inspiration – Page 11

Early Mornings

In my mind today, I’m thinking about early mornings. Recently my daughter has been having to arrive at school by 7 am. She’s a junior and has so many responsibilities from Student Council, Model U.N., Journalism, and choir. She’s busy, busy. I’m so very proud of her.

When she has early mornings, the whole house has to wake up with her. My husband is the Ring Leader of our Alley circus. He gets the lift and places me in my chair. Then we roll into the kitchen for medicines, coffee, and breakfast. We talk while Abbey scurries around. Ben, my middle son, then puts me on my “throne.” He and Ken then tag team to clean me up and put me back together in my chair. Sounds like “Humpty Dumpty” but my brokenness can’t be fixed. We then say our goodbyes and I settle into my little nook to read, pray, reflect, and write barring any choking spells.

All in all, we handle our mornings pretty gracefully. I’m so blessed to have a family that wants me here. Sometimes I feel selfish and want it to end so they can be more “normal.” When I become Dismal Sal, they reassure me that they want me here. Once I said, “It’s time for me to fly.” And now when I become somber they say, “Dad, she’s dismal! She’s trying to fly again!” The whole living with ALS is so comedic at times we laugh until we cry. You have to laugh.

The other day I received a wonderful card from an amazing friend. It said, “If I could wave a magic wand…” and it was so endearing. Yes, if we could wave a magic wand a lot of hurts would vanish for sure. Struggles in illnesses would be non-existent. Then I thought, where would our inspiration and gumption to carry on despite donning a bald head from battling cancer or twisting bodies from muscular dystrophies? At our lowest moments, we impact others on an inexplicable level. It propels the human race to be kinder, more understanding, and love more deeply. Our suffering is used for a greater purpose. Many of us battling with diseases and disabilities, embrace our cross and bear it for the good of mankind. Blessings then flow abundantly. Yes, it’s hard living in a broken body but it feels so good to know God uses it for the greater good. That’s all that really matters in the end.

Sarah Anderson Alley

Dedicated to Delores, LJ, Robert, Tracy, Callie, Peggy, Butch S., Gale, and all those who are inspirations to mankind.

Quotes of the Day:

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
Helen Keller

“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.”
Friedrich Nietzsche

“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”
Nelson Mandela

Purpose, Service, & Perserverence

Purpose, Serving, & Perseverance

In my mind today, I’m thinking about a speech I was scheduled to give Sunday at the high school I attended and graduated from 30 years ago. The occasion is the Beta Club induction of new members. Back row, have you heard of the Beta Club? That figures. Yes, most of the front row students are in Beta Club. So no rude names please. Yes, they are usually gifted with book sense and natural intellect, but some simply work hard. Many of my back row students have the ability but lack the motivation. With that being said, listen carefully to my speech or at least read it and follow along. Yes that’s an assignment!

Good afternoon students, parents, and faculty. Thank you Class of 2018 for inviting me to speak today. Thirty years ago I graduated from this wonderful, formidable school. However, I find it ironic to be asked to speak to the brightest students today. Thirty years ago my strength was athleticism. As you can see from my appearance, today this is not where my strength and abilities lie. They are similar to that of the new inductees and members of the Beta Club. They are in my mind, spirit, and purpose. Through these, I persevere like a Beta Club member should.

Despite having ALS, my mind is still strong. It is constantly thinking of ways to advocate social justice, promote life-long education, encourage others to help me fight for a cure for ALS, and to spread LOVE in a world that so desperately needs it. My feeble body is still accomplishing my goals because I refuse to let my limitations stop me. I tell people I choose to live not die with ALS. I choose to persevere. I implore not just the Beta Club but all of you here to day to find ways to be bearers of hope and love. It truly is our purpose. Find your purpose.

One way Beta Club finds purpose is through serving in the community. Guess what? We are all called to serve in some shape or fashion as we live our earthly lives. Beta Club is a we not me club. Today inductees, you are brought into the fold of service. Whether you are collecting cans for a food drive, visiting nursing homes, or simply helping fellow students, remember to do so with humility and a grateful heart. You are so blessed to be able to serve and help cultivate goodwill. Embrace it.

Members of Beta Club often have heavy and difficult course loads or curriculums. There will be times when you want to take the easy way and not do your best because face it, you will become tired and overwhelmed. Taking tough courses is a part of your call as a Beta Club member. Why? You were gifted with much and much is expected inside and outside of the classroom. You are called to be the thinkers and leaders. I have faith in you and everyone here does, too. Will you ever fall short? Yes, definitely. As you dust yourselves off and begin again, you will become a little stronger. The fault lies in never getting back up. Older members have many a bump and bruise and can help you find the discernment to fight on. Help each other to persevere.

