The Story of a Health-Challenged Man That will Inspire You

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

Imagine you were young, excited with schooling, and with a great ambition to be a musician. Out of the blue, you were diagnosed with acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare disease in which amoebae invade the cornea of the eye. What would you do?

Kurt Aungst was just 19 when he encountered what could have been the worst nightmare of his life. He just graduated from high school and was then playing in a local band. He was planning on studying guitar for two years at a community college and then gigging at night. Sadly, within two weeks after diagnosis, he was forced to drop out of the community college and his band.

“At first, it was kind of hard to grasp how serious it was,” Kurt shared. “I was definitely in a lot of pain, but I didn't realize I was getting ready to go up against quite a battle for seven months to save my eye,” he added.

Kurt was delirious from no sleep. The pain was unbearable. But the incredible support from his entire family made him stronger and determined to fight the battle. He never lost hope.

“I honestly wouldn't have a right eye if they didn’t all help. My mom was my caretaker for a few years. And I even remember my older brother coming home from college in the evenings to take a few nights shifts of administering my eye drops, as there were seven different drops that had to be administered around the clock every 15 minutes. This went on for four months straight.”

Kurt was lucky to have very loving and supportive parents, and two caring brothers. He grew up in a very solid home environment.

His eye disease resulted in a permanent blindness of his right eye. He was then given a cornea transplant. After the operation, he received the good news that he had been accepted into a very high-end music school in Hollywood, California.

But his health struggle has not ended yet. With one semester left, he was told that he needed to undergo a massive spinal fusion surgery. It was a deformity that he had from birth, and it had reached the point when his spine was already collapsing on his vital organs. He spent an entire year recovering from the surgery, using a walker for a good portion of it. During that time, he became depressed, withdrawn, and dependent on pain medications.

As a result, he was not able to finish school.

What motivated him to fight the battle and conquer life’s challenges

When he was a child, Kurt had always wanted to be a musician. “I loved the guitar ever since. When I was a kid, my dad would be playing blues on his car radio, and I could remember just physically being moved by blues guitar. When I was in the 6th grade, I convinced my dad to take me to see Eric Clapton. It was my first show, and I knew that’s all I ever wanted to do.”

But his battle with vision and spine operation was an enormous challenge. “It made me grow up fast. All my friends were off to their first year in college doing what healthy 20-year old adults do. I was battling to save my vision. There were times that I felt very alone and depressed. But my family was so supportive. My dad helped me grow mentally during that time.”

Despite the challenges in his health which greatly affected his life, Kurt did not have any regrets in life. “Sometimes I wish timing had been a little different,” he said with a smile. “I wished I'd been able to finish school. But like what my Dad says, it's just a piece of paper. I was there, I did the work, and I played with the best.”

He came out victorious against all the trials. What he went through helped him shape the person that he is today – a strong-willed, determined, loving, and caring person. “There is a mental toughness that develops inside you when you go through something that lasts for so long. I wish everyone could experience the result of having to go through it and the growth that comes with it without having to endure pain.”

Dreams for himself and his family

Kurt oozes an entrepreneur spirit. Fueled by the desire to have financial freedom, he is now involved with internet marketing. He gets himself busy with his online business, working with a supportive team.

As a father, he wants to teach his five-year-old daughter to enjoy the day.

“My goals are to work for myself, to allow time freedom and financial freedom to spend time with Juno and Renee, and play my guitar when I can. If I've learned anything, it's that we tend to get too wrapped up in the here and now without actually taking the time to enjoy the here and now.

A fighter and a life champion  

Kurt is now 29 years old. He had a cornea transplant, underwent two spine operations totaling 13 fused vertebrae and over 36 screws, didn't get to finish the schooling of his dreams, battled depression, and became dependent on pain pill. But whatever happened to him never daunted his determination to live a normal, happy, and meaningful life.

What does Kurt have to say to all these? “When someone tells me it can't be done, I smile. We all have so much strength within us. We can always do just one more thing. So, let's all take a vow to take massive action. We truly can do whatever we want in life.”

15 No-Nonsense Ways to Motivate Yourself

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

Have you been through that phase of doubting yourself, feeling like it’s the end of the road? Well, everybody does. We have all been there. We have experienced the pains and struggles of accomplishing our goals and living our life.

