I want to keep you informed about Randy Pausch. Randy Pausch is Courage in action, as is his amazing family. Thank you Randy for teaching us so much about life, love, family and facing life’s greatest challenges. You are a true hero.
May 2nd, 2008: Cancer spreads
Yesterday’s PET scan showed that I have very tiny (5mm or less) metastases in my lungs and some lymph nodes in my chest. I also have some metastases in my peritoneum and retroperitoneum cavities (basically, inside my abdomen).
This is unfortunate, but we knew it would happen sooner or later, and we’ve been able to stave it off much longer than anticipated, so I’m very grateful for that.
My current strategy is to continue to recover from the heart and kidney failure, and once I’m strong enough, then we’ll either do the SIR-Spheres or some systemic chemo, depending on the relative growth of the liver and non-liver tumors.
Spiritual Cinema Circle is a link on my website to purchase films. Please check out the movies offered every month. These are wonderful independent films that are inspirational, sharing strong messages for all walks of life. Several are short, including 1 full length film. Tara Road featuring Andie MacDowell was offered recently. We love watching these every month. Grab some popcorn and join us at the movies.
I asked my incredible, amazing friend Nicole McKinney what the word Courage meant to her and this was her answer. I love the clarity Nicole brings to this in her life. I see that the Courage Nicole calls forth daily is bringing all her heart’s desires to her doorstep.
Here is what courage means to me. The grace and peace of believing that abundance and wealth resides with me, no matter what the struggles are. For myself the limiting belief of lack of deserving, lack of money, lack of success, lack of romantic love has always been the dominant sub conscious theme that dominated my other beliefs and put that forth into the universe over and over and over again. Hence, that was what was always presented to me. My courage now… is being open and honest to admit that truth and to that say that I accept myself, I love myself and I forgive who I am. Now I take my courage and my power and say that I am the wealthiest person on planet earth. I have so much love and support from my family and friends, I have a beautiful spiritual cat who gives me love in ways that are unexplainable in words but explode though feelings that look like rainbows. I now believe that the being that I am and the abundance of my being is infinite. To know that I am eliminating the belief of lack, replacing it with the never ending abundance that I have right now, as I write this note is the most important gift of courage that I can give myself. With that……… a gratitude dance is in order!
A friend of mine Marie Louise Steenbjerg, who lives in Denmark sent me an e-mail about Jim Stovall, along with a video from You Tube. Marie Louise heard Jim speak in Los Angeles and said it was very moving to hear his story. I would like to share it with you.
Jim Stovall is blind now, and claims he never read a book cover to cover until he was blind. Now Jim is an avid reader and author. One of Jim’s books was turned into a best selling movie. Now Jim has established a television company with the focus on helping blind people. Jim travels the country speaking to motivate people to their full potential.
When the doctors told Jim he was going blind, he went into denial. In his own words Jim says “I had a PhD in quitting.” In this You Tube video, he tells a story about 4 year old Christopher and how they changed each others lives. This is a true story of Courage and Strength. Jim says to “imagine your big dream and remember it is too soon to quit,” saying that we have the capacity to achieve anything. This video is very inspiring. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you Marie Louise
In the 12th Century, King Richard the Lion-Heart, King of England, led an army of his finest and bravest Knights to fight for the return of the One True Cross, and to clear the passage of Christians on Pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Among those chosen for this daring adventure was, Sir John Holcombe (the First). These Crusaders fought their way to the Holy Lands, winning decisive battles against Muslim forces. During one of the final battles, Sir John received wounds that ended his quest. He never recovered from his injuries, living long enough to complete the accompanying record, and to survive only part of the journey back to his beloved homeland and family in Dorchester, England. After being orphaned at the age of three and reared in poverty, Sir John later became one of the wealthiest and most respected men of his time. In the short period remaining from his final battle in the Crusades until his ultimate death, he wrote this account of the experiences and knowledge that brought him fame, wealth, and happiness. This is from the writings of Sir John Holcombe, Knight and Crusader for Truth and Courage.
This book description is from Amazon.
About the Author
J. Arthur Holcombe, a self-made millionaire and cancer survivor, is a direct descendant of Sir John Holcombe, Knight and Crusader who lived in the 12th Century. J. Arthur was raised and educated in rural Northwest Arkansas. Like his forefather, Mr. Holcombe rose from poverty by applying the secrets he shares with you in this book.
John Lennon holds a very special place in my heart, as do the Beatles. They were such a constant in my life growing up. This song is one of the greatest songs ever written and speaks to us now, more than ever. I love David Archuleta’s version sang on American Idol, and want to share it with you.
I have decided to add a permanent category to my website called “COURAGE - what does this word mean to you”. I will post the comments I receive from people I meet out in the world or any comments you send here to the website. I will post your name and quote on what courage means to you. I know courage means something different to everyone and anticipate the answers to this question. The other night my husband Cody and I were at Sorrento Bar and Grill in Laguna Beach. I asked a couple people who work there what courage meant to them. Here are their responses:
Steven Collins ~ Courage means being in the moment or showing up for the moment.
Nick Siracusa (Mixologist Extrordinaire) ~ Being bold enough to decide what, when, where and who you spend your time with at all costs.
I do not define myself by how many roadblocks have appeared in my path.
I define myself by the courage I’ve found to forge new roads.
I do not define myself by how many disappointments I’ve faced.
I define myself by the forgiveness and the faith I have found to begin again.
I do not define myself by how long a relationship lasted.
I define myself by how much I have loved, and been willing to love again.
I do not define myself by how many times I have been knocked down.
I define myself by how many times I have struggled to my feet.
I am not my pain.
I am not my past.
I am that which has emerged from the fire.
~Unknown
How do you define yourself? Are you forging new roads in your life? Step out of your past, your pain, your ego/pain body. Step into the future you are creating in this very moment and the next. Your attention to NOW will dial you in to your greatest power. What do you hear? Are you so wrapped up in the past and future, or are you LISTENING? In the stillness of the present moment is where your future waits to unfold.
Last night my husband Cody and I had the pleasure of meeting Scott Rigsby, who’s You Tube video is posted on my website. Scott was flying into Orange County in California for a speaking engagement and invited us to be his guests. When you stand before a confident man who has achieved the level of success in sports that he has, it is inspiring, to say the least. I have to say Scott is true to his mission and on purpose. What an amazing spirit he has, along with a desire to make such a difference in people’s lives. Scott was speaking about children on stage and mentioned that so many of the children he speaks to, most who have lost limbs, don’t feel unique. Scott tells these children they are unique and special in their own individual way and they love it.
That really made me think about being unique in our own way and that we each have a gift to share that no on else has. Every one of us has so much to share with the world. When we stand in Courage, there are very few things we can not accomplish. Believe in yourself, because you are a unique individual that has value in this life. Love Life, Live Life-get out there and kick some butt, starting with your own, if that’s what it takes to get you moving forward. Look to people like Scott who have conquered all odds to achieve goals that encourage you to excel. Thank you Scott.
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Endorsements
“Debra Oakland has clearly written Living in Courage from the heart. This is a book that guides people to summon the courage to face life's biggest challenges. You will find wonderful nuggets that you can apply to your life now.”
~ David Riklan, Founder of SelfGrowth.com,
the #1 Self Improvement Website on the Internet
www.SelfGrowth.com
