To celebrate the International Women’s Day, the Huffington Post published an article profiling the work done by LGBT women around the world.
Click HERE to learn more about the following women:
Today’s Daily Prompt: If you could relive last week, would you? Would you change anything?
We had an amazing week last week, weather-wise, here in England. As I have said before, sunshine and warmth rarely grace Manchester. Therefore, I am really grateful to have experienced a full week of sunshine last week, and if I will be allowed to relive last week, I would do so mostly because of the weather. In addition to not having to take an umbrella everywhere, people are generally happier when the sun is out.
I also had the pleasure of being with my whole family last weekend. We spent some time away in Lake District, Cumbria. We swam, ran, walked and talked all weekend. We also ate together – a very pleasant and therapeutic time for all of us. It is amazing how we all cherrished the time we had together as times such as this do not often happen due to our busy schedules and geographical locations.
All in all, I do want to relive last week and I do not want to change a thing. However, if reliving last week would mean that I would lose the next seven days, I would refuse the opportunity. I would rather experience exciting things in the future, armed with the hope that there are even brighter things ahead than relive the past.
PINGBACKS:
Wake up tired, wake up wired
Wake up sad,wake up happy
No matter as each day
I must always be tougher
Tens of souls, twenty eyes
Twenty ears, they hear all lies
See your grace, hear your cries
I’m an example for their lives
These angels know your walk
They copy even the way you talk
Such a responsibility
Such a privilege
I’m surrounded by mirrors
The kind with inquisitive brains
Mold them I must
As this ain’t no game
____________________________
Inspired by today’s Daily Prompt
PINGBACKS:
when was the last time a stranger did something kind, selfless or generous to you? Tell us what happened?
At the start of each academic year, students and teachers are practically strangers to each other. Most students, particularly younger ones, are scared of their teachers. Teachers on the other hand are sometimes unsure of how to present themselves or treat their new group of students.
When I was a student, i did not know much about life. There was even a point in my life when I hated school with a passion. But my teachers did not give up on me. They saw my potential. They tried very hard to create meaningful relationships with me so that they could nurture me and teach me lessons beyond those that were required of them.
The were initially strangers. All they were required to do is to teach me enough ‘stuff’ so I can pass my exams.They did not have to know me through and through. They did not have to change my perspectives in life. They did not have to like me. They did not have to be kind to me. But they went out of their ways to change my life for the better.
I do not know how my life would have turned out if my teachers gave up on me. For that, I thank them!
In response to today’s Daily Prompt: The Kindness of Strangers
Click below for more Acts of Kindness:
Emilykarn
Angloswiss Chronicles
All things cute and beautiful
A squeeze of bliss
Kate Murray
This is Fiona and Tim O’Leary’s song about Autism specifically made for Kevin Healey’s Anti-Bullying Campaign. Enjoy.
Yesterday marked this year’s World Autism Awareness Day. Despite my long-time passion to raise awareness of the condition, yesterday has been my first time to actively participate on WAAD, albeit on a very small part. It has been amazing to see the enormous response from people all over the world. My twitter and WordPress feeds have been full of people’s accounts of how Autism changed their lives. Professionals, family members and individuals who have ASD wrote about their experiences- the good and the bad; the struggles and the triumphs. It has definitely been an enlightening day for me, personally.
Autism Awareness Day also has it’s own critics. These people purposely refused to ‘light it up blue’ mainly because they do not agree with the ideals of Autism Speaks- a charity organisation which endorses WAAD. Autism Speaks has been widely criticized for their ‘scare-mongering’ tactics and their negative portrayal of Autism. Some argue that suh tactics can lead people to fear prople with Autism instead of accept them.
Putting the issue of Autism Speaks aside, there are a lot of positive things that I have learned just from reading people’s stories and opinions yesterday.
1. Autism Awareness is great, but what we really need is Autism Acceptance. Awareness is a huge step, but it’s not the final one. We all need to embrace the fact that a lot of people are living with ASD and we need to do our part to help them.
2. People with Autism have a lot of potentail and can flourish.
3. People around those with ASD should provide support, but they should also learn to back off. Help and teach them to be independent.
4. A lot of people with Autism have shown that they are capable of willing themselves to prove to others that having ASD does not mean the end. Many have become professors, authors, athletes and businessmen, making them the best role models for people the world over.
5. Perhaps the best thing that I have learned is that everyone can do their part, and no one contribution is bigger than another.
This, amongst other things, is what I’ve learned through working with people with Autism. Quite often, we only see the condition and fail to look past it. Once we decide to get to know each individual, we can discover their true potential, their unique quirkiness, attitudes and personalities. This is what makes Autism so special to me.
Understanding and Embracing Diversity 