Triumphing In Life In Spite Of Life's Challenges

Old Dying Man Leaves Behind One Of The Best Poems Ever Composed.

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 01:29:00 +0000

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne .. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man.....
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within ... . . .
we will all, one day, be there, too!
PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM,
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched.
They must be felt by the heart.

Thanks.
Delords Austin

MAKE YOUR GOALS SMART...

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:59:00 +0000

If you ask most people what is their one major objective in life, they would probably give you a vague answer, such as, "I want to be successful, be happy, make a good living," and that is it. They are all wishes and none of them are clear goals and that is why many still can't have those things they wished for in Life.

Now here's what You need To Know.
Your Goals must be SMART and that's The Only way it Can be Achievable.

1. S--Specific. For example, "I want to lose weight." This is wishful thinking. It becomes a goal when I pin myself down to "I will lose 10 pounds in 50 days."

2. M--Must be Measurable. If You cannot measure it, you cannot accomplish it. Measurement is a way of monitoring our progress. So when you are able to know how far you have gone in trying to achieve your goal you will definitely know whats left to be done to get it realized.

3. A--Must be Achievable. Achievable means that it should be out of reach enough to be challenging but it should not be out of sight, otherwise it becomes disheartening.

4. R--Realistic. A person who wants to lose 50 pounds in~30 days is being unrealistic. So Your Goals should not just be Wishful thoughts but something you know is Attainable.

5. T--Time-bound. There should be a starting date and a finishing date. This will get you more serious in the quest to Achieving that goal. So set a Time limit for your goals so as to be in pace with its realization.

So If you've been Wishing, I guess its time to Turn Those wishes to Goals and if You are going to Achieve them, then You've got to MAKE YOUR GOALS SMART.

Thanks for Reading Today.
Please Share and comment on this post...

Delords Austin.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Over a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The news papers had probably reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him. The obituary read, "Dynamite King Dies." And also "He was the merchant of death." This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words "merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.

The obituary stated Le marchand de la mort est mort ("The merchant of death is dead") and went on to say, "Dr. Alfred Nobel, who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before, died yesterday." Alfred was disappointed with what he read and concerned with how he would be remembered. On 27 November 1895, at the Swedish-Norwegian Club in Paris, Nobel signed his last will and testament and set aside the bulk of his estate to establish the Nobel Prizes, to be awarded annually without distinction of nationality. After taxes and bequests to individuals, Nobel's will gave 31,225,000 Swedish kronor (equivalent to about 1.8 billion kronor or 250 million US dollars in 2008) to fund the prizes.

Alfred Bernhard Nobel (21 October 1833 – 10 December 1896) was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and armaments manufacturer. He was the inventor of dynamite. Nobel also owned Bofors, which he had redirected from its previous role as primarily an iron and steel producer to a major manufacturer of cannon and other armaments. Nobel held 350 different patents, dynamite being the most famous. He used his fortune to posthumously institute the Nobel Prizes. The synthetic element nobelium was named after him. His name also survives in modern-day companies such as Dynamit Nobel and Akzo Nobel, which are descendents of the companies Nobel himself established.

Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same. So that we can leave a Lasting legacy for others to take along while journeying through Life.

What is your legacy?
How would you like to be remembered?
Will you be spoken well of?
Will you be remembered with love and respect?
Will you be missed?

It All depends on the Actions You are Taking. You Can Rewrite your History and Leave a Pleasurable memory for all to keep while you are gone into Eternity.

STOP................THINK...............And...............ACT..............WISELY.

Thanks.

Delords.

In Spite Of Deformity Aleijadinho Decorated Some Of The Best Scultures For Churches In Brazil

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:10:00 +0000

Aleijadinho, António Francisco Lisboa

Aleijadinho, António Francisco Lisboa, known as O (1738–1814). The leading practitioner of Baroque and Rococo in Brazil, he was born the illegitimate son of the Portuguese architect Manoel Francisco Lisboa (fl. c.1720–before 1767) near Ouro Prêto, Brazil.

