Tuesday, August 4, 2009

AN INSPIRING STORY



Many, many thanks to my fantastic friends for taking the time and trouble to write lovely, wonderful, practical and useful comments on my previous post. I appreciate it very much.
I thought I will reproduce one real life inspiring story from Rain MacSweeney. You will see for yourself how she lifted herself from the depths of despair and despondency, how she extricated herself from the quagmire of misery, suffering, loneliness and a state of hopelessness and unhappiness to a heights of joy, peace,delight and happiness. I am sure you will enjoy it and appreciate the immense practical wisdom contained in it.
Please visit her blog—A Walk in the Woods --- and check it out for yourself. I am sure it will be the beginning of a wonderful friendship. I hope you won’t forget to say HELLO to her on my behalf
Rain said...

Hello Joseph! I'm very interested in this post, your words and what the other people had to say. This subject has been on my mind lately because I often used to compare my life with that of living under house arrest here in Quebec. Yes, I made the choice to move here, but I didn't think it through. I used to be bored very often, and boredom leads to lethargy, which leads to laziness, which leads to idleness...and I believe that, in my case, being idle leads to self-destruction. I had no money for gas for the car, so I was really stuck inside. For many months, I sat by the window crying because I had no inclination to do anything; I felt very alone as an English woman living here with no English services, the nearest English library was an hour drive away, the nearest English theatre, 2 hours away. I was deep in debt and couldn't buy books or rent movies. My only outlet was the internet for a long time.



But then something happened, I made a decision one day (unconscious I believe because I don't remember saying it out loud), that until I could afford to move, I had to make the best of it. So, I took a walk on the mountain. Then I took another one the next day, and so on...you've seen my photos! When I made the choice to seize the day and take pleasure in nature, as simple as she is, my life changed and my happiness exploded. I stopped dwelling on the past, and can truly say that 99% of the time, I live in the moment, for today, but look forward to what's next, it's very exciting!

As far as faith goes, I am still on the fence. I was brought up Catholic - very strictly and with many hypocritical nuances. I do feel as though there is something more to just this life on earth, but my faith lies in knowing that I will always have an even better day than yesterday.

Also, I think that the world can be torturous for those poor people who suffer mental illness without having the resources for help, or who are in fact beyond medical help. I think it's important to realize that. A healthy mind can make a choice, an unhealthy one cannot make the right choice.

I think that this world is torture to those who have been beaten down by people and life...and have not yet had the epiphanies that people like me have had.
-->I wasn't always this happy, I lived in a torturous world for 40 years. But now, being reborn, open eyes, veils lifting daily...I do believe that life is just the opposite.
July 31, 2009 12:14 AM
It is another story of struggle about how RAIN got her name:
"Hi Joseph! You can believe that every word I utter is the truth! :) It's no secret that when I left my past behind me, that I legally changed my first and last names. I chose Rain as my first name because I wanted to represent my love for water and the weather. It also signified a "cleansing" as rain washes away the old and creates growth for the new! I felt I needed a completely fresh start in order to get past the past, so to speak! I actually had some arguments from the Quebec government here, they refused Rain as a first name because they said it was QUOTE "Too Holywood"...silly huh?...so I wrote a 10 page letter as to why it would be beneficial to my happiness, and after 2 years of bureaucracy, they accepted it in 2006! That was my decision and I've never looked back! Thanks for asking!"


25 comments:

SkyJuice said...

Hi Joseph,

That was an inspiring story. Glad to hear Rain is happy now. Coincidently, I mentioned about rain in my recent post. Thanks for sharing.

Have a good week! :-)

Kat said...

What a blessing that post was. And what a wonderful blessing when God opens our eyes to what is around us and allows us to see very clearly the beauty that He created. As I see many of the posts on here, I see that many bloggers enjoy taking pictures. From someone who rarely took the time to see what was really going on around me, when I picked up my first digital camera last year, the whole world opened up for me. It allowed me to see the world from different eyes than my own. Now when I stop to see things, I am the one looking around me, and seeing with my own eyes all the beauty that is around us. From a photographers point of view, there is a picture in everything if you look close enough. I love creating beauty in a photo where one would might only see something dark and boring. My imagination opens up and I can see how Gods hands work each and every day in the world around me. If we stop and take the time to see the world through Gods eyes, you will find that there is so much more to see. God Bless you Rain for opening up your heart to see the beauty around you. It sounds like it saved your life.

Amrita said...

Rain 's story, her courage and determination is very inspiring indeed. Its a beautiful name and we have Hindi version of it.

