An excerpt from
Learning to Dance in the Rain
by Mac Anderson and BJ Gallagher
The date was July 16, 2008. It was late in the afternoon and I was sitting in my hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. I was scheduled to speak that evening for the Kentucky Association of School Administrators (KASA). I was a little "down in the dumps." I hadn't gotten to exercise lately because of my traveling schedule and recently I'd experienced some mild bouts of vertigo (that inner ear condition that can cause the room to start spinning.) You got it...speaking and "spinning" are not good partners!
My keynote presentation was scheduled for 7:00 PM, but I had been invited to show up at 6:00 to see a performance they said I'd enjoy. Little did I know that I was about to see something I would never forget.
They introduced the young musician. Welcome...Mr. Patrick Henry Hughes. He was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair, and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he made beautiful music.
He then began to sing as he played, and it was even more beautiful. For some reason, however, I knew that I was seeing something special. There was this aura about him that I really can't explain and the smile...his smile was magic!
About ten minutes into Patrick's performance, someone came on the stage and said..."I'd like to share a 7-minute video titled, The Patrick Henry Hughes story." And the lights went dim.
Patrick Henry Hughes was born with no eyes, and a tightening of the joints which left him crippled for life. However, as a child, he was fitted with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. His mom said, "I could hit any note on the piano, and within one or two tries, he'd get it." By his second birthday, he was playing requests (You Are My Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). His father was ecstatic. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."
Today, Patrick is a junior at the University of Louisville. His father attends classes with him and he's made nearly all A's, with the exception of 3 B's He's also a part of the 214 member marching band. You read it right...the marching band! He's a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father do it together. They attend all the band practices and the half-time performance in front of thousands. His father rolls and rotates his son around the field to the cheers of Patrick's fans. In order to attend Patrick's classes and every band practice, his father works the graveyard shift at UPS. Patrick said..."My dad's my hero."
But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touched my soul. On stage, between songs, he would talk to the audience about his life and about how blessed he was. He said, "God made me blind and unable to walk. BIG DEAL! He gave me the ability...the musical gifts I have...the great opportunity to meet new people."
When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes. It gave me giant goose bumps!
My life was ready to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. I needed a hero, and I found one for the ages. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never forget that night, that smile, that music, but most importantly, that wonderful "attitude of gratitude."
I returned to Chicago and shared Patrick's story with my wife, my friends, and our team at Simple Truths. About two weeks later, I received a letter from a friend. He said, "Mac, I don't know who said it, but I think you'll love this quote."
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"
I thought...that's it! We all face adversity in our life. However, it's not the adversity, but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our life. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or, can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain?
It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word...gratitude, can change your attitude, thus, your life, forever. Sarah Breathnack said it best...
"When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present....we experience heaven on earth."
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Result of the OO Survey
This survey is for entertainment purpose only, it's purely for fun and doesn't mean to hurt anyone...
Btw, only 4 people who voted for this,lol!!!
The result is published as the following:
Most Handsome OO: Chee Leong
Prettiest OO: Clarissa
Most Enthusiastic OO: Keen Wai
Least Enthusiastic OO: Noel, Ickes, Pui Ling, Millie, Mervyn & Pei Jin
Most popular OO: Wei Rong
Least Popular OO: Huey Ling
Most Favourite OO: Ickes
Least Favourite OO: Mervyn
Friendliest OO: Wei Rong & Ickes
Most Helpful OO: Wei Rong & Keen Wai
Btw, only 4 people who voted for this,lol!!!
The result is published as the following:
Most Handsome OO: Chee Leong
Prettiest OO: Clarissa
Most Enthusiastic OO: Keen Wai
Least Enthusiastic OO: Noel, Ickes, Pui Ling, Millie, Mervyn & Pei Jin
Most popular OO: Wei Rong
Least Popular OO: Huey Ling
Most Favourite OO: Ickes
Least Favourite OO: Mervyn
Friendliest OO: Wei Rong & Ickes
Most Helpful OO: Wei Rong & Keen Wai
23 October 2009 Outing
Last Friday Futsal was cancelled because of big rain, so we went for dinner earlier. Haha, guess what? We didn't book Yuan Steamboat Restaurant, so by the time we reached there, there was a lot of people Q-ing outside. We went to another Restaurant instead because we were too hungry and couldn't willing to wait. We went to the opposite of Yuan,it is called Summer Steamboat Restaurant!!!! The food are not bad too. Special thing about this is you can take the food and ask them to BBQ for you!!! Hehe.
However,the price is RM21.80 per adult, more expensive...not much variety than Yuan there I guess,so I prefer Yuan more...:-)
Han Hong, who always want to avoid Group picture!