The ‘little cripple’ (as O Aleijadinho means) suffered from a disease (possibly syphilis or leprosy) that gradually cost him his toes, fingers, sight, and skin. Aleijadinho was disfigured and crippled by leprosy, and created his masterpiece with his chisel and hammer, tied to his fingerless hands. After that he became more and more of a recluse, working mostly at night. When he did go out in public, he would be carried through the streets in a covered palanquin by his slave/assistants.

In spite of these disadvantages he succeeded in transforming traditional types of Lusitanian church-architecture by means of the most rich and imaginative applied sculptural decoration, much of it carved by himself in the soft soapstone found in abundance in the interior captaincy of Minas Gerais, where gold and diamonds were mined.

His crowning achievement was the Twelve Prophets at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus of Matosinhos at Congonhas. A wealthy businessman, Feliciano Mendes, had built the church to fulfill a vow made while he was desperately ill. Between 1800 and 1805 Aleijadinho sculpted the twelve soapstone figures by having his assistants strap his hammer and chisels to what remained of his hands, which did not at this point include fingers. Since he no longer had feet to stand on he had pads strapped to his knees up which he'd climb the ladders needed to get him off the ground. The Twelve Prophets are arranged around the courtyard and stairway in front of the church.

The capital, Ouro Prêto, acquired numerous chapels, altars, doorways, and façades by Aleijadinho, and his masterpieces are recognized as the Churches of São Francisco de Assis (1766–94), Ouro Prêto (with twin cylindrical towers set on either side of a curved front in which is set a sumptuous carved door-case, while the interior of the Church is remarkably unified, undulating, and elegant), and Bom Jesus de Matozinhos in Congonhas do Campo near Ouro Prêto (with 12 carved figures guarding the entrance to the Church, while the rest of the ensemble is a synthesis of dramatic, powerful, and richly plastic elements, evolved over a long period from 1777 to 1805).

How Passionate are you towards your career or goals in Life, and How long can you stick to your Passionate goals in spite of any Challenge you might face in Life?

Giving up on ones goal simply shows how passionate one is about ones goal, Goals are meant to be achieve and the only goals that brings the Glory are Goals that were Achieved against all odds.

Get Your Goals Together and get Yourself Together to Progress Your Goals in Life In Spite Of All and You sure will Have a Story to Leave for Your Coming Generations to tell.

Thanks
Delords.

Don't Give Up, The Storm Will Be Over...

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:14:00 +0000

A Lady was driving along with her father.

They came upon a storm and the young lady

asked her father, "What shall I do?"

He said "keep driving"....Cars began to pull over

to the side, the storm was getting worse.

"What should I do". The young lady asked?

"Keep driving", her father replied. On up a few feet

she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also

pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over,

I can barely see ahead.

It is terrible & everyone is pulling over!

Her father told her,

"Don't give up", just keep driving!"

Now the storm was terrible, but she NEVER stopped

driving & soon she could see a little more clearly.

After a couple of miles she was again

on dry land and the sun came out.

Her father said,

"Now you can pull over" and get out"

She said "But why now?" He said

"When you get out, look back at all the people

that gave up and are still in the storm,

because you NEVER gave up,

your STORM is NOW OVER.

This is a testimony for anyone who is going

through "hard times" just because everyone else,

even the strongest gives up.

You don't have to.....

if you keep going, soon your storm will be over

and the sun will shine upon your face again.

But If You Give up because of the Raging Storm,

You Might Never get Over it and Many

Precious years might be wasted while waiting

for the Storm to be abated.

Its Time To Face Your Storms and Let It Know

How Faith Stocked You are and Don't Give Up

Cause The Storm will be Over and that Pretty Soon...

Life's Storms are Inevitable and are expedient

If we Must have a Story to tell,

Little Wonder why the Word Story

comes just immediately after the word Storm.

and few words before storm you will see the word Stop.

