Journalist Richard Deitsch unwittingly unleashed the following trend: when he saw a heartwarming picture backstage to a story he was working on, he tweeted to his followers, asking for other "Happiest Moment" pictures.
He got more than 200 pictures - so powerful in capturing the essence of love inside people's hearts.
Each picture wordlessly shows what life is about, what we strive for and dream about - the sweetness and preciousness of life and loving.
"I thought to myself how remarkable it was to have an image of what was clearly one of the best moments of Steven's life. I wondered: How many others have a similar image?" Mr Deitsch said. "I could never have expected what came next." - See the pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.611169228922970.1073741835.295429577163605&type=3
So the Everyone Matters community passed on the challenge, and I am now passing it to you: Share YOUR "Happiest Moments" pictures online (facebook/twitter/instagram/etc) - and tell your friends and followers why- watch it brighten up their day and give hope and inspiration where you did not even realise it was needed!
Blessings!
Ronell x
My happiest moment of 2013.. watching my best friend marry the man she loves (and being a bridesmaid)
Everyone Matters posted this exciting and important VOLUNTEER Opportunity which can be done from your own computer! Please read below for an opportunity to make a practical difference in the world!
Blessings!
Ronell x
The candidate will make a difference by supporting an idealistic dynamic global campaign, and impact youth to judge less, and open hearts to everyone’s differences.
About a dozen schools – middle, high, college - organized “Everyone Matters Day” in 2013. We are targeting 100 schools for the 2013-2014 school year.
This is PART-TIME ( 1 to 2 hours a day) from your own computer. Any age. Will require video interview, and 2 to 3-month minimum. Daily communication essential, and ability to participate in video conferences via Skype video and Google+. (NOTE: Unfortunately, we can only offer volunteer positions, because we do not yet have sponsors).
DEVELOP 100 SCHOOLS TO ORGANIZE "EVERYONE MATTERS DAY"
We are looking for a self-starting, detail-oriented person to help us engage 100 schools for the 2013-2014 school year who then organize their own "Everyone Matters Day." In 2013, about a dozen schools organized EM Days, with such activities as “I am!” VideoWall and PhotoWall; “24-Hour Challenge” to Not Judge; Letting Go of Judgment Tree, etc. We have a ppt/ pdf presentation of suggested activities for schools, which is continually updated. The candidate will create and execute a plan to involve more schools across the country, and beyond, using direct outreach, emails, as well as our social media presence. Creating a strategy to engage schools will involve research and outreach to organizations and individuals, using the candidates own understanding of the educational infrastructure (and possible contacts). We are aligned with a few leading academic organizations to build on, as well as our own social media outreach. Teacher/ professor/ academic career background is helpful – or marketing/ promotion/ organizational skills to engage teachers, schools and parents, to build engagement, for middle, high schools, colleges. Hours open. Work at home. Age irrelevant. Computer skills needed. Here is the school activities overview: http://goo.gl/qTmKz
Please respond to EveryoneMattersEditor@gmail.com with short letter outlining interest, experience, skills. Candidates with skills and experience preferred, but will consider those making a transition from related work, with excellent skills. We are a global initiative growing quickly, with impressive pedigree which will serve the candidate on his or her resume. Pending eventual sponsorship, the unpaid internship could transition to remuneration.
I hope this story challenges you on two levels: (1) that you won't judge others without learning more about their story and (2) that you will be challenged to give more to others, rather than always buying bigger/better things for yourself- you don't have to live in poverty, but we can all surely do with a little less for ourselves and a little more for others who desperately need it!
Blessings!
Ronell x
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We never know a person's story by judging their exterior. 98 year old Dobri Dobrev, a man who lost his hearing in the second world war, walks 10 kilometers from his village in his homemade clothes to the city of sofia, where he spends the day begging for money.
Though a well known fixture around several of the city’s churches, known for his prostrations of thanks to all donors, it was only recently discovered that he has donated every penny he has collected — over 40,000 euros — towards the restoration of decaying bulgarian monasteries and churches and the utility bills of orphanages, living instead off his monthly state pension of 80 euros.
Let's give the benefit of the doubt to those we may be inclined to judge, based on their appearance. We never know.
Join the community where Everyone Matters.
Picture and story from Sun Gazing, suggested by Stuart Murphy.
I read this story on Everyone Matters' facebook page this morning and felt so inspired that I thought I must share! :)
Blessings!
Ronell x
When Carolyn Isbister put her 20oz baby on her chest for a cuddle, she thought that it would be the ONLY CHANCE she would ever have to hold her. Doctors had told the parents that baby Rachel only had only MINUTES TO LIVE because her heart was beating once every ten seconds and she was not breathing.
"I didn’t want her to die being cold," Carolyn says, "so I lifted her out of her blanket and put her against my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold. It was the only cuddle I was going to have with her, so I wanted to remember the moment.”
Then something remarkable happened: the warmth of her mother’s skin kick started Rachael’s heart into beating properly, which allowed her to take little breaths of her own.
"We couldn’t believe it – and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny cry. The doctors came in and said there was still no hope – but I wasn’t letting go of her. We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away. But she still hung on."
And then amazingly the pink color began to return to her cheeks. She literally was turning from gray to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too.
The sad part is that when the baby was born, doctors took one look at her and said ‘no’. They didn’t even try to help her with her breathing as they said it would just prolong her dying.
"Everyone just gave up on her,” says Carolyn.
At 24 weeks a womb infection had led to her premature labor and birth. Says Carolyn (who also has two children Samuel, 10, and Kirsten, 8 ): “We were terrified we were going to lose her. I had suffered three miscarriages before, so we didn’t think there was much hope.”
When Rachael was born she was grey and lifeless. Ian Laing, a consultant neonatologist at the hospital, said: “All the signs were that the little one was not going to make it and we took the decision to let mum have a cuddle as it was all we could do.
Two hours later the wee thing was crying."
"This is indeed a miracle baby," adds the doctor, "and I have seen nothing like it in my 27 years of practice. I have not the slightest doubt that mother’s love saved her daughter.”
Rachael was moved onto a ventilator where she continued to make steady progress and was tube and syringe fed her mother’s pumped breastmilk.
“The doctors said that she had proved she was a fighter and that she now deserved some intensive care as there was some hope," says Carolyn. "Rachael did it all on her own – without any medical intervention or drugs. She had clung on to life – and it was all because of that cuddle."
The cuddle had warmed up her body and regulated her heart and breathing enough for her to start fighting. At 5 weeks she was taken off the ventilator and began breastfeeding on her own. At four months Rachel went home with her parents, weighing 8lbs – the same as any other healthy newborn.
Because Rachel had suffered from a lack of oxygen doctors said there was a high risk of damage to her brain. But a scan showed no evidence of any problems and today Rachel is on par with her peers.
"She is doing so well," says Carolyn, smiling. "When we brought her home, the doctors told us that she was a remarkable little girl. And most of all, she just loves her cuddles. She will sleep for hours, just curled into my chest. It was that first cuddle which saved her life – and I’m just so glad I trusted my instinct and picked her up when I did. Otherwise she wouldn’t be here today.”
Everyone Matters followers - Rachael is now a happy, healthy 6 years old, and sibling to Samuel, 16, and Kirsten, 14.
It shows us: Let's have faith, and hope, and believe in the best outcomes - whether it's about health and a medical diagnosis, or our own lives, careers, aspirations. We DON'T know what's going to happen - so let's not project the fatalism of our past experiences - or others' words - onto a future that hasn't happened yet. Things can change for the better, and BE BRIGHT.
(Thank you to Maria Carkagis, who found this story from 2007.)
