Happy Moments: 4 Things

A Sunday morning brunch outside in the summer

Going to bed and listening to the sound of the rain outside

A friendly salesperson at the shop

The smell of fresh laundry


What are your favorite moments?


Happy Sunday everyone!

Memories: Cassette Tapes

Remembering those days when we used to listen to cassette tapes...Happy weekend everyone!





photo credit: http://www.graphicshunt.com/twitter/images/cassette_mix_tape-256.htm

Stories of Resilience: Team Hoyt

Team Hoyt running

This is the beautiful story of Dick and Rick Hoyt. When I first heard and read about their story, I had to cry, and I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this post, since this is such a touching and, most of all, inspiring story! It is a story about how strong a father's love can be: 

Dick's son Rick has suffered of cerebral palsy since his birth in 1962. He was supposed to grow up in an institution if it hadn't been for his parents, who noticed that Rick's eyes followed them around the room - this gave them hope that he was going to be able to communicate one day. A doctor encouraged them to treat him like any other kid. It turns out that he learned the alphabet in a short amount of time and that, at the age of 11, he was able to communicate through a computer - it was clear that Rick was an intelligent person. Consequently, he was admitted to a public school. He graduated from Boston University in 1993 with a degree in special education. 

Team Hoyt after the swim portion of a triathlon

Team Hoyt began in 1977 when Rick saw an article on racing and wanted to start racing with his father. After their first race (with Dick pushing his son in the wheelchair), Rick said: “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.” Since Dick was not a runner, he started training with a bag of cement in the wheelchair when Rick was at school in order to improve his fitness. 

The swim portion of the triathlon

The Hoyts have competed in 1,077 endurance events, including 70 marathons and six Ironman triathlons. They have also biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days. 

When they compete in triathlons, Dick uses a rope attached to his body to pull Rick sitting in a boat, when it comes to the swimming part. For the cycle portion, Rick rides on the front of a specially designed tandem bike. When they run, Dick pushes Rick in his wheelchair.

Book published in 2010

Today, Rick is 51 and Dick 73 years old - and they are still racing. This father's devotion to his son, as well as their bond, is truly inspiring. Check out their homepage for more information: Team Hoyt. 

Happy Thursday to everyone!

source: http://www.teamhoyt.com/

source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Hoyt

photo credit: http://www.davintosh.com/2007/11/09/team-hoyt/

photo credit: http://thexoxoofsports.blogspot.ch/2010/04/team-hoyt-re-lives-history-while.html
photo credit: http://sportsthenandnow.com/tag/dick-and-rick-hoyt/
photo credit: http://www.marlboroughtri.com/teamhoyt.php

Daydreaming...

For all the daydreamers out there. Happy Saturday!





source: http://laurenconrad.com/blog/post/friday-favorites-98

Things we all do

Check out this page and enjoy! ;)





source: http://thingswealldo.tumblr.com/
photo credit: http://thingswealldo.tumblr.com/

Little Things in Life

Today's inspiration.





photo credit: http://hollicrombie25.xanga.com/745097682/item/

Something that will make you smile

Thanks to the writing on the ball, the owner could be identified

The football's journey from Japan to Alaska

After having lost his football during the tsunami in March 2011, sixteen-year-old Misaki Murakami's got it back more than a year after this devastating event. The football was swept out to sea and made it to Alaska, where it was found by David Baxter...read this great story here. 

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17810123
photo credit: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/tsunami-teens-prized-football-found-803079
photo credit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17810123

Sticking together...

I found this picture on the internet and thought I needed to share it, since the way these birds brave the weather is just heartbreaking. What a way to stick together! Don't you think? Have a nice weekend everyone (a cozier one than these poor birds I hope...).

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmwilliams/5727282051/">kdee64</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

New Year's Resolution Cartoons

Have you been thinking about your New Year's resolutions for next year? Here are some good examples...;). Have a happy last day of 2012 tomorrow!





source: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/16-new-years-resolution-cartoons/
photo credit: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/16-new-years-resolution-cartoons/

Being thankful...