If you stop because of the storm Ahead of you,

You will never have a story to tell or

leave for your generation to share.

Its Time To Face The Storm Bravely and

Never You Give Up Cause Your Storms will Soon Be Over.

Join Me Today And Lets Stroll in the Midst Of Our Storms.

Cause there is One who is bigger than the storm.
And the psalmist reminds us that,
“He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.” (Psalm 104:3-4)
And He is Our Father and King
A Shelter in the Time Of Storm.

Hope this lifts you up like it lifted me.

GOD Bless.

Delords Austin.

What Is Your Motivation In Life In Spite Of Your Present Challenges Read This Story...

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000

DIFFERENT THINGS MOTIVATES DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

There was a young boy who used to go for regular practice but always played in the reserves and never made it to the soccer eleven of His school Team. While he was practicing, his father used to sit at the far end, waiting for him.

The matches had started and for four days, he didn't show up for practice or the quarter or semifinals. All of a sudden he showed up for the finals, went to the coach and said, "Coach, you have always kept me in the reserves and never let me play in the finals. But today, please let me play". The coach said, "Son, I'm sorry, I can't let you. There are better players than you and besides, it is the finals, the reputation of the school is at stake and I cannot take a chance".

The boy pleaded, "Coach, I promise I will not let you down. I beg of you, please let me play". The coach had never seen the boy plead like this before. He said, "OK, son, go, play. But remember, I am going against my better judgment and the reputation of the school is at stake. Don't let me down." The game started and the boy played like a house on fire. Every time he got the ball, he shot a goal. Needless to say, he was the best player and the star of the game. His team had a spectacular win.

When the game finished, the coach went up to him and said, "Son, how could I have been so wrong in my life. I have never seen you play like this before. What happened? How did you play so well?" The boy replied, "Coach, my father is watching me today." The coach turned around and looked at the place where the boy's father used to sit. There was no one there. He said, "Son, your father used to sit there when you came for practice, but I don't see anyone there today." The boy replied, "Coach, there is something I never told you. My father was blind. Just four days ago, he died. Today is the first day he is watching me from above."

In Spite Of the death of His father He wasn't too depressed to play for his team but was motivated to play and not just playing but being the best player and star of the game. He had been so depressed and weighed down while playing because although His father attended all His practices and games but never saw how he played but on this day He knew His Father being a Christian has gone to Heaven and now having a new celestial body with no deformity and that He is now watching Him from Above and that was His Motivation.

Different Things Really Motivates Different People but what is it that really motivates you or demotivates you? Don't let that sudden challenge and trial of Faith take away the confidence that lies in you or take away your Dreams and drive to Succeed. Get Over that Sudden Challenge and Move on cause Your Success comes next after that Sudden Challenge.

Get Motivated Today In Spite Of Your Present state and Take charge of Your Life's Goal.
God Bless.

In Spite Of Polio Disease-caused Paralysis Wilma Rudolph Became The Fastest Woman On Earth.

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:15:00 +0000

Wilma Rudolph was born prematurely at 4.5 lbs., the 20th of 22 siblings to a poor family in Tennessee on., and caught infantile paralysis (caused by the polio virus) as a very young child. At age four, she had double pneumonia with scarlet fever, whooping cough, chickenpox, and measles, a deadly combination. She recovered, but wore a brace on her left leg and foot which had become twisted as a result. In 1952, 12-year-old Rudolph finally achieved her dream of shedding her handicap and becoming like other children. Her family drove her regularly from Clarksville, Tennessee, to Nashville, Tennessee for treatments to straighten her twisted leg, Her family learned to massage her and did that for years which also helped her get better. She also had to have a leg brace on for three years (6 to 9).

