Let the Hate Motivate

I try to pay attention to my Facebook News Feed to keep up with my friends and yesterday came across a horrible comment that was sent to a friend, author of the blog: Noah's Dad.  

"With modern medicine there are really no good reasons to bring a person with debilitating chromosomal abnormalities (like your son) into the world."

I don't want to give a platform to an ignorant person like this or perpetuate the hate. I just wanted to speak to a few facts about Down Syndrome and  profess my PRIDE at being a parent of a child with Down Syndrome. 

* Down Syndrome is NOT a debilitating chromosomal abnormality. People with Down Syndrome live happy and productive lives when given the support they need, unique to their situation, just like everyone else.

* There is screening available for Down Syndrome and I opted NOT to take the tests. For one they are horribly inaccurate and there was also no reason or signs that there were any "issue" with my son. I did not need to take the test because regardless of the result I LOVED my baby and I felt that was a GREAT reason to bring my child into this world.

When Blake was first born I had an irrational fear that people would judge, hate on him and hurt him for his perceived differences. I'm sure in some way all mothers have this fear for their children as we all know kids get picked on, called names and hurt by others regardless of the amount of chromosomes they have.  

I wonder now who it is that defines what "Normal" is? Down Syndrome has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time, for a reason. Perhaps people with "chromosomal abnormalities" are here as teachers? Teaching us all to take a look at ourselves. To notice when we do that none of us are perfect.

Blake has taught me more about myself  and those around me than I could have ever imagined. For this I will be eternally grateful to his "chromosomal abnormality". 


I'm always astonished at the fact that any grown adult feels the need to gossip about, make derogatory comments and essentially hate on a beautiful baby like Noah or Blake. It speaks only to their character (or the lack thereof) rather than the ignorant comments themselves.

In life I have found the more successful and happy one truly is the more haters seem to be at your door. Let their hate motivate and not dissuade you from being yourself or following your goals and dreams. I know it won't stop my son Blake. The world is wide open to him and his success will be based on his desire, hard work and perseverance and not on the opinions and judgements of others.

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference. -Jane Goodall

Tuesday's Thought: Customization

Within out society we can customize ANYTHING we want .. for a price. You can customize your car, your home, even down to your napkins and dinnerware. We customize clothing, phones, laptops, towels, robes; you can place your custom monogram on almost every conceivable object. What about your LIFE? I wonder why people do not work on customizing their lives more.

Like everything else it will come at a price; judgement of others, hard work, choice, sacrifice, perhaps money but the most precious commodity of all TIME.

Let me be clear about what I mean. To customize one's life is to choose the things/activities that make you authentically happy, the things you honestly WANT. On a small scale, you know you SHOULD clean your house but you WANT to read your new book. It is about making YOUR desires and dreams your PRIORITY. It could be on a small or grand scale. A large scale example could be that you know you should leave your current relationship because it is unhealthy in some way or making you unhappy, but you choose to stay to maintain status quo and take the path of least resistance; low cost.

We all have responsibilities that we perceive precludes the option of choice to do what we truly want in our lives. I think we can have it ALL. After all my chosen responsibilities are complete in a day, I ALWAYS take time to do something that I WANT. I choose to make myself a priority in my own life. This is where the cost comes in. I may have to sacrifice sleep but it is well worth it. Self Time and Self Care is not Self-ish! I have always wanted to be a mother and have the opportunity to be present while raising my children. As equally important to me was being able to have a career and make a contribution to society. I therefore had to customize my life to make what is important to me a reality. I created and chose a home based business/occupation so I could work, build my future and be here for my children. I could have easily put my children in day care and went to work but why? I want my life, in all facets to be tailored to my wants, dreams and goals. Customization is what makes my life come to life!

Let's face it we all have the same 24 hours in each day. YOU are the only one responsible for how your time is spent.

Make your Tuesdays thought about a way that YOU can customize your life to get the most of of the time you have been given. Consider what you are willing to "pay" to have the life you have always imagined. It IS possible, but up to YOU.

"Everyday in every way I create my own reality. So what is it that I choose to create today"? - Gabriella Goddard.

SUCCESS: How Bad Do You Want It?

I gather inspiration and motivation from various sources; LIVE or DIGITAL they both have served to change my thinking and motivate me. Sometimes during our daily grind we all need an infusion of hope, positivity, inspiration or motivation to keep moving forward.

Anyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with inspirational quotations. I use my social networks on a daily basis to spread my obsession and words of wisdom. A few days ago someone returned the favour (Thanks Fernando!). A friend I worked with, what seems a million years ago re-stoked my fire to succeed and build my dreams at any cost by posting this video to his Facebook wall.

This will be the best 5 minutes you have ever spent if you want to be successfull.



(Voice over provided by ET - Eric Thomas: The Hip Hop Preacher - Author of the book "The secret to SUCCESS: When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe")

So Do You REALLY want to be SUCCESSFUL? Remember you only fail if you QUIT!