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Lessons Learned in a Wheel Chair, Singing in the Rain 🥀

Surviving, Smiling and Singing in the Purple Rain

By SAMURAI SAM AND WILD DRAGONSPublished 11 days ago • Updated 3 days ago • 3 min read
Lessons Learned in a Wheel Chair, Singing in the Rain 🥀
Photo by Hans Moerman on Unsplash

It starts with love. . . and life . . .

Motivational Mantra: Living with Disabilities

“To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is.” — Thich Nhat Hạnh

◢╱╱╱L╲╲╲◣ Loving life more and more . . .

◥╲╲╲O╱╱╱◤ Observing the birds in the sky. . .

◢╱╱╱V╲╲╲◣ Viewing a reign of love to kiss. . .

◥╲╲╲E╱╱╱◤ Entering zen filled moments, smiling. . .

Listen to "Rain of Love" > >

I think of rain as a sort of baptism. I find positivity in negativity, often. Even living through cancer, I smiled a lot.

Moving Mindfulness and Mantra Meditation

Life is not easy at times, but if one finds a way to meditate more to grow positive and appreciate a rebirth, then life will be better. I am now reading and meditating on the meaning of the questions in her book, Dictee and will review it soon. I read the book every year, she was murdered at the end of her life. I love to do walking mediation, but being a wheelchair, prevented that.

No Pain, No Gain: Zen Moments of Healing

In school, I was probably one of the best male high school gymnasts in the nation. Indeed, I know what it means to train about 8 hours a day. However, with cancer recently, my health experienced levels of pain that I had never experienced.

Indeed, at one point, I could not walk and had to use a wheelchair for months. My kind son pushed me around to take me everywhere — hugs to my handsome son. Meditation helped me survive that time when I could not stand or walk. Daily, I meditated and even did yoga in my bed.

Meeting a Former Green Beret at Food Pantry

My medical bills were over $4,000,000.00. Yes, I have insurance, but I still have to pay much. Recently, I filed bankruptcy. Today, I went to the food pantry and met a former Green Beret hero who fought for his country in Vietnam and should have earned enough of a retirement to live well. However, he was broke. I am permanently disabled from my cancer.

No wonder many people experiencing homelessness are veterans. I met a woman, who was legally blind and served 20 years in the Air Force living on the streets. She wants me to teach her tai chi via her phone, but I cannot find her number, for I met her on the street.

Recently, I was walking into Sprouts, were I find 99 cent foods, like frozen pizza from Italy, and even get a second one for half off at about 50 cents; can’t beat that.

One day, a Latina woman ran up to me before I walked into the store. She told me in Spanish that she has a family to feed with kids begging for food . . . With tears in her eyes, she was begging for cash to feed them.

I understand Spanish, looked into my wallet, smiled, and gave $100.00 dollars in cash, which I used for buying food. She started to cry and thanked me. I am part Colombian Peruvian. I don't need to eat for a day or so.

Welcome to America

We need to rethink our ways of living. Meditation and compassion can help us all. During my life, I was a teacher. However, I cannot work now because I may lose my social security disability, which is insufficient.

I can now walk. When I taught, I would do short meditation breaks to relax the entire class.

My stressed students loved it; then we returned to the lesson. Finally, my students have asked me to create a meditation club, find a way to relax. Find the zen moments of being in the here and now! I will share more about the Mindful Club.

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” ― Dalai Lama

Thank you! Meditate more to be more!

healthschool

About the Creator

SAMURAI SAM AND WILD DRAGONS

DR. WAYNE STEIN Ted Talk Speaker, Amazon Author, Asian Gothic Scholar; Yoga Certified, Black Belts. Writer Program Admin, Writing Center Director, Cancer Survivor, Korean Born , Raised in Japan and Italy, grew up In Los Angeles.

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Comments (5)

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  • The Invisible Writer9 days ago

    Thank you for sharing your story and message

  • Sandy Gillman11 days ago

    So much pain, yet so much love in how you see the world.

  • Made in DNA11 days ago

    "We need to rethink our ways of living. Meditation and compassion can help us all." The key. Right there.

  • Sid Aaron Hirji11 days ago

    Donating money never decreases wealth. It will come back to you

  • Hannah Moore11 days ago

    Inspirational resilience here

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