Back (From Left): Noel, Keen Wai, Marcellus, Wei Rong
Front (From Left): Ickes, Kevin, Jeremy, Mei Ying, Samantha
However,the price is RM21.80 per adult, more expensive...not much variety than Yuan there I guess,so I prefer Yuan more...:-)
Han Hong, who always want to avoid Group picture!
Back (From Left): Noel, Keen Wai, Marcellus, Wei Rong
Front (From Left): Ickes, Kevin, Jeremy, Mei Ying, Samantha
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Attention,This Friday!!!!!
There will be Futsal at 7pm, after that we will go Yuan Steamboat Sunway to eat buffet!!!
So what can we eat at Yuan??? So many food!!!!!!!! And what reminds us of Yuan, it's the Honey Chicken Wing!!!!!
Yummy...
Halloween Party
I suggest this to all group 8 members!!!! Halloween Party!!! It will be fun!!! Support charity and let's celebrate together!!!! Anyone wants to buy tickets can tell Ickes at ickes_angelo88@hotmail.com
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
OO Evaluation Voting!!!!
Dear Group 8 Juniors,
We have done a survey for the juniors to evaluate your OOs!!!
You can vote for your favourite OO, most popular OO and others here!!!
Happy voting!!!!!
Click Here to take survey
We have done a survey for the juniors to evaluate your OOs!!!
You can vote for your favourite OO, most popular OO and others here!!!
Happy voting!!!!!
Click Here to take survey
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
((((((((:
To all those who are feeling super stressed and tired from studying for exams, here's a short but touching story for you! Cheer up and feel GR8! ((:
The Introduction from
To a Child, Love is Spelled T-I-M-Eby Mac Anderson and Lance Wubbels
In the faint light of the attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. Brushing aside a wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward the light and began to carefully lift out one old photograph album after another. Eyes once bright but now dim searched longingly for the source that had drawn him here.
It began with the fond recollection of the love of his life, long gone, and somewhere in these albums was a photo of her he hoped to rediscover.
Silent as a mouse, he patiently opened the long-buried treasures and soon was lost in a sea of memories. Although his world had not stopped spinning when his wife left it, the past was more alive in his heart than his present aloneness.
Setting aside one of the dusty albums, he pulled from the box what appeared to be a journal from his grown son's childhood. He could not recall ever having seen it before, or that his son had ever kept a journal.
Why did Elizabeth always save the children's old junk? he wondered, shaking his white head.
Opening the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short entry, and his lips curved in an unconscious smile. Even his eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear and sweet to his soul.
It was the voice of the little boy who had grown up far too fast in this very house, and whose voice had grown fainter and fainter over the years. In the utter silence of the attic, the words of a guileless six-year-old worked their magic and carried the old man back to a time almost totally forgotten.
Entry after entry stirred a sentimental hunger in his heart like the longing a gardener feels in the winter for the fragrance of spring flowers. But it was accompanied by the painful memory that his son's simple recollections of those days were far different from his own. But how different?
Reminded that he had kept a daily journal of his business activities over the years, he closed his son's journal and turned to leave, having forgotten the cherished photo that originally triggered his search.
Hunched over to keep from bumping his head on the rafters, the old man stepped to the wooden stairway and made his descent, then headed down a carpeted stairway that led to the den.
Opening a glass cabinet door, he reached in and pulled out an old business journal. Turning, he sat down at his desk and placed the two journals beside each other.
His was leather bound and engraved neatly with his name in gold, while his son's was tattered and the name "Jimmy" had been nearly scuffed from its surface. He ran a long skinny finger over the letters, as though he could restore what had been worn away with time and use.
As he opened his journal, the old man's eyes fell upon an inscription that stood out because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat handwriting were these words:
Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn't catch a thing.
With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took Jimmy's journal and found the boy's entry for the same day, June 4. Large scrawling letters pressed deeply in the paper read:
Went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.
The Introduction from
To a Child, Love is Spelled T-I-M-Eby Mac Anderson and Lance Wubbels
In the faint light of the attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. Brushing aside a wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward the light and began to carefully lift out one old photograph album after another. Eyes once bright but now dim searched longingly for the source that had drawn him here.
It began with the fond recollection of the love of his life, long gone, and somewhere in these albums was a photo of her he hoped to rediscover.
Silent as a mouse, he patiently opened the long-buried treasures and soon was lost in a sea of memories. Although his world had not stopped spinning when his wife left it, the past was more alive in his heart than his present aloneness.
Setting aside one of the dusty albums, he pulled from the box what appeared to be a journal from his grown son's childhood. He could not recall ever having seen it before, or that his son had ever kept a journal.
Why did Elizabeth always save the children's old junk? he wondered, shaking his white head.