The doctor said she would never put her foot on the earth. But her mother encouraged her; she told Wilma that with God-given ability, persistence and faith she could do anything she wanted. Wilma said, "I want to be the fastest woman on the track on this earth." At the age of nine, against the advice of the doctors, she removed the brace and took the first step the doctors had said she never would. At the age of 13, she entered her first race and came way, way last. And then she entered her second, and third and fourth and came way, way last until a day came when she came in first. At the age of 15 she went to Tennessee State University where she met a coach by the name of Ed Temple. She told him, "I want to be the fastest woman on the track on this earth." Temple said, "With your spirit nobody can stop you and besides, I will help you."

   The day came when she was at the Olympics and at the Olympics you are matched with the best of the best. Wilma was matched against a woman named Jutta Heine who had never been beaten. The first event was the 100-meter race. Wilma beat Jutta Heine and won her first gold medal. The second event was the 200-meter race and Wilma beat Jutta a second time and won her second gold medal. The third event was the 400-meter relay and she was racing against Jutta one more time.

    In the relay, the fastest person always runs the last lap and they both anchored their teams. The first three people ran and changed the baton easily. When it came to Wilma's turn, she dropped the baton. But Wilma saw Jutta shoot up at the other end; she picked the baton, ran like a machine, beat Jutta a third time and won her third gold medal. It became history: That a paralytic woman became the fastest woman on this earth at the 1960 Olympics. The powerful sprinter emerged from the 1960 Rome Olympics as "The Tornado," the fastest woman on earth. The Italians nicknamed her La Gazzella Negra ("The Black Gazelle"); to the French she was La Perle Noire ("The Black Pearl"). She is one of the most famous Tennessee State University Tigerbelles, the name of the TSU women's track and field program.

    In Spite Of Her early Polio caused paralysis and several other Life's Challenges Wilma was able to Triumph and became the best in the world using that part of her body that was disadvantaged. Rudolph - who won three gold medals in track events at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and is rated as one of the best female athletes of this century.

    She retired from running when she was 22 years old, but she went on to coach women's track teams and encourage young people. Wilma thought God had a greater purpose for her than to win three gold medals. She started the Wilma Rudolph Foundation to help children learn about discipline and hard work.

    She died of brain cancer in 1994. Even though she is no longer alive, her influence still lives on in the lives of many young people who look up to her.

Whaaat a lesson to be learnt from Wilma. It teaches us that successful people do it in spite of, not in absence of, problems. When we hear or read stories of people who have turned adversity into opportunity, doesn't it motivate us? If we regularly read biographies and autobiographies of such people, won't we stay motivated?

Life Is A Priceless Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:07:00 +0000

Life Is A Priceless Gift.
A Gift Given To Us All By God, A Gift We All Never Merited,
So How Do We Live and Appreciate The Life we Have ? ? ?.
Here are just a Few Tips To help us do just that.

Today before you think of saying an unkind word –
think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food –
think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife –
think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life –
think of someone who went too early to Eternity.

Before you complain about your children –
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep –
think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive –
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job –
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another –
remember that not one of us are without sin or fault and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down –
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Life is a Priceless gift – Live it Morally, Enjoy it Rightly, Celebrate it Gracefully, Fulfill it Worthily, And Give Good Account Of It.

Thanks and God Bless.
Delords.

In Spite Of Their Handicaps, The Roeblings Were Able To Build The Brooklyn Bridge.

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:02:00 +0000

It really takes persistence to achieve ones goals.
John Augustus Roebling, a German-born American civil engineer envisioned a massive bridge. Though other bridge building experts tried to dissuade Roebling telling him his plans were unrealistic, he could not abandon his vision. He shared his dream with his son Washington, who was an engineering officer in the Union army during the Civil War. Together they developed designs and concepts. John was taking some compass readings while standing on some pilings at a ferry slip and did not notice that a boat was docking. One of his feet was caught between the pilings. His injured toes were amputated. Roebling was shortly diagnosed with tetanus and developed lockjaw. He suffered severe seizures and periodically lapsed into a coma before dying in the early morning hours of July 22, 1869 in Brooklyn Heights, Not Too Long After the Incident.

