April 11, 2011Dear Sir,Thanks, Mr. Editor, for publishing this letter. Readers, please forward to anyone you know who might benefit from these motivating words.MantraI am all I was created to be.I do all I was created to do.I become all I was created to become.I make all I was created to make.I learn all I have opportunity to learn.I try everything meaningful to me.I am all I am. Total.I encourage you who live with painful conditions to resolve to practise positive thinking and correct yourselves when you realise you are falling into negative thinking traps.Our thoughts, which we each control, are widely understood to fashion our environment. Also, the act of forgiving is known to be vital to optimum health and even if it is hard for you initially, make a step toward it because un-forgiveness is self-destructive. Other health promoting tips include to: relive fond memories; daydream; exercise; sit in the sun; read what interests you; play good music; hug; laugh; love; share; explore your sexuality, masculinity, femininity, ethnicity; ancestry and whenever you can … dance.Disabled.This ROOT-WORD is the Prefix DIS which means TAKES AWAY, NOT (Negative) & DEPRIVE OF. It is different from other ROOT-WORDS which have similar meanings. DIS carries with it a sense of failure; you had something and lost it. A soldier who played the violin and lost a couple of fingers was DISabled. A man who cheated and lost his credit became DIScredited. Source: English for Students http://www.english-for-students.com/dis.htmlI ask the ‘dis-abled’ you to consider the notion of being ‘differently-abled’. Perhaps you can’t do as you once did or as others do, but you can do you. Does it take you longer? You can do you. Does it take more effort than before or than it seems to take others? You can do you.Tired of explaining your condition? You can do you. No matter the circumstance, you are primarily responsible for the quality of your life. It is time to stop making excuses and hiding away. Every human is significant and most face challenges of some sort. Yours may be more apparent, but, be you. So far as possible, carve a place in your world that suits you. A Lao Tzu quote states: “The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”. So, take a step. perhaps a small one at first. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment, and then take another. Keep moving toward your dreams in celebration of the only you this world will ever see or know.I invite everyone who is living with life altering and/or debilitating challenges to reflect on what is in the half-full portion of the cup instead of just focusing on the air-dense top half. Identify, rediscover and reawaken your joy.What is ii? Painting? Music appreciation? Art? Film? Language? Writing? Crochet? Calligraphy? Photography? Tai Chi? Martial Arts? Chess? Studying? Teaching? Whatever it is, breath life into your dreams again. I have always believed that if you know what, you can overcome any “how”.L’CHAIM= ‘to life’!Southampton