Archive for August, 2009

RFAD Gala Evening

Looks like good fun for a good cause.

I think I may just attend that. Looks like fun. I think you should come too.

Build a Bridge

This to me is an amzing story of determination and the commitment of an unconditional lover. It’s stories like these that move me and make me realize that I have been given a gift, as have most of you. I have the gift of an able body and an able mind.

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built. Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome.

With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge. The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

“We told them so.”

“Crazy men and their crazy dreams.”

“It`s foolish to chase wild visions.”

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.

As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again. For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed.

Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal. Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

Taken from www.indianchild.com

Now that is a story well worth telling. What really stands out to me is the devotion of his loving wife. Without her Washington’s dream to fulfill his father’s dream would have not been realised. Often you need help in realsing your dreams… never be afraid to ask. Strength is found mostly in love wether it be inspiration from a loved one or simply a love for what you are doing, it is very rare to achieve greatness without the power of love.

Go now. Love, be loved and be great.

SECRETARIES DAY BREAKFAST – REACH FOR A DREAM

G’day to y’all

Reach for a Dream is having a bit of bash for the ladies in order to raise funds.

 

The Reach for a Dream Foundation will be hosting a ladies breakfast on Wednesday, 2nd of September at Suikerbossie Restaurant, Hout Bay from 10am to 12pm. The theme for the event is Moulin Rouge and guests will enjoy a lovely buffet breakfast.

Yolanda Yawa, previously part of the successful group Coda, will be providing musical and creative entertainment. She has travelled around the world with Women unite Marimba Band, Tucan Tucan Afro-latin Band and Coda as an ambassador for South Africa and is a wonderful inspiration to women everywhere.

Tickets for the event are R200 and you can contact the Reach for a Dream office on 021 555 3013 to make a booking. Each lady will also receive a stunning gift bag, to the value of R150, filled with all sorts of goodies to help her get through a day in the office! For a day of pampering, laughter and inspiration, join us for this wonderful event. All proceeds will go to the foundation.

 

Those of you who haven’t been to Suikerbossie perhpas you should consider this as an opportunity to check it out. I’ve never had a bad time there.

Thanks Genevieve

Enjoy the week.

Challenge for the long weekend – Personal Empowerment

The challenge for the weekend is simply to talk to yourself more positively. Talking to yourself isn’t the first sign of going crazy as many people like to suggest. It’s rather one of the first ways of becoming great. That’s if you talk to yourself positively. How do you talk to yourself? If you are using the words like “can’t”, “won’t”, “don’t need to”, “why try” when you are talking to yourself chances are that you are an unsuccessful individual. That’s because you keep putting yourself down. You keep giving the universe a reason to fail you.

Do you find that what you say to yourself turns out to be true? If yes, then it’s clear to see that you already have a strong mind. Use it to progress. Your mind is one of your greatest assets if you use it properly. Use it to take the opportunities that come your way. Oh and by the way, negative situations can be great gifts too. You can learn from them, grow from them, They make you stronger. Take it from AC Green, Retired NBA Player – “Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”

We can reach a new level of living, if we feed ourselves empowering words and practice saying them until they become a habit. Catch yourself saying, “I can’t”, when you don’t really mean it and instead try, “I can”, and see how you think and feel about yourself. Remember, the words you use to empower yourself will have a lasting effect, only if you practice them and they become a habit (an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary). It is believed to take at least 28 days to develop a habit. After a week, you will see that it becomes easier. It’s a mindset and you can control your thoughts.

Dream big and empower yourself! Believe you can and you will. Challenge exposes opportunity.

Original Author: Marlene Blaszczyk

Adapted by: Nic Muhl

Frog Princess

This is a slight adaptation from a joke I enjoyed. Adaptation specifics: Old Man to Triathlete.

Please laugh – It’s good for you.

 

A man was out jogging in the forest one day when a frog called out to him and said “if you kiss me I will turn into a beautiful princess” he bent down and picked the frog up and put it is his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said “if you kiss me and turn me back into a beautify princess I will tell everyone how smart and brave you are and how you are my hero” The man took the frog out of his pocket smiled and return the frog to his pocket. The frog spoke up again and said “if you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I’ll stay with you for a year and do anything you want” Again the man took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and put it back in his pocket. Finally the frog asked, “whats the matter? I’ve told you I’m a beautify princess and that ill stay with your for a year and do anything you want. Why wont you kiss me?” The man replied, “look I’m a triathlete. I don’t have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog is cool.”

 

The original started off with “Old man” instead or triathlete. The punchline went something like “… at my age I’d much rather have a talking frog.”

 

Thanks Rew

 

Y’all have fun now

Best Advice – Tiger

I was just doing some perusing of the World Wide Web a little while ago and stumbled upon this. So I thought I’d save it and post it on my blog when I have it up and running. Well as you no doubt have noticed, it is up and running – so here’s The Best Advice from Tiger Woods. Please enjoy.

“When I was young, maybe 6 or 7 years old, I’d play on the Navy golf course with my pop. My dad would say, “Okay, where do you want to hit the ball?” I’d pick a spot and say I want to hit it there. He’d shrug and say, “Fine, then figure out how to do it.” He didn’t position my arm, adjust my feet, or change my thinking. He just said go ahead and hit the darn ball. My dad’s advice to me was to simplify. He knew that at my age I couldn’t digest all of golf’s intricacies. He kept it simple: If you want to hit the ball to a particular spot, figure out a way to do it. Even today, when I’m struggling with my game, I can still hear him say, “Pick a spot and just hit it.” When I’m making adjustments during a round, I know some of the television commentators theorize that I’m changing this or moving that, but really what I’m doing is listening to Pop.”

This pretty much sums up your mental state during game time (or where it should be). Forget the complexities of what you should be doing and how you should be doing it. This will only throw your focus off. If you have been training properly the complexities should be second nature thanks to muscle memory and your neuro-muscular pathways. If not, talk to me. I make you famous. Take it from Tiger. Winner of 14 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus with 18.

Make it happen. Have a good week. Opportunity awaits you!