Life is an amazing experience, period. No matter how yours plays out you are lucky to get to experience all the up's and down's that make up your life. Sometimes things happen that we can't control and at that point its easy to give up; but its during those moments when our lives are at their most trying times that beautiful stories are born. Today I want to share with you one of the most inspirational, beautiful and uplifting stories I've experienced in my life.
Recently one of my friends here was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma or bone cancer, and as you can imagine any news like that is heavy. I wasn't sure what to think when I found out and yet the first reaction I saw from her was "I'm a soon to be cancer survivor"--at that point I knew that this was gonna be a win for the SLU community and that I needed to be supportive. I found out a bit later than most people and so by the time all this came to my attention her facebook was riddled with support and love. It warmed my heart to know that someone who was already one of the most caring and compassionate people here at SLU would now have the chance to inspire everyone with her strength , hope and courage. Cancer is an ugly thing, but it takes a true hero to find a way to make the experience beautiful--Emily is a Hero.
Let me take you back to my first experiences with Emily, I met her in my Public Speaking class--one of the greatest classes in the history of the universe if I do say so myself. That class was amazing because all of us got along with each other and we were all supportive of everything we did. Normally speaking in front of people is hard no matter who you are what you are saying but in our case we all became friends so quickly that it was as if we were just having a conversation with our peers. Well as the semester progressed we all gave many speeches on many topics and our friendships grew closer; this was when Emily and I really became friends. Well by this point I had shared with Emily my dream of wanting to use my life to inspire others and she was nothing but supportive--in fact she was one of the reasons I started this very blog. Well anyway with the encouragement of Emily and our teacher Jasmine I decided to give my next speech in an inspirational manner, I gave a speech on how each day is a gift. I have to admit I was nervous and I may have messed up and bounced around a few times but at the very end of my speech and let a big sigh of relief and the was struck with happiness when looking at the first thing that met my eyes; Emily giving me a standing ovation. If it were acceptable to cry in Public Speaking I very well might have! For weeks to come she went out of her way to let me know how much she enjoyed that speech and how I have a gift; for that I owe Emily everything.
One of the best things you can do with your life is help give purpose to others, there are no feelings that rival that of affirmation. Nothing can make a person feel better than the support and love you can give them; and so I am here to return that favor to Emily now. If my speech was inspiring, her life is invigorating, motivating, influential, reassuring, and any other slue of words that you can imagine (and all those you can't imagine!) I want to share with you all Emily's blog: http://hashtagteamemily.blogspot.com/ because these words tell a story that no one else can.
Reading her blog brings me to tears each and every time, tears of joy knowing that I am part of history in the making. I won't tell you what it says because there is no possible way for me to phrase it that could be any better than the original.
After reading all this I want to let you all know that the most valuable thing in life is the love we have for one another. Time and time again Emily's family tells us that the support and love they get helps them so much. I want you all to be like Emily and her family; never give up hope, never let anyone knock you down. God only gives us that which we can handle and during the most difficult times in our lives it is then that he carries us. It's gonna be hard and there will be times when you want it all to just go away but remember that you are never in this alone, the one thing in life that never depletes is love.
In this spirit I want to ask a favor. It's a long shot but there is no harm in trying. If you know Emily and she has inspired you--or even if you don't know her--please consider filling out of these forms.
http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=433
http://ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=606
-These are links to The Ellen DeGeneres show's website. The first is for a monetary donation on her behalf to those who are deserving and the second is for those in your life who above all else are inspirational. It won't take long and it could possible help Emily and her family immensely.
On one final note I want to say to everyone that life is a gift, and gifts of for giving. Just as Emily has given us all her story and a new outlook on life, we too need to remember to give as much of ourselves as possible to others.
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