What do you do when you feel demotivated? Here are some ideas to help you with your journey:

1.   Start your day right. Smile, feel excited, and give thanks for a brand new day. Talk positive to yourself.

2.   Make a move and get started. The first step is always the difficult part, but once you’re in it, you know you’d rather keep going. You can even start doing something small that will lead you to achieving your bigger goals. The key is to get started and then work your way up. Before you know it, you’re ready to do the next thing on your list.

3.   Be enthusiastic. This attitude will overpower the negative outlook and will attract positive energy. You will then feel motivated and eager to complete your tasks.   

4.   Set a goal and aim for the bull’s eye. Dream big and challenge yourself. When you really want to achieve something, want it so badly that you will be determined to take the stairs to success rather down go downhill. If you really want something bad, you will do everything to make it happen. Remind yourself it’s what you want and that giving up is not an option, no matter how difficult the situation is.

5.   Stop comparing yourself with others. Don’t kill yourself. Many people have already started before you. Evaluate how far you have gone in your journey instead. Appreciate how much you have improved along the way and how much you have accomplished. When reviewing your results, you will also realize where you have gone wrong. Embrace the lessons and be inspired to do better.

6.   Remember your achievements. Whenever you start doubting your capabilities, remind yourself of your successes. Those accomplishments are great motivation to continue moving forward.

7.   Treat yourself after accomplishing something. Make a promise to reward yourself after getting things done.

8.   Have fun. Life is not all hard work and challenges. Give yourself a break. Go out. Have a good time with your friends and loved ones. In the midst of everything we do, remember that there is a “thing called life that has to be lived and enjoyed” as what the American comic actor and writer Sid Caesar said.

9.   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Don’t let negative people drag you down. They are not real friends if they are putting you down. Reach out to and connect with people who are passionate achievers, dedicated to honing their skills and enhancing their knowledge. If you want to motivate yourself, surround yourself with positive thinkers and great motivators.

10.   Read inspirational books. Listen to motivational audios. Watch encouraging videos. These materials will act like firecrackers to awaken your sluggish spirit and help you overcome your fears.   

11.   Think you can, then do it. If you think you can’t, then you’re already putting limits to what you can achieve. As what Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” It all starts in your mind and attitude.

12.   Get out of your comfort zone. You have to go out of your box and take risks sometimes. This approach in life will make you realize what more you can accomplish. If you won’t try, how will you know that you are capable of doing something bigger? As motivational speaker Bo Sanchez said, “How to take risks? Leave your comfort zone, get into your courage zone, but never go out of your core zone.”

Stretch yourself. Stretch your imagination. Stretch your mind. You'll never know how far you can go, what you can accomplish, and how many lives you can touch if you won't do that.

13. Don’t worry about getting knocked down. We have had our own share of failures. Even the great achievers have failed many times. Remember what Michael Jordan said? “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

What can be more inspiring than that? You failed – so what? Don’t lose your enthusiasm. Get up and move on.

14.  Do something for a reason. Why are you doing it? Why do you have to accomplish it? Is it for your own good? Is it for the benefit of your loved ones? If you remind yourself why you are doing it, then there is no reason you will drop it. 

15.Consider doing something that makes you happy. We have only one life to live. The last thing you want to do is to regret not doing the things that make you happy when you had the chance.  

Each step in your journey counts. Do something meaningful each day.

If you were able to pick up something from this article to inspire you, or if you have some friends who need some motivation, spread the good vibes around by sharing this article :) 

A Six-Year-Old Kid’s Acts of Kindness to Inspire You

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

“How do we change the world? One act of random kindness at a time.”

Remember this dialogue from the movie Evan Almighty?

We have heard so much about some random acts of kindness. But what is it really that will inspire someone to practice it and spread the power of goodness like wildfire? How do we spark kindness and keep the light burning?

This article is special. My six-year-old son helped me with the ideas based on his personal experiences and as a genuine act of kindness, he even volunteered to write this article, typing one word at a time on my laptop! Although he asked me many times what happened to what he wrote because I corrected his spelling and edited his words.

These are the things he did over the past week, written in present tense as he would like to continuously practice them.