Opening the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short entry, and his lips curved in an unconscious smile. Even his eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear and sweet to his soul.
It was the voice of the little boy who had grown up far too fast in this very house, and whose voice had grown fainter and fainter over the years. In the utter silence of the attic, the words of a guileless six-year-old worked their magic and carried the old man back to a time almost totally forgotten.
Entry after entry stirred a sentimental hunger in his heart like the longing a gardener feels in the winter for the fragrance of spring flowers. But it was accompanied by the painful memory that his son's simple recollections of those days were far different from his own. But how different?
Reminded that he had kept a daily journal of his business activities over the years, he closed his son's journal and turned to leave, having forgotten the cherished photo that originally triggered his search.
Hunched over to keep from bumping his head on the rafters, the old man stepped to the wooden stairway and made his descent, then headed down a carpeted stairway that led to the den.
Opening a glass cabinet door, he reached in and pulled out an old business journal. Turning, he sat down at his desk and placed the two journals beside each other.
His was leather bound and engraved neatly with his name in gold, while his son's was tattered and the name "Jimmy" had been nearly scuffed from its surface. He ran a long skinny finger over the letters, as though he could restore what had been worn away with time and use.
As he opened his journal, the old man's eyes fell upon an inscription that stood out because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat handwriting were these words:
Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn't catch a thing.
With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took Jimmy's journal and found the boy's entry for the same day, June 4. Large scrawling letters pressed deeply in the paper read:
Went fishing with my dad. Best day of my life.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Sem2 easy notes
Sem 2 notes
To all current sem 2 group 8, this is a file where our senior made to make your life easier to pass sem 2 only, so if you're aiming for A, do read more yourself!
To all current sem 2 group 8, this is a file where our senior made to make your life easier to pass sem 2 only, so if you're aiming for A, do read more yourself!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ME2/09 Group 8: Infinity
Pictures taken during ME209 orientation for group 8 (some event I
didn't go so.... haha)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Futsal Game
Attention to all Group 8 members!!! We are going to have our very first group 8 Futsal game on this upcoming Friday (25 September 2009), at 5pm, at Green Court IMU.We welcome everyone to join as it will be very fun!!!
So far, 8 people have confirmed already- Vishal, Keen Wai, Noel, Samantha, Ickes, Yen Haw, Natasha, Jon.More people more fun, so please come ya!!!
Sorry for those who are still in their hometown, it's ok if you guys can't make it. Next time we will have another 1...hehe!
Cheers for group 8!!!!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Group 8 Cheers!!!
Infinity
We're gonna F*I*G*H*T
We're gonna S*C*O*R*E
We're gonna fight, score, win the day
Infinity infinity all the way
We're gonna F*I*G*H*T
We're gonna S*C*O*R*E
We're gonna fight, score, win the day
Infinity infinity all the way
To infinity…and beyond!!!!
We R Str8
We are great, be afraid,
We will surely set things straight,
We are great, also straight,
With other genders we will mate,
For a date, never late,
If not straight, we won’t hate,
Cheer for us if you are straight!
Freakin’ Gr8
1,2,1,2,3,4…
We will soar into infinity,
We are not freaks, we are not great,
But we are…..(Claps, claps)
We are Freakin Gr8
What are we? We are Freakin’ Gr8
Celebrate the 8s…..are great!!!
OO's Advantages
Well, the best thing for orientation is to become an OO, why?
Because....
1. You can know your juniors, bond relationship with them, get more friends.
2. You can always ask for SP (Stimulated Patient).
3. You can enjoy orientation as fully as/ more fun than your juniors.
4. You can plan outings and gatherings for the group.
5. You will be appreciated, as always!
These were the little gifts presented to the juniors upon their graduation from their respective orientations !!!
1st Generation---ME2/08 (Freakin' Gr8)----BOOKMARK
2nd Generation---MEDT1/09 (We R Str8)----DOG TAG
3rd Generation---ME2/09 (Infinity)----KEY CHAIN
4th Generation---MEDT1/10 (?)
So, we welcome all the Group 8 members to become OOs for the next orientation and make our group the best!!!!!!
Because....
1. You can know your juniors, bond relationship with them, get more friends.
2. You can always ask for SP (Stimulated Patient).
3. You can enjoy orientation as fully as/ more fun than your juniors.
4. You can plan outings and gatherings for the group.
5. You will be appreciated, as always!
These were the little gifts presented to the juniors upon their graduation from their respective orientations !!!
1st Generation---ME2/08 (Freakin' Gr8)----BOOKMARK
2nd Generation---MEDT1/09 (We R Str8)----DOG TAG
3rd Generation---ME2/09 (Infinity)----KEY CHAIN
4th Generation---MEDT1/10 (?)