I’ll end with one of my favorite parables: The sower and the seeds. A farmer sowed his seeds one spring. On the way to the field, some fell on the road and were trampled. Some seeds fell on hard and rocky ground. They tried to sprout but withered. No roots could form. Some seeds were planted among thorns and weeds. They grew but their roots could not get enough nutrients to survive. Lastly, some seed was placed in rich soil. It grew astronomically. The fruit was as numerous as the stars or grains of sand. Guess which seeds you are Beta Club. You are the rich, fertile ground. You can hear and understand what needs done to better the world. You see the tragedy and shortcomings of our human race. We here today are so very proud of you. We know you will embrace your purpose, yearn to serve, and provide goodwill towards mankind with perseverance.
Congratulations and Thank You for giving me the honor and chance to speak.
Sarah Anderson Alley

Dedicated to the DHS Beta Club

Quotes of the Day:

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
Pele

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.”
Marie Curie

“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”
Julie Andrews

Matter, Energy, & Love

Matter, Energy, & Love

In my mind today, I’m thinking of science objectives. I loved science as a student. My favorites were biology, chemistry, and natural sciences. The physical sciences were my least favorite, but I grew to love them. My professor Ms. Rena Moss would be so proud. So today students I’m going to review some objectives. Stop grumbling back row. I promise we will do a lab soon.

Let’s get started with Sir Issac Newton. What a thinker? He was born on Christmas Day in 1642 and lived 84 fruitful years. Students, if you hate Calculus then blame it on old Sir Issac Newton. His repertoire includes the following: mathematician, physics genius, explanation of gravity, telescope invention, and Newton’s laws. This is the short list. WOW! Right?

Matter. Back row here’s a question for you, “What happens when we burn a piece of paper? Does it simply vanish? Back row, I’m sure you’ve had experience with some of our homework sheets.” No, there are new materials created: smoke, ashes, and gases. It’s transformed. We, humans, cannot create something (matter) from nothing.

Energy. Okay, let’s list a few types of energy: kinetic, potential, gravitational, electric, magnetic, thermal, and solar. Where does the power for energy come and where does it go? Whether it be from the sun, generators, or the earth’s core, the energy output is always equal to it’s input. Energy is merely transferred. Awesome deduction front row! It cannot be created or destroyed either.

Love. Students do you believe Love is a form of energy? Think about it. A warm hug, a pat on the back, or a genuine smile is energy transferred and cherished. It lasts a lifetime in our memories. It is transferred to others and continues to exist. Love just like matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed. It already exists within us. We just need to unleash it and let it flow. Yes back row, that is your assignment so quit the murmuring. Get your smiles and hugs on today! Humans like Sir Issac Newton are rare geniuses. But each one of you are charged with with a special energy and purpose. Time is of the essence.
Sarah Anderson Alley

Dedicated to the genius of Sir Issac Newton and the Ultimate Creator

Quotes of the Day:
“I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”
Sir Issac Newton

“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Sir Issac Newton

“Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night;
God said “Let Newton be” and all was light.”
Alexander Pope

The Worst

In my mind and heart today, I’m feeling warm and fuzzy. I was able to spend the whole day with my sweet, strong, loving mother. My Aunt, her loving sister Linda, brought her over, and we had such a wonderful day.

Three years ago my condition worsened greatly. My diaphragm was failing, and I was close to death. I made it through it, but my mother’s mind began to slip. Every time we were together I could literally see her heart break. She couldn’t bear to see her youngest in such a weakened physical state. I was her tomboy that loved the outdoors and every sport imaginable. I chuckle when she tells me Sarah Anne you exercised too much. Ironically, she had lost her baby sister to the same horrible disease. My aunt was only 43 years old. This was such a hard time for our family especially for those sisters and her only son.

As I progress, so does my mom which is the worst. It makes our times together fewer. The logistics for me are hard but as she progresses she becomes less compliant to go on adventures and outings. I’m busily trying to live and advocate for education, social justice, love, and a cure for ALS until I take my last breath which ties up my days. I keep hearing Willie Nelson in my head “Still is still moving to me” as I keep rolling. I know my mom wants me to fight on.

Alzheimer’s is the worst. She is confused easily and her short term memory is shot. When I’m with her, we revisit the past. It’s always full of knee-slapping laughter and occasionally tears. It’s never a disappointment even if we laugh at the same story 20 times. I’m still so blessed by her love and earthly presence. Once after all of her fuzzy-headedness(this is one of her descriptions) started, she told my sister “Judy, I think God is helping me forget so I can deal with Sarah being so sick.” I think she may be on to something.

My mom and I both have bumpy journeys ahead. ALS and Alzheimer’s are really two of the worst fates for any human to bear. I always remind my healthy brain to focus on each minute while trying to prepare for the worst. This has always been my modus operandi with ALS and my advice for others who share my bumpy path. While you are able do these things if you can: handicap your bathroom, find equipment in loan closets, register with the local ALS Chapter, educate your friends and family, and then enjoy each moment one day at a time. The storm is coming and you will encounter many break-downs as you look into the future of living with ALS. It’s very ugly, hard, and expensive. But, I know someone will rather you be here even if it is excruciating at times. Just like my mom keeps reminding me when we talk, “Young lady, you cannot go before me. You are my baby.” I know momma. I know. I’m fighting very hard to stay.
Sarah Anderson Alley

Dedicated to all those who live and love through Alzheimer’s.

Quotes of the Day:
“If you learn to listen for clues as to how I feel instead of what I say, you will be able to understand me much better.”
— Mara Botonis

“We remember their love when they can no longer remember.”
— Unknown

“It occurred to me that at one point it was like I had two diseases — one was Alzheimer’s, and the other was knowing I had Alzheimer’s.”
— Terry Pratchett