Washington Augustus Roebling, His Son took over the project, beginning construction in 1870. Tragedy struck again in 1872 when Washington emerged from one of the deeply sunk caisson foundations at the bottom of the river stricken with “the bends.” shattering his health and rendering him unable to visit the site, He was paralyzed from the waist down.

In spite of his handicap, Washington still had a burning desire to complete the bridge. Although he could not speak well, he managed to communicate details of the operation to Emily, his wife. At first all communication was by hand pressures and Washington slowly developed a code of communication with Emily.

Washington relied on Emily to relay his orders to the foremen. To fill his shoes, she studied civil engineering and many suspected, even at the time, that many of the orders came from her.

For 13 years Washington communicated instructions to Emily, until the bridge was finally completed and opened on May 24, 1883. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge that connects New York with Long Island stands as a tangible monument to Emily’s love and devotion, who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband Washington and told the engineers what to do. The Brooklyn Bridge is a tribute to the triumph of one couple’s persistence, indomitable spirit, and determination not to be defeated by circumstances.

The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination and persistence, no matter the odds. And The Roeblings have been able to show us that We can achieve our dreams in spite of whatever Challenges that comes our way.

One of the Biggest Lessons I Got from this Story is that Dreams should be inculcated and imbibed to those around us so that even when we are gone Our Dreams will still Live on and we can have others progress Our Dreams in Life.

Thanks For Reading Today.
GOD Bless.

In Spite Of Rheumatic Hands, Renoir Painted!

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:40:00 +0000

In Spite Of developing rheumatoid arthritis which left him with rheumatic hands around 1892, Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted during the last twenty years of his life, even when arthritis severely limited his movement, and he was wheelchair-bound. He developed progressive deformities in his hands and ankylosis of his right shoulder, requiring him to adapt his painting technique. Yet He choose to Continue Progressing His passion as a painter till death came calling. Today, Two of Renoir's paintings have sold for more than US $70 million. Bal au moulin de la Galette sold for $78.1 million in 1990.

More About Him

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to Watteau. Pierre-Auguste was the father of actor Pierre Renoir and filmmaker Jean Renoir.

Around 1892, Renoir developed rheumatoid arthritis. In 1907, he moved to the warmer climate of "Les Collettes," a farm at Cagnes-sur-Mer, close to the Mediterranean coast. Renoir painted during the last twenty years of his life, even when arthritis severely limited his movement, and he was wheelchair-bound. He developed progressive deformities in his hands and ankylosis of his right shoulder, requiring him to adapt his painting technique. It has often been reported that in the advanced stages of his arthritis, he painted by having a brush strapped to his paralyzed fingers, Renoir remained able to grasp a brush, although he required an assistant to place it in his hand.The wrapping of his hands with bandages, apparent in late photographs of the artist, served to prevent skin irritation.

During this period, he created sculptures by cooperating with a young artist, Richard Guino, who worked the clay. Renoir also used a moving canvas, or picture roll, to facilitate painting large works with his limited joint mobility.
Renoir's portrait of Austrian actress Tilla Durieux (1914) contains playful flecks of vibrant color on her shawl that offset the classical pose of the actress and highlight Renoir's skill just 5 years before his death.
In 1919, Renoir visited the Louvre to see his paintings hanging with those of the old masters. He died in the village of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, on December 3.

There are Challenges One will face in life that would want to kill the passion one has towards achieving ones dreams or purposes, these Challenges are only there to try our persistence whether we will give up on our goals or if we will thrive further in progressing our dreams and purposes in Life and come out with outstanding achievements in Spite Of Our Life's Challenges.

Don't ever Give Up, Even when it seems You are almost losing out on your goals.

GOD Bless.

In Spite Of Blindness and Deafness, Helen Keller made speeches!

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Helen Keller was only nineteen months when she was stricken with scarlet fever which left her deaf, blind, without a sense of smell. Since she was unable either to hear or see, the difficulty of teaching can be readily appreciated. This great task was undertaken by Miss Anne Sullivan. The Story of Helen's Education and rise to greatness as a writer and lecturer in spite of her enormous handicaps, is a stirring record indeed.

Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller's teacher, Anne Sullivan, broke through the isolation imposed by a near complete lack of language, allowing the girl to blossom as she learned to communicate, has become widely known through the dramatic depictions of the play and film "The Miracle Worker".

A prolific author, Keller was well-traveled, and was outspoken in her anti-war convictions. A member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World, she campaigned for women's suffrage, labor rights, socialism, and other radical left causes. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1971 in spite of her difficulties.

Helen's father's lineage can be traced to Casper Keller, a native of Switzerland. Coincidentally, one of Helen's Swiss ancestors was the first teacher for the deaf in Zurich. Helen reflects upon this coincidence in her first autobiography, stating "that there is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.

Helen Keller was not born blind and deaf; it was not until she was 19 months old that she contracted an illness described by doctors as "an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain", which might have been scarlet fever or meningitis. The illness did not last for a particularly long time, but it left her deaf and blind. At that time, she was able to communicate somewhat with Martha Washington, the six-year-old daughter of the family cook, who understood her signs; by the age of seven, she had over 60 home signs to communicate with her family.

In 1886, her mother, inspired by an account in Charles Dickens' American Notes of the successful education of another deaf and blind woman, Laura Bridgman, dispatched young Helen, accompanied by her father, to seek out Dr. J. Julian Chisolm, an eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist in Baltimore, for advice. He subsequently put them in touch with Alexander Graham Bell, who was working with deaf children at the time. Bell advised the couple to contact the Perkins Institute for the Blind, the school where Bridgman had been educated, which was then located in South Boston. Michael Anaganos, the school's director, asked former student Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired and only 20 years old, to become Keller's instructor. It was the beginning of a 49-year-long relationship, Sullivan evolving into governess and then eventual companion.

Anne Sullivan arrived at Keller's house in March 1887, and immediately began to teach Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand, beginning with "d-o-l-l" for the doll that she had brought Keller as a present. Keller was frustrated, at first, because she did not understand that every object had a word uniquely identifying it. In fact, when Sullivan was trying to teach Keller the word for "mug", Keller became so frustrated she broke the doll. Keller's big breakthrough in communication came the next month, when she realized that the motions her teacher was making on the palm of her hand, while running cool water over her other hand, symbolized the idea of "water"; she then nearly exhausted Sullivan demanding the names of all the other familiar objects in her world. Due to a protruding left eye, Keller was usually photographed in profile. Both her eyes were replaced in adulthood with glass replicas for "medical and cosmetic reasons" While she was still quite young, her teacher was anxious to let her know about God. How could she do it? She approached the task with a dubious feelings, and prayed that somehow Helen might be given understanding. Laboriously the patient instructress tried to direct her blind pupil's thoughts to heaven above, where God dwells. Imagine her surprise and joy when Helen smilingly replied, "Oh, I have always believed there was a God." in spite of her conditions.

In Spite Of Helen Keller's Life Challenges, she was able to Achieve Her Dreams and History still remembers some of her works and generosity and here are some of the things attributed to her in spite of her difficulties.

