#Community instead of Competition #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Damyanti Biswas, Lizbeth Hartz, Shilpa Garg, Mary J. Giese, and Sylvia Stein,

To learn more about #WATWB or to join us click here!

---

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” ~ Coretta Scott King

When one of the owners of The Local Coffee Company, Dave McAdams went into hospice care following a terminal cancer diagnosis a competitor in his Oak Grove community stepped up.    The future of The Local Coffee Company and his wife Tina’s livelihood seemed up in the air after hearing the tragic news.  McAdams, a well-loved and respected member in his community owns a non-profit, worked with youths,  was a baseball coach, and even a member of the Portland Ghostbusters group. The heartbreaking diagnosis prompted support from his community, including the owner, Pixie Adams of a nearby competitor, Moonlight Coffee House.  Adams closed down her own shop on the one year anniversary of The Local Coffee Company in order to run her competitor’s business for free.  But Adams didn’t stop there, being a breast cancer survivor herself  she used Facebook to create an event which turned it into a fund-raiser. In five hours, the business earned $3,300, all of which will go toward McAdams’ medical expenses and supporting the Local Coffee Company.

“It’s always going to be about friendship over business, community over competition,” Pixie Adams via Washington Post. 

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.”~ Herman Melville

#Art for #Recovery ~ Using Art to Help Heal #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Sylvia McGrath, Lizbeth Hartz, Shilpa Garg, Mary Giese, and Belinda Witzenhausen.
To learn more about #WATWB or to join us click here!

---

“Art is the meeting ground of the world inside and the world outside.”~ Elinor Ulman

Establish in 1988, the University of California, San Francisco’s Art for Recovery (Ernest H Rosenbaum Art for Recovery)Program,  is a creative arts program introducing art, writing and music to adults living with cancer and other potentially terminal illness. To date, it has helped thousands of patients find a voice to express their feelings about their illness.  By being able to communicate they build confidence in themselves and finding a way to cope with life-changing illnesses. 

Approximately 200 patients participate in Art for Recovery’s weekly, three-hour Open Art Studios workshop. Other activities they offer include writing workshops and visits by musicians at Mount Zion and Mission Bay. Volunteer guitarists, harpists and madrigal singers also perform in hospital lobbies. Both inpatients and outpatients may attend and participate.  Program director, since it’s inception, Cynthia Perlis  discusses the benefits of the program in the video below:

“Expressive art therapy integrates all of the arts in a safe, non-judgmental setting to facilitate personal growth and healing. To use the arts expressively means going into our inner realms to discover feelings and to express them through visual art, movement, sound, writing or drama. This process fosters release, self-understanding, insight and awakens creativity and transpersonal states of consciousness.” ~ Natalie Rogers

Giving Artists with Disabilities a Place to Thrive! #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Shilpa Garg, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal, Peter Nena, Andrea Michaels and Damyanti Biswas.
To learn more about #WATWB or to join us click here!

---

Although, due to health and personal reasons I had been taking a brief hiatus from #WATWB this video passed through my feeds and I just had to share.

As many are aware I am a huge advocate for art as therapy. Art can help us make sense of our lives and ourselves, can uplift us on the darkest of days, can be healing and transformative but most importantly it can give us a voice. At Creative Growth Art Center a non-profit in Oakland, California it does just that. Since opening their doors in 1974 the centre has worked with hundreds of artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities providing them with tools, space, inspiration and support to thrive as artists. Serving approximately 162 artists a week they cater to a multiple of mediums from painting and drawing to wordworking and fashion. Although many of the clients are non-verbal, here, art is the common language.

Today, artists represented by Creative Growth have been invited to the Venice Biennale, have had their works acquired by MoMA, and remain are making a wonderful name for themselves among collectors around the world.

To learn more about the centre and their programs click here: http://www.creativegrowth.org/category/news/

We’re The Superhumans! #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Simon Falk, Roshan Radhakrishnan, Inderpreet Uppal, Damyanti Biswas and Sylvia Stein.We are also looking for bloggers to help co-host. If you are interested in joining our team please contact me here!

---

I’m always interested in hearing stories about those individuals who break stereotypes, especially when someone is labelled disabled. Instead of feeding the stereotype many decide to follow their passions and do what they love despite what people “expect”. These individuals believe and achieve!

A Cannes winning advertisement to promote Channel 4’s broadcast of the 2016 Summer Paralympics  “We’re the Superhumans” features disabled people of various backgrounds performing various activities. Set to a performance of the Sammy Davis Jr. song “Yes I Can” by a band consisting of musicians with disabilities the video proves that in fact with the right attitude anything is possible!