I' ve had a difficult time due to my physical problems, but God has given me grace to pick myself up from where I fell and walk on.

Your snaps are very pleasing.

Brit. (lille meg) said...

Hi Joseph! Thank you for visiting my blog. Nice to have new bloggers to visit me.
You have a nice blog, so much interesting here, even I haven't seen much yet.
This is an inspiring story, thank you for sharing!
Have a nice day!:-) Brit from Norway.

Pia said...

hi joseph.

thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment. i'm truly grateful that our beloved president is appreciated and admired not only in our country but all over the globe. we are really saddened by this lost.

thank you, joseph, from the bottom of my heart.

Lucy said...

Hello Joseph and thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciated your kind words to me. I did do my best for my 5 children. The loss of my oldest son left a deep wound in my heart but I take what is left that want to be family and try not to intrude in their lives except when they need me or want me. I could go into a long story about my youngest son, but all I will say is I will always love him and his family. My door is always open and he knows it. I just have to let go for now. I will be 80 in Nov. and I should know by now I can not make things happen.

babYpose said...

Thanks for sharing the inspiring story here. I enjoyed reading it. Have a nice day.

babYpose said...

I always want to go to Mysore, hopefully one day :) Thanks for leaving nice comments that made my day :)

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi BabYpose:)

It will be good idea to go to Mysore during Dessera festival. Of course at that time the place will be crowed.

I am delighted to know that you liked my comments.

Have a good day:)
Joseph

Rose Marie Raccioppi said...

Joseph, You bring depth to the community of caring bloggers. I, we, who have the desire to communicate the beauty, the enduring quest, the confront, the resolve, within the past and the present are applauded by your posts and your most thoughtful responses. I and Rain have been blog friends. Your sharing her story is a gift to her as well as to all bloggers. And so to you dear Joseph, a deeply felt Thank You.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Rose:)

I am deeply touched by your kind and generous words.

Best wishes Rose:)
Joseph

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much Joseph! How very touching! I'm speechless!!!
Well, I'm never really literally speechless, lol, but you know what I mean!!!
:-)

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Rain:)

While you are speechless, I am thrilled and jumping with joy:)

Have a beautiful day Rain:)
Joseph

Bhushavali said...

@Joseph,
Thanks Sir, for trying to vote. Hope ur vote would get thru..
Actually when it asks for username and pwd, by the side is another link to create new account. You've gotta create new account with your mail id details. A confirmation mail comes to your inbox and then with that username and pwd, voting is done.
Thanks a lot. :)
My Travelogue

Unknown said...

I really enjoyed reading your post and I think you have chosen some great photos to go with it.
Have a great weekend, Joseph!

Margaret Cloud said...

I am happy for Rain and wish her the best. That was so inspiring and I enjoyed reading it. Have a nice weekend.

Vennimalai N said...

Touching and inspiring.

Something that every human being should think about.

It is very true that we stay back - sit idle - too relaxed and not even ready to look through the window. There are suffering people out there who require our soothing touch, kind heart and warmest hugs; - who need human beings. Let us reinvent ourselves like how Rain has done.
~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Mr. Joseph for visiting the space, where I seldom key in.

G Lucciano said...

Wonderfully written, Definitely inspiring. Great way to start off my morning..
And of course I appreciate you as always..

G Lucciano

Brian Miller said...

a beautiful story. each time we post we have the ability to bring life to those that read. you do that well my friend.

Merle said...

Greetings Joseph ~~ Very nice posts
that you have here.
Thanks for your comments about my post and I am glad you enjoyed the jokes, quotes, etc.
Take care, Regards, Merle.

lissa said...

what an eye opening story, it's very hard to live in the moment sometimes but one must try, I suppose it's much easier to just give up and be lazy but it's nice to know other people has succeed where I would fail

lissa said...

I forgot to say, thanks for visiting my blog, thank you Joseph

magicpolaroid said...

hello joseph, is always amazing reading ur blog! great pics!

Mel said...

Hi Joseph,

I'm sorry I've been away so long. I've been thinking about you and praying for you. I've been going through a major personal crisis the last 10 days or so and haven't had very much time on the computer. I'm afraid that's not going to change any time soon. But I wanted to touch base with you and let you know I'm okay, and that you're in my thoughts.

Blessings,
Mel

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Mel:)

You are a strong believer in
God and you have great faith in HIM. He will not forsake you in this hour of crisis. Surely he will show a way out and make every thing all right.

I am praying for you Mel. Every thing will be sorted out. Have courage and faith.
Joseph