A Little Inspiration... "Rise"

As the parent of a child with disabilities, I sometimes find myself spending more time in the world of can't than I should.  One of things my daughter teaches me is that can't and won't are temporary terms, sometimes set in place by our own willingness.

Over ten years ago, when my brother told me about a man he had met while living in Honduras I thought he seemed interesting.  Now, years later, I find his story inspiring.  My brother, Tyler recently returned to Honduras to film a beautiful documentary featuring Augutin and his lifelong commitment to building a helicopter from salvaged bicycle parts and garbage. Augustin lives in a remote village and has suffered the crippling effects of Polio and poverty, but despite his limitations he continues in his efforts.  His dream is to one day fly, but that isn't the entire purpose of building his helicopter.  Augustin has been given a set of problems that have kept him grounded, but he chooses to create a challenge that could make him fly. Rise tells his story and his efforts to overcome an obstacle of his own making, while ignoring one beyond his control.  

Tyler needs support to finish his film and to better share Augustin's story.  If you would like to donate, please go to kickstarter or indiegogo  to help.

Sequence 36ready from Tyler Bastian on Vimeo.

A Little Inspiration... Creating the Year 2010

by Corinne
In our house, we are big big fans of Baby Signing Time, created by Rachel DeAzevedo Coleman.  Katie (our A Little Great music contributor) recently turned me on to Rachel's blog.

 

photo www.stylecafemoms.com

I was moved by this inspirational post by Rachel, and got her permission to link to it here (I'll also post it below for those of you who prefer not to outclick!)  Rachel is the mother of two disabled children, and writes a very candid and moving post about how having disabled children can affect your marriage (as can having any children at all, really), and how sensitive and in tune our children are to the tenor of our marriage.  She uses this story as a frame to inspire us to make 2010 the year we really want it to be.  I mean if she can do it, what excuse do the rest of us have?  Since today is the last day of January in 2010... it is time to really get going on our resolutions.  Let's make 2010 the "Year of No More Somedays," inspired by a great and talented woman, Rachel.

Thank you Rachel.  And thanks Lucy, Leah, and Aaron too.  Thanks for inspiring us all.

Here it is:  Creating The Year 2010, by Rachel Coleman
(Do yourself a favor today and read the whole thing!  Click "read more" below if you want to read it all here)



Creating The Year 2010
Every year, especially around the time of my wedding anniversary, I hear comments about how X percentage of couples that have one child with a disability, get divorced. And how Aaron and I have truly beaten the odds by having a marriage survive this long with both of our children having disabilities.

A Little Inspiration... Healing Hands for Haiti

by Aly

Am I overly affected by the tragedy in Haiti?  I feel affected, and more so than during other natural disasters.  I think perhaps because the people of Haiti were suffering even before the earthquake.  I try to imagine how difficult it would be to create some sort of order out of the chaos that began with chaos.  Those people were not prepared in the least to deal with this.  No food storage, no modern amenities, no infrastructure, no government emergency plans, no National Guard to fly them to safety.  

My parents have a friend who in 1989 founded Helping Hands for Haiti, Dr. Jeff Randal.  He is returning from Haiti right now.  My dad sent me the link to his personal blog wherein he chronicles his experiences in providing medical care to the Haitian people.

He says this of Haiti, "Why did I come to Haiti? I knew it was going to be heart wrenching. In the best of times Haiti can be completely exasperating. You plan things, review the plan, make contingencies and when you step off the plane the “reality of Haiti” throws an ape sized wrench right into the middle of your well laid plans. You can only imagine how much worse a natural catastrophe has made it."

There are so many amazing stories on his blog.  The most recent is about his companion, a medical student, who received a message from his wife to go to a certain orphanage and get their daughter.  “'Go and find our daughter' were his instructions and she gave him a description of what she’d look like."

Dr. Randal likens helping the people of Haiti to the story of the boy and the starfish.  A boy throws starfish back into the ocean one by one.  The beach is full of starfish and even as he throws more wash up on the shore.  "A man comes by, looks at the thousands of starfish strewn up and down the beach, and tells the boy, 'Look at all these starfish! You could stand here all day throwing starfish into the water and it wouldn’t make a difference'. The boy picks up a starfish and throws it into the water. 'I made a difference for that one,' he replies."

A Little Inspiration... Triathlete in Training

by Aly


Meet Leslie Howlett.

First of all, at this very moment I am sitting at my desk enjoying Dark Chocolate Drizzle Caramel Clusters, still in my gym clothes. I haven’t actually gone to the gym yet (2 PM) but I figure if I stay in these clothes, eventually I will make it there. Leslie, on the other hand doesn’t seem to have trouble finding the motivation or time to get to the gym, and beyond, actually. Leslie is the mother of three small children, adoring wife, and Ironman Triathlete in Training.

Leslie found triathlon about 10 years ago and fell in love (she must really like spandex). Stop. I know what you are thinking. Good for her (eye roll). What does this have to do with me? My answer: everything. Keep reading.

When I asked Leslie what she gets out of triathlon, she answered with one word: “Sanity.” You could use some, right? “Seriously, triathlon makes me happy. It keeps me strong and healthy, keeps that serotonin level up, and makes me a better wife and mother. I always say that training and races are my play time. I come back a happier person and feel like I’m teaching my kids important lessons about health, exercise, and nutrition,” She explains. Not to mention, she looks great in her jeans.

Leslie chose triathlon because of the variety. Triathletes swim, bike, and run. These sports alone could get tedious. But when combined, every day is fresh, interesting and exciting.

The other thing about triathlon… anyone, yes anyone, can do it. “You’ll see people of every shape, size, and age at triathlons. And that feeling you get when you do something you thought you couldn’t is such an empowering, self-esteem boosting high!” I dare you!

Leslie still competes in Sprint distance races. But this May she will be going big-time at the St.George Ironman where she will join with over 2000 other triathletes from all over the world. She, along with the rest of them, will compete in the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run (umm, yeah, it ends with a marathon). The race, for most, will last for over 12 hours. But Leslie knows it will all be worth it, “The air will be electric. 2000 plus people from around the world that have all put in an enormous amount of time and training, all working to achieve the same goal: to cross that finish line by midnight and hear those magical words “You are an Ironman!””

Inspired yet? Good. Follow Leslie’s advice and, “Sign up for a race, any race! Doesn’t have to be a triathlon, doesn’t have to be a marathon, just sign up for your local 5k, and then find a training plan online like the Couch-to-5k plans.”

If triathlon is what you desire, you are in luck! A Little Great will be hosting a giveaway from Utah’s premier race management company, US Trisports. They will be giving a race entry ($65 value) to one lucky, and motivated, gal. The winner will choose from the Spring Sprint, The Daybreak Triathlon, The Rock Cliff Triathlon, or the Stansbury Triathlon. They will also be provided with a training plan written by a Certified USAT Coach. Her progress and race experience will be chronicled, here, on A Little Great!

Who inspires you? email us at alittlegreat@gmail.com. They may be featured here!

Follow Leslie on her blog: Triathlon Mom