1. Make a handmade card with a personalized greeting. What gift can be better than something you create personally? It’s the effort that makes it more special.  
2. Donate school supplies to a nearby school with underprivileged children. We know how some poor children can barely afford a box of crayons or a good quality pencil. Make them happy with some brand new school supplies.
3. Give your dog a hug. Dogs feel lonely too. A tight hug when you come home will make them feel loved.
4. Send random messages to your relatives on Viber or WhatsApp. We have a Viber group in the family, and my little boy loves sending random messages to his grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
5. Be someone’s cheerleader. When someone accomplished something, be happy and cheer for him or her.
6. Laugh often. Treat yourself nicely. Laugh like a child, again.
7. Say “good morning.” This simple greeting can make a difference to someone who is having a bad start of the day. 
8. Say “thank you” often. Express your gratitude always.
9. Add one more piggy bank – the second one is for a good cause. My little boy got excited purchasing some crayons and pencils for their school’s charity drive. Now he would like to have another piggy bank to support his charity cause and give back to the community. How heartwarming is that for a small child to do?
10. Donate clothing. Your gently-used clothing can be somebody else’s source of comfort.
11. Help set the table for dinner. Make it a family affair. Bonding can start even before you sit around the table.
12. Do what is right. Even when no one is watching.
13. Pick up trash on the road. Some people just don’t care about Mother Earth. We need to be kind to the environment too.
14. Share what you have. Not just the extra, or the things that you don’t need anymore.
15. Before you go to bed, say a prayer for all your loved ones.
16. Let your parents know how much you love them. A hug, a message, a call will mean a lot.
17. Say “I’m sorry” when you did something wrong.
18. Say “I love you.” And mean it.

Imagine how one simple act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and make an impact to the world.

As adults, we can do better, can’t we? If a small kid can show some kindness to the world, we adults should be able to do much more.

Let’s be kind. It’s not difficult. Don’t underestimate the power of a genuine hello, a friendly smile, a caring touch.

Are you ready to put a smile on someone’s face today? 

How a Simple Thank You can Inspire Your Day

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

There is always something to be thankful for. In the past, we always argued if the glass was half empty or half full. I am now joining those individuals who are thankful for having a glass, and that there is something in it. Yes, life is indeed simple. People, and sometimes greed, are the ones who make it complicated.

My little boy and I spent a few minutes earlier today exchanging notes on things we are thankful for. That inspired me to expand my list. So here I am spending some minutes to say thank you to the many people and things that have touched my life and made my days either special or challenging.

1. Thank you for another breath of life. I opened my eyes this morning and thanked God I’m still alive. Healthy and kicking.

2. Thank you for the smile. Seeing your loved one’s smile first thing in the morning is enough to make your day. Be it from your partner, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or a friend. 

3. Thank you, my family. I’m deeply grateful for your love and for always holding my hand.

4. Thank you for the hug. There’s nothing else that gives me the kind of comfort than a warm embrace.

5. Thank you, friends. Thank you for the good times, the bad times, the ups and downs. Thank you for the jokes, the joys, and all the moments shared.   

6. Thank you for my shadow. It means I am still alive, out in the sunshine, enjoying the open air. It also means there is light helping us see things in the darkness of the night.

7. Thank you for the challenges. They made me stronger. They help me navigate through life with greater ease.

8. Thank you for the difficult times. They helped me grow and inspired me to move on.

9. Thank you for the silence and complete darkness. Those surreal moments when you hear nothing but the soft murmur of the air-con, with no lights to disturb your thoughts. No other moment can give you that kind of peace.

10. Thank you for the morning sunshine, the soft wind, the sand, and the beach. They provide the best combination to unwind.

11. Thank you, photographers. Thank you for capturing life’s beautiful moments into one awesome masterpiece. Thank you for capturing the sunrise, the rainbows, the sunset, the moonlight, and everything in between.  

12. Thank you for the books. Who doesn’t love them? I grew up in a house filled with them. I gifted myself with them. I spent so much time with them. I went to the malls for them. I can’t thank you enough for the knowledge, the inspiration, and the wisdom.  

13. Thank you for the word possible. It makes me conquer what is impossible.

14. Thank you for the adjectives. They help me in expressing my emotions better. They offer flattering words to describe people and circumstances. They add color to my writing. One adjective can make a lot of difference.    

15. Thank you for the flowers. How dull this earth will be without you?

16. Thank you, music for making me feel better. You and my headset are perfect partners in soothing my headache. I can’t thank you enough.

17. Thank you, bed for always carrying my weight and for absorbing all my fatigue when my body crush your crispness at night.