at the age of 24, Keller graduated from Radcliffe, becoming the first deaf blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Keller learned to speak, and spent much of her life giving speeches and lectures. She learned to "hear" people's speech by reading their lips with her hands—her sense of touch had become extremely supple. She became proficient at using Braille and reading sign language with her hands as well.
Keller went on to become a world-famous speaker and author.
She is remembered as an advocate for people with disabilities, amid numerous other causes. She was a suffragist, a pacifist, an opponent of Woodrow Wilson, a radical socialist and a birth control supporter.
In 1915 she and George Kessler founded the Helen Keller International (HKI) organization. This organization is devoted to research in vision, health and nutrition.
In 1920 she helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Keller traveled to 40 some-odd countries with Sullivan, making several trips to Japan and becoming a favorite of the Japanese people.
Keller met every U.S. President from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson and was friends with many famous figures, including Alexander Graham Bell, Charlie Chaplin and Mark Twain.
Keller joined the Industrial Workers of the World (known as the IWW or the Wobblies) in 1912, saying that parliamentary socialism was "sinking in the political bog". She wrote for the IWW between 1916 and 1918. In Why I Became an IWW, Keller explained that her motivation for activism came in part from her concern about blindness and other disabilities:
Keller wrote a total of 12 published books and several articles.
On September 14, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States' two highest civilian honors.
In 1965 she was elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame at the New York World's Fair.
Keller devoted much of her later life to raising funds for the American Foundation for the Blind. She died in her sleep on June 1, 1968, at her home, Arcan Ridge, located in Easton, Connecticut. A service was held in her honor at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and her ashes were placed there next to her constant companions, Anne Sullivan and Polly Thompson.
n 1999, Keller was listed in Gallup's Most Widely Admired People of the 20th Century.
In 2003, Alabama honored its native daughter on its state quarter.
The Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama is dedicated to her.
There are streets named after Helen Keller in Getafe, Spain, in Lod, Israel and in Lisbon, Portugal.
A preschool for the deaf and hard of hearing in Mysore, India, was originally named after Helen Keller by its founder K. K. Srinivasan.
On October 7, 2009, a bronze statue of Helen Keller was added to the National Statuary Hall Collection, as a replacement for the State of Alabama's former 1908 statue of the education reformer Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry. It is displayed in the United States Capitol Visitor Center and depicts Keller as a seven-year-old child standing at a water pump. The statue represents the seminal moment in Keller's life when she understood her first word: W-A-T-E-R, as signed into her hand by teacher Anne Sullivan. The pedestal base bears a quotation in raised letters and Braille characters: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." The statue is the first one of a person with a disability and of a child to be permanently displayed at the U.S. Capitol.

The Story of Helen Keller's Triumph in Life in spite Of Her Devastating disabilities is a real wonder to all and proves to us that there is always an ability in disability. No Matter Your Current Physical or Mental Challenges You can still achieve Your Dreams if You only believe that you Can.
All Things are POSSIBLE to him or her that Believes.

Thanks For Reading.
God Bless.

In Spite Of Losing His Right Arm, Jesús F. Contreras Designed One Of The Best Sculptures in Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:57:00 +0000

There's a beautiful statue in Mexico that bears the unusual title: "In Spite Of". The name was given to honour the sculptor rather than the subject in stone. It happened this way: During the time he was creating the statue, the sculptor suffered a Medical accident due to a poorly treated Cancer & lost his right hand. He was determined to finish the statue, so much that he learned how 2 chisel with his left hand. So the statue was named:... "In Spite Of", because in spite of his handicap, the sculptor completed his work.

Jesus F. Contreras was a sculptor, grandson of Jose Maria Chavez, who served as Governor Liberal and I think a craft center that marked the young man to yearn for a sculptor. Stood out as the author of the colossal bronze reliefs with figures Indigenous, the Monument to the Race of Mexico City, but his greatest sculpture that can be called his greatest work is called Tout Malgré.

He was born on January 21, 1866 in Aguascalientes, At 7 years and had founded a printing shop. During the primary school Placido Jimenez, where he studied drawing, excellent painter who at 12 years was considered as a lithographer. It was so successful that its 14 years, his peers and teachers supported him in his education to continue their studies at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in 1881, where he was a disciple of the sculptor Manuel Noreña. Completed its 17 years, was a fellow by the Government to study in the European continent, France.

Jesus F. Contreras to the time he turned 17, the government granted a pension, to travel to Europe to further explore and deepen their art. When he returned, with just 22 years old, his teacher support Noreña, together made the beautiful statue of Cuauhtemoc, which is located on Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, being in charge of casting Contreras. On August 13, 1883 at the time of casting the bronze, or ignition jet pierced the foot of Chucho Contreras.

