lost – they would always be dearly remembered.
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He liked me without any makeup on,
liked my long ponytail,
He asked me everyday what I had for lunch
and what I wanted for dinner,
He would frown and say, “Bought clothes again,”
and then complimented, “Beautiful,”
He taught me not to waste money and then passed me a credit card,
He listened in silent when I was crying over the phone …
Then said, “Come back … I would support you!”
The man who loved me the most in the world was already married to my mother!
A random act of happiness by an elderly couple from Iowa at Mayo Clinic goes viral in Youtube and made more than 6 million people smile. And that, say Francis and Marlow Cowan, is what keeps them young. No need for the botox or all the vitamins, this is the ‘secret!’ They sure made me smile! And guess what, they are married for more than 62 years!
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.
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.“
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A late night quick post to remind myself to talk less and do more. This was inspired by a post from a friend in Facebook. She posted a picture in her timeline sharing some words for teenagers.