18. Thank you for the new opportunity. I always get this, and I am deeply grateful. It makes my journey more exciting.

19. Thank you, WiFi. Because of you, I can connect to the tech-savvy world. And yes, because of you, I am earning money.  

20. Thank you, social media. Because of you, I remain in touch with my old friends, meet new friends, and share my thoughts like this one. Because of you, I was able to make my dream to write a blog come true.

To you, thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for the big things. And the small things.

And thank you for reading this.

What about you? What are you thankful for? 

How Your Mommy Lied to You Many Times. No, Really.

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you’re the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.”

I love you SO much. Much more than I love myself.

But I must admit - I have lied to you. And baby, I might continue doing it until you are old. Until when exactly? I have no idea!

Here’s how I have lied to you:

1. I slept well. You were a very active baby, even when you sleep. When we lay down after a long day, my exhausted body transforms into a punching bag when you start kicking your legs or stretching your arms. I was no longer surprised to see another bruise on my legs or arms the next day.

2. I am fine. When you were a baby, sleeping for four hours was one of my biggest struggles. The moment my back hits the bed at night, I could always feel the bed sucking my last straw of energy. Back then, I thought I could describe tiredness better than Webster. But despite the late nights, I always acted with full energy the next day. I had to wake up early to go to work and even though your dad was around, I wanted to attend to your needs when I got home in the evening. I was tired and starving and sleepy - but with you in my arms, all I could feel was love. Yeah, I was always on night vigil. But boy, I've learned to ignore the watch; I just stared at your face.   

3. I am full. I thought that last piece of bread was mine, but when you said with a big grin that you wanted one more, then, by all means, you can have that. I wanted it too, like a small child (haha!), but never mind.

4. I was not afraid. When you recently asked for permission if you can remove the balancer of your bike, we said yes, and that your dad and I will just keep a watchful eye until you get your balance. It wasn’t true, my dear. My heart skipped two beats, the way it did when you stumbled on your first walk. When you accidentally hurt yourself, I hugged you and told you it was okay, you will be fine in a minute. But I was anxious. I felt your pain. No, I want to absorb all the pain! It was just a slight bump, but what if you were hurt badly? What if you had a concussion? What if… what if…. Ahh, now I realize how true it is that when you become a mom, you had to deal with many fears you never knew existed.  

5. I love playing basketball. I love watching the game, but not playing. No, never! I was never the sporty type anyway. And I don't even know how to properly dribble a ball! You’re the one teaching me now how to play the game. The truth is, I really don’t love playing basketball. But I love doing it with you. You are extremely happy playing the game, and I am happy playing with you.

6. I am upset when you cry for no reason. Not true. Because it breaks my heart whenever I see you cry.  You seldom shed a tear. You’re a happy baby. You never had tantrums. I think that’s why I am not used to seeing you cry.

7. I have a deadline; I need to finish this. You have always been on top of my list, baby. You are my everything. I will stop doing my things, look you in the eyes when you approach me, or give you a big hug, or even play with you. I am Superwoman, you know. And well, okay, Wonderwoman too! 

8. I cannot be your girlfriend. You’ve said it more than a hundred times – I will be your one and only girlfriend, for life. You always cry when I say I am your mom, I am daddy’s wife, and you will meet and have a true girlfriend when you get older. Not true, my dear. I want to be your mom, your best friend, your lifelong girlfriend, your one and only girl. Wait until your future wife reads this and maybe I will lie again.

9. I don’t lie. I never did, until I became a mom. But these are white lies. And I will most probably continue to do so for as long as I live. Because I will do anything in my power to protect you, to love you, to keep you away from harm. I may not be a perfect mom - maybe far from it, but I’m doing the best I can. I want to be the champion for you. 

I am a mom. And I will love and protect you forever. 

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What is so Inspiring about Manny Pacquiao?

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

This story is written through the eyes of a non-boxing fan.

Boxing sports is ruthless. I never liked it. I hated watching it. I never appreciated it. Those powerful punches were not only devastating; they were awful. I did not understand why it is considered a sport.

But Manny Pacquiao changed the way I view boxing. I don’t love it still. But I like Manny. And I admire what he does. More than as a professional boxer, but as an inspiration to many.

Oh, and have I mentioned I also enjoy his sense of humor?

Manny Pacquiao has conquered not just the boxing arena and the hearts of many boxing sports enthusiasts. He has also won the respect and admiration of many non-boxing aficionados.

One of his fans in Cambodia shared on Facebook that he decided to stay at home with his dad to watch the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquaio fight of the century instead of attending a relative’s wedding.