The inauguration of the monument was on August 21, 1887, and in Mexico, Contreras established Mexican Art Foundation and as a result were two statues which are placed on the Paseo de la Reforma. Another of the known works by Contreras, Benito Juarez in Chihuahua are Manuel Acuña and Ignacio Zaragoza, Coahuila Saltillo, General Ramon Corona, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Nicolas Bravo, Ignacio Zaragoza and Independence, Puebla, to Peace, Guanajuato General Jesus Gonzalez Ortega, Zacatecas to the magistrate Ortiz de Dominguez. It is also notable for being the author of the colossal bronze reliefs with figures Indigenous Memorial Race of Mexico City, but his greatest sculpture that can be called his greatest work is called Malgré Tout, which located in the Alameda of Mexico City. He lost his right arm as a result of fibrous cancer.

One of the greatest achievements of Contreras along with the support of the government of Aguas Calientes was the Mexican Artistic Foundry, which left the statues placed on both sides of the reform drive. The Mexican Art Foundry was able to install:• The Center Statuary Bronze country's largest.• The artistic pottery workshop• Your personal studyMonument to Nicolas BravoIt opened on November 21, 1897 by President Porfirio Diaz. A year later, on the opposite side added the Allegory of History. Both works of Jesús E. Contreras.

Malgré Tout Sculpture (Mexico City) See Picture Here Popularly known to be his greatest work, Malgré Tout, is a sculpture translated into Spanish means Nevertheless (in spite of), depicts a naked woman, lying and chained. It was founded in 1989, according to the accounts of Amado Nervo, Contreras says that Jesus made the sculpture without the right arm because he was amputee because of cancer treated poorly. But historical references tell that this is dated prior to the amputation of his arm. It is recognized that despite what happened to the artist, his sculptural work continued until completion. Note that the Malgré Tout, remained for a long time in the Alameda Central in Mexico City but climate issues and graffiti artists, the sculpture was moved to its current residence at the National Museum of Art (MUNAL). Some time later Manuel Maria Ponce, composed a piano piece that paid homage to the sculptor and the work.

He died on July 12, 1902 in the City of Mexico. But Till Date He is being Celebrated as One of Mexico's Finest Sculptors In Spite Of His Later physical Challenge yet He went on to complete the statue that has so kept his memories in the heart of everyone who comes to know about His Works.

Just A Lesson For All, In Spite Of whatever Challenges You might be facing at this Time, You Can still Move on and have that Passionate Course, Dream and Purpose of Yours Fulfilled.

If You think You Can fulfill that Dream, Then You Can. Its Time To Rise above Your Present state and Take up the Challenge and Breakthrough to the Realization of Your Dreams with GOD by Your Side.

Thanks For Reading
GOD Bless.

About This Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Delords) — Sun, 06 May 2012 14:05:00 +0000

Welcome And Thanks For Visiting My Blog,

The In Spite Of Blog is a platform i want to use to present the Outstanding Achievements accomplished By Real People who while in their quest to Fulfill their Life's Endeavors met several Challenges and Obstacles which almost prevented Them from Achieving their desired Goals and Attaining Success in them. But who in the face of such Challenges and adversities were able to Breakthrough their Immediate Obstacles and Moved on to Achieve their Dreams and Aspirations in Life.

These are Real People, With Real Interesting Stories That We Can All Learn Lessons From As We Also Thrive to Achieve Our Individual Goals and Pursuits In Life in the face of the effrontery of our individual adversities and Challenges to which we either allow them to prevent us from achieving our goals or we break through them to reach for our goals.

Its A Choice we all have to make if the Future Generations will ever have a story to tell about us.

Read Through the Outstanding stories of these great Achievers and let the lessons derived from their stories build up a positive propensity for you to Accomplish Your Own Dreams and Aspirations in Life In Spite Of Your Current uneasy Circumstances.

Thanks For Visiting and Supporting This Blog.

GOD Bless.
Delords Austin.