We’re The Superhumans

“The only thing that’s keeping you from getting what you want is the story you keep telling yourself.” ~ Tony Robbins

Writer/Director Doesn’t Let ALS Stop Him #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by five co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Lynn Hallbrooks, Michelle Wallace, Sylvia Stein, Sylvia McGrath, and myself. We are also looking for bloggers to help co-host. If you are interested in joining our team please contact me here!

---

Those who know me can tell you how passionate I am about living a creative life.  I believe any creative art form has the power to heal, motivate and empower us.  Having the power to lose ourselves in our creative world and to have the ability to make meaning is a gift that so many overlook.  When my husband shared an interview about Simon Fitzmaurice, I was so inspired.  Many of us make excuses for not following our passions, our lives get in the way, we don’t have the time, money, ability etc.,  and we push it to the back of our minds.   Simon despite his challenges decided he needed to pursue his passions and is not letting anything stop him from reaching his dreams.

In 2008, writer and director Simon Fitzmaurice had a perfect life; a wonderful wife, supportive family and was rising star in a promising career his film premiering at Sundance.  The same day Simon and his wife found out they would be expecting their third child they received devastating news about Simon’s health. Simon was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s) and was told he would probably only have four years to live.

Simon could have done what so many of us might have done…given up, accepted our fate, surrendered, but he wouldn’t. Simon loved life too much to just let go and it was important for him to share with his children the importance of never giving up.  Simon lost so much but he chose to take something back, to follow his creativity and live his life to the fullest.  Simon with the support of his family decided to keep pursuing his passion for writing and filmmaking.  Simon lost his mobility, speech and ability to breathe without a respirator but he refused to surrender his creative dream. Simon wrote and directed his movie  “My Name is Emily” which has won worldwide acclaim.

Trailer for My Name Is Emily

In addition to the film, he has written numerous short stories and penned a memoir called “It’s Not Yet Dark” which was made into a documentary, narrated by Colin Farrell and shown at Sundance this year.  With passion, determination and using a Tobii eye gaze software which allowed him to use his eye movements to communicate via voice and writing.

Although life is a constant challenge for Simon he has not let anything stop him from living and loving his life.

Trailer for It’s Not Yet Dark

“Although the world is full of suffering, it also full of overcoming it” ~ Helen Keller

A Reason To Never Give Up #WATWB

Welcome to the “We are the World Blogfest” (#WATWB ). The #WATWB was inspired by a simple conversation about how all the negativity on social media was weighing on us. Wanting to make a difference we decided to try to do our part to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. For every dark, negative story out there, there is a positive, heartwarming story that will add some light and lift the human spirit. The last Friday of every month bloggers will share their stories led by six co-hosts, this month’s co-hosts are Peter Nena, Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Kaur Uppal , Roshan Radhakrishnan , Emerald Barnes and Lynn Hallbrooks

Many people who face physical challenges often lose hope and accept that where they are at in their life is where they will always stay.

Arthur Boorman, a disabled veteran of the Gulf War was told by his doctors for 15 years that he would never be able to walk on his own again. Arthur had all but given up hope when one day while surfing the internet he came across a yoga site and decided to contact them. Although I have watched this many times, it never fails to amaze me. To me, this is a perfect example of the amazing resilience of the human spirit. Through perseverance and believing in himself, Arthur changed his life.

Check out Arthur’s inspirational transformation.

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” ~Henry Ford

Belinda’s Blog ~ After The Diagnosis: The Journey Beyond

The onset of a chronic illness can drastically alter the course of your life!
Do dark days overwhelm you as you try to adjust to your new reality?
Do you yearn for the life you used to have –
filled with fun, laughter and joy?
When your health brings you dark days,
remember that at the end of every storm …
there is a rainbow!

The authors of “After The Diagnosis: The Journey Beyond” Trish Robichaud, Jeff Cadwell and Sylvia McGrath, know all about what you are experiencing. They are living life filled with optimal health, while coping with chronic illnesses themselves. They urge you to begin a step-by-step journey through the various stages of learning to “have a life” in spite of your chronic illnesses.

This book is jam-packed with life improving information, uplifting inspirational quotes, poems and exercises to help you develop the essential coping skills you need to move forward and get the most out of your life.

As you conquer each step in the process, you will gain confidence that you are on the healthiest road to adjusting to your new reality. You will discover how to empower yourself to take control and live a full and rewarding life. Helen Keller once said “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

Get ready to get back in the driver’s seat and
follow your road to the rainbow!

http://www.afterthediagnosis.com

“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” Elizabeth Kubler-Ross