What’s with Manny Pacquiao? Why do many people look up to him and consider him different from other great achievers?

1. From zero to hero

Every Filipino knows his rags-to-riches life story. The world had witnessed how he rose from being a nobody to somebody. From being a street urchin to a responsible wealthy man. From earning two dollars a fight to millions per match. From being an insignificant member of a community to becoming a life champion. He is considered a hero back home in the Philippines and is regarded as the country’s National Fist.   

2. Committed Spirit

Manny is pursuing something that he is passionate about. A man of action, he is dedicated to perfecting his craft. He is always aggressive and determined to win the fight. His fighting spirit started at a young age. It grew with him and has won him many battles in life.

3. Grateful Heart

Despite his many accomplishments inside and outside the ring, Manny remains humble and keeps his feet on the ground. He does not brag about his accomplishments as a professional boxer. People all over the world praise him, and his response is just his usual burst of laughter and a thank you. His humility has won him more supporters from every corner of the world.

It is sad to see some achievers allow success to get into their heads. They become egoistic, conceited, and they go around with loud mouths. It’s a relief that a super-achiever with eight division titles to his name remains humble and likeable.

4. Acts of Kindness

Manny has a beautiful heart. He has become a symbol of hope for many of his countrymen. He shares the love, and he gives back to the community – giving food to the hungry, offering scholarships to less fortunate but capable individuals, and providing shelter to the homeless.

5. Solid Inner Strength

He’s been there, he's done that. But after a taste of the bad, he now embraces the good. His deep faith in his Creator has turned Manny into a Good Samaritan. He worships God and not his money.

His incredible career has stunned many fans. His humble soul has melted the hearts of many supporters. But whether he wins or loses in this fight of the century few hours from now, Manny will still be the winner in life – with his positive attitude and humble spirit.

Tweet: #MannyPacquaio is still the winner in life – with his positive attitude and humble spirit. http://bit.ly/1JHXPJW

Share and comment if you are a PacMan fan. 

What Wikipedia Can’t Tell You about Friends and Friendship

by Rhea Vitto Tabora

How do you know when someone is going to be a friend, and will stick with you for life?

We have read so many definitions, sayings, and quotes about friendship. But not even Wikipedia can give us a perfect definition of this ingredient to living a happy life.

Here is my best try:  

1. Friendship is defined by moments shared. Not even the most sublime adjective in the dictionary can elucidate a beautiful friendship. Only moments shared can describe it perfectly.

2. The only way to have a great friend is to be one. It is not easy to have a true, loyal friend. If you want to have one, then be one to someone.

3. Sometimes, friendship needs no words. Whenever your friend is going through an ordeal, you don’t have to say a word about it, not until he or she is ready.

Friendship is when you can understand each other even without words. You understand each other’s silence. And a tight hug is enough comfort because a simple hug is worth a thousand words.

4. Friendship knows no communication gap. It doesn’t matter whether you last got in touch with your friend last month, last year or a couple of years ago. Real friends can talk to each other as if their last conversation was just yesterday. I lost touch with my high school best friend for years. When we got reconnected, our friendship remains unscathed.

5. Friends don’t get jealous. Did you just achieve something? A friend will be genuinely happy about it. You cannot call someone a friend if he or she is just pretending to be happy but is envious deep inside. A real friend rejoices with your accomplishments.   

6. A real friend doesn’t judge but listens instead. Have you got a problem? Are you stuck with something? Did you just do something horrible or embarrassing? Nope, a true friend won’t judge you. With open arms and listening ears, he or she will do nothing but lift you up.  

7. Genuine friends will always be there for you, no matter what. True friendship is all about loyalty. You can’t be separated by a gossip, trouble, or even geography.

8. Distance doesn’t matter. Your best friend may be sitting on the other side of the globe, thousands of miles away. So what? Friendship knows no distance. True friends are never really far from each other. Especially in this age of modern technology.

9. Friendship is forever. Have you given up on something? Given up anyone? Not a friend. He or she will be with you until the very end. Even when – or especially when – the whole world has turned its back on you.

10. “Friendship is the only cement that will hold the world together.” I read this statement on the internet, but the author was unknown. It is a very meaningful comment about friendship. Genuine friends don’t make war. Imagine what a beautiful place this world could have been.

How about you? What is your definition of friendship? Have you found a genuine friend?

Leave a comment below and if you agree with the contents of this article, why not share it with your true friends :)