Reading about all those dicussions on gun control and considering where these discussions originate from, shows the importance of reflecting about what we have and what we should be thankful for. Specially during Christmas time, a time where family comes together to eat, drink, and celebrate. Often we forget why family and friends come together during Christmas - it has become some kind of habit. Furthermore, it makes us reflect about the importance of having our loved ones around us on Christmas, which is something that is often taken for granted too. This Christmas, we should take the opportunity to think about who is around us and why we are thankful to have them in our lives, instead of thinking too much about what present to give them. I think that saying (or writing) someone why we love to have them in our lives is one of the greatest presents a person can get. It makes us reflect on our relationships to our family and friends again, which is one of the most important things in life. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas time with family and friends, enjoy!

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlz/4179200526/">jlz</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

Little Things in Life

Fireplace and coffee

There is nothing better at this time of year than sitting in front of a crackling fireplace or just another warm place and having a cup of tea or coffee, is there? It is one of the most relaxing moments...

photo credit: http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/

A funny way to pass (waste?) time

Awkward Family Photos

December, the month when everyone is stressed out due to different reasons. Why not waste a little bit of time while checking out this super awkward website: Awkward Family Photos. Enjoy! ;)

source: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com
photo credit: http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Stories of Resilience: Ahmed Kelly

Ahmed Kelly representing Australia at the Paralympics 2012

This is the story of Ahmed Kelly who was born in Irak with severely underdeveloped arms and legs and, along with his brother, was found in a shoebox outside an orphanage in Baghdad. Read his life story and what he has achieved here. This is a true story of resilience, and it makes everything you worry about so irrelevant, doesn't it? He's a real inspiration.

photo credit: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2012/08/09/orphan-raised-by-mother-teresa-sisters-in-baghdad-is-to-compete-in-paralympics/

Words...

Did you know? Sometimes, I am pleasantly surprised about how many words there are, and about what they denote...

source: http://dictionarydefinitions.tumblr.com/

Stories of Resilience

Sometimes, there are just those days when we are stressed, things go wrong, and we keep thinking about a problem and believe that there is no solution in sight. In these situations, it sometimes helps to read real-life stories that inspire us and make us feel better and motivated again. The stories that I have in mind are Stories of Resilience. These are stories about people who have successfully survived through trying times - times that seemed too difficult for someone to conquer. The word resilience refers to the "ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change" (according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary), and there are people who are more resilient than others. On this blog, I will try to provide you with different stories from time to time, so that, if you feel like it, you can read them in order to get inspired or motivated. 

Today, I will present you a story that was told to me by my brother and that left me speechless when I heard it for the first time. It is the story of Mario Capecchi, an Italian  molecular geneticist who survived being on the streets on his own from the age of four until he was found by his mother about four years later - and is now a Nobel Prize winner. Read the story here and get inspired :).

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seyyed_mostafa_zamani/5771861523/">seyed mostafa zamani</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>
source: www.wikipedia.com

Looking for a nice way to awaken old memories?

I think this is a lovely way to bring back nice memories from the past...and to create Christmas cards or presents as well. Find more examples here.

source: http://dearphotograph.com/
photo credit: http://dearphotograph.com/

How about a love note once in a while?

Artwork by Lucy Ketchin

source: http://cargocollective.com/lucyketchin/Misc

Little Things in Life

Crisp autumn morning light

There is nothing better than crisp morning light during fall...It just makes you feel alive, doesn't it? 





photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/reeeevo/6283737462/">andyreevo</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">cc</a>

Little Things in Life

Taking a walk on a sunny afternoon during fall

I believe that everyone should try to enjoy the little things in life, since life is too short to only concentrate on our problems and on the things that bother us. Therefore, I will document the things that inspire me in this blog, and I hope to inspire other people as well with the things I post. Enjoy!

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/3023749962/">Ian Muttoo</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

So true...

photo credit: http://vi.sualize.us/life_really_simple_but_we_insist_making_it_complicated_quote_confucius_text_words_picture_528f.html