So, we welcome all the Group 8 members to become OOs for the next orientation and make our group the best!!!!!!
ME2/09 Orientation-Checkmate
MEDT1/09 Members(Infinity):
Vishal-leader
Mei Ying
Samantha
Xiao Ying
Samuel
Chen Ee
Chan
Marcellus
Janeni
Dayang
Scott
May
Gerrard
Ming Xiang
Vivian
Nishanth
Jeremy
Gene
OOs:
Wei Rong
Keen Wai
Noel
Clarissa
Sharon
Pui Ling
Millie
Eunice
Huey Ling
Kevin
Ruth
Mervyn
Tan Ying Xin
Khor Yen Haw
Ickes
Natasha Ng
Chong Han Hong
Chee Leong
Lim Pei jin
Vishal-leader
Mei Ying
Samantha
Xiao Ying
Samuel
Chen Ee
Chan
Marcellus
Janeni
Dayang
Scott
May
Gerrard
Ming Xiang
Vivian
Nishanth
Jeremy
Gene
OOs:
Wei Rong
Keen Wai
Noel
Clarissa
Sharon
Pui Ling
Millie
Eunice
Huey Ling
Kevin
Ruth
Mervyn
Tan Ying Xin
Khor Yen Haw
Ickes
Natasha Ng
Chong Han Hong
Chee Leong
Lim Pei jin
MEDT1/09 Orientation- Boot Camp Ground Zero
MEDT1/09 Members (We R Str8):
Devaraj-leader
Aneesha
Eunice
Shalini
Millie
Jack
Kevin
Noel
Wei Rong
Pui Ling
Hui Fong
Sharon
Swee Ang
Vincent
Clarissa
OOs:
Ruth
Lim Kian
Lawrence
Paul
Tan Ying Xin
Khor Yen Haw
Ickes
Natasha Ng
Chong Han Hong
Chee Leong
Lim Pei jin
Aimi
Aini
Devaraj-leader
Aneesha
Eunice
Shalini
Millie
Jack
Kevin
Noel
Wei Rong
Pui Ling
Hui Fong
Sharon
Swee Ang
Vincent
Clarissa
OOs:
Ruth
Lim Kian
Lawrence
Paul
Tan Ying Xin
Khor Yen Haw
Ickes
Natasha Ng
Chong Han Hong
Chee Leong
Lim Pei jin
Aimi
Aini
A letter from Chor Yang (Freakin' Gr8 Member who leave IMU)
We have tonnes of good memories of orientation, thanks to every group 8 members for their 100% involvement. We will always remember Chor Yang and Sher Lin, who have leave IMU to Monash. They are still part of IMU and part of Group 8 family.
ME2/08 Orientation---2 Past, 2 Futurious
Let's introduce the members & OOs:
ME2/08 Members (Freakin' Gr8):
Wolf--leader
Kevin
Lim Kian
Lim Pei Jin
Terri
Tee Huey Ling
Chiang Li Ly
Sim Jian Hao
Sulo
Ng Chor Yang
Joanna Sher Lin
Vijay
Aimi
Fizah
Ruth
Kyi Saw Tin
Lai Weng Soon
OOs:
Ickes
Khor Yen Haw
Matthew Ting
Wong Chee Leong
Natasha Ng
Tan Ying Xin
Kala
Chong Han Hong
Benny
Keili Pook
Chok Chin Nam
Rudy Goh
Sabrina Ong
Chey Chia Sin
Paige
ME2/08 Members (Freakin' Gr8):
Wolf--leader
Kevin
Lim Kian
Lim Pei Jin
Terri
Tee Huey Ling
Chiang Li Ly
Sim Jian Hao
Sulo
Ng Chor Yang
Joanna Sher Lin
Vijay
Aimi
Fizah
Ruth
Kyi Saw Tin
Lai Weng Soon
OOs:
Ickes
Khor Yen Haw
Matthew Ting
Wong Chee Leong
Natasha Ng
Tan Ying Xin
Kala
Chong Han Hong
Benny
Keili Pook
Chok Chin Nam
Rudy Goh
Sabrina Ong
Chey Chia Sin
Paige
Special Number-8
Wohoo...This blog is specially created for Orientation Group 8's Juniors, OO's and Super OO's. It is a traditional for us to choose Group 8. Since ME2/08 (Freakin' Gr8) ,then MEDT1/09 (We R Str8)...now ME2/09 (Infinity), hopefully for MEDT1/10, Group 8 will be continued to be OO'ing by us...hehe. We welcome other group members to join Group 8 too, to make us the largest orientation family/sisters/brothers/best friends ever.
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