Inspiring Story | On the Brighter Side

Victory Over Cancer

by Sara Wales

As I watched Danni battle cancer I noticed how very strong and determined she was to survive. She always smiled and was wiling to help even when she struggled to carry her own work load, she was always there for her coworkers and those who needed a helping hand. Here is her story.

My name is Daniella Spelman in May 2012 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer. I was terrified and thought I was going to die. All I could think about was my family, my mother who we just build an addition on to our house so that she could live with us. My daughter who was still in college and my husband Pete, what would he do without me? I had to fight and not let cancer take my life. I had a grueling surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy. Everyday I put my faith in God and prayed that he would pull me through. I was blessed to have my family who supported and cheered for me daily. I had friends who let me express my feelings and cry if I needed too. I had a positive attitude and took each day as it came. During my chemotherapy I would take a week off and then go back to work. I attempted to keep my lifestyle as it was before my diagnosis of cancer. I am happy to say that after all this I have won and I beat cancer. Everyday I am grateful to be alive.

Cancer changed my life. It taught me what is important and what is not. It also showed me who my real friends are. I have decided to do my part and give back to the world. I have organized with the American Cancer Foundation a “Relay for Life” (Team Sunshine) that will take place on June 14, 2013 in my hometown of Southbridge. I want to raise money and support so that someday we can put an end to cancer. Please see the link below for more information and how you can donate or help.

Thank you

Danni

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=52047&pg=team&team_id=1367812

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Capture the Sense of Abundance and Watch Your World Change.

by Sara Wales

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Here is the success story of one of my favorite authors J.R. Rain.

In October 2004, my car was repossessed. I lived in a basement storage room for four months. I

stole food from grocery stores and from my roommates who lived in the real house above (I am reminded of the movie classic “Metropolis”). My brother eventually gave me $500 that saved my butt.

In the summer of 2005, I declared bankruptcy. I owed almost $70,000.

In April 2009, I moved to a single-wide trailer in Washington that I bought for $500.00.

For most of 2009, I primarily received free food from the local Help House, which gave me two bags of groceries each week, including dog food for Sadie.

In August 2009, I published Moon Dance on Kindle.

9 months later, in April 2010, Moon Dance hit #1 on the Amazon vampire charts.

Beginning in April 2011, I had the #1, #2 and #3 best selling vampire novels on Kindle for four straight months.

These days, I no longer live in a single-wide trailer. I live in a three-story home that overlooks Puget Sound.

Many have asked what I did to help turn my life around. A lot had to do with timing. After all, I had a number of books ready for Kindle when Kindle opened their doors to indie authors. Except I didn’t have success on Kindle immediately. It took 9 months to see my first wave of success.

In January 2010, I bought a book called MONEY, AND THE LAW OF ATTRACTION by Esther and Jerry Hicks. I put the exercises within the book to work. Each day, I focused on removing the feeling of “lack” from my life, and replace it with a feeling of “abundance”. Trust me, this was hard to do, especially when I was waiting in line for free food at the Help House. But Law of Attraction doesn’t need much from you. All it needs is a few minutes of your time each day. During these few minutes, your job is to take your mind off your present worries, and put your mind onto abundance. Or, more accurately, onto what it would “feel” like to have abundance. Your goal is to capture that “feeling”. That’s it. Capture that feeling and live within it for a few minutes each day. Play games with it. Write out how it would feel. Write pretend checks for things you want to buy. Weird, I know, but such exercises help capture the “feeling” of abundance. Next, make a conscious effort to refrain talking about what you don’t have.

Then be ready for inspiration to strike. Be ready to take inspired action. Don’t push anything. Wait for a great idea. Wait for inspiration. Wait for that wonderful nudge from God and the Universe. That nudge means that’s something wonderful is waiting for you.

I wish you success in all things. Remember, you are loved more than you know. It’s no accident that you are here on this earth. You are no accident. Life is no accident. Enjoy the journey, my friends.

Much love,
J.R.

You can find JR’s books on Kindle or Nook. His best selling series Vampire For Hire can also be found at your local Barnes and Noble. Check out his fan page at www.facebook.com/pages/JR-Rain-Mystery-Author/313664350623 or his website at http://www.jrrain.com/

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Facing Fear One Day At A Time

by Sara Wales

Story by Darick Reed

Hi. My name is Darick Reed. I am a 36 year old recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I have been homeless and listed as a missing person. I struggle with anxiety and depression. I have failed in business, and I am severely in debt. I have let down countless friends and family members. I turned my back on my own talents and dreams. I nearly gave up on myself, because I believed I was a failure. So I hid from everything. For ten years.

Afraid.

It took enough pain and despair for me to figure it out. It was FEAR. I was afraid of everything; success, relationships, being alone, dealing with my emotions, criticism, failure…

Today I accept full responsibility for my past, and it is time for fear to understand that I am back in charge. My future has been on hold for way too long. I am going to turn my life around, and it all begins RIGHT NOW.

I am declaring A WAR ON FEAR. I am going to do what I want to do. Starting a blog is one. Helping people is another… I will find a way.

How about you? Do you have your own argument with fear?

Are you really doing the things you’re passionate about, or are you hiding like I was?

How about we gang up on fear together and take over the world.

Because If I can do it, so can you.

The Me Against Fear Revolution begins now.

So put your boots on, fear soldier. I am glad you are here.

-Darick

Come and join Darick with his war on fear!!! https://www.facebook.com/MeAgainstFear

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Facebook “On The Brighter Side”

by Sara Wales

Here is my story as to why I started my facebook page called On the Brighter Side. I have to say that I started my blog for the same reasons and also to help improve my writing. I find it easy to write quotes or little blips but it is more of a challenge for me to write my thoughts or longer stories.

The creation of Facebook has brought so much love, joy and connection into my life. I am so thankful for its invention. Without it I wouldn’t have this wonderful story to tell you.

I created my page “On the Brighter Side” out of a deep need to help others, to be creative and as an outlet for me to just be me. I love being a wife and mother but with my daughter growing up and becoming less dependent on me, I could feel a change in what I needed for myself. I had a booming career at one time, but it took a backseat due to the commitment I felt to be the best Mom I could be, but again as things change so did my own needs. I was and am still employed at very large dental office but I have always felt that my presence is undervalued. I have never felt part of the team or that I was making any kind of impact to help others or propel the practice forward like I had with my past employers. Having the need to make a difference and help somewhere I turned to Facebook. I am an avid reader and received a Kindle for Christmas from my husband. I began reading multiple books from independent authors. I saw that they had Facebook pages and I began to interact and express my appreciation for their writing. I soon became friendly with one author in particular. I enjoyed encouraging and helping him with his work. One of his books was not selling well and he seemed almost like he was about to give up so I began encouraging him and attempting to help him realized how very gifted and talented he really was. After several months I was truly shocked to see that in one of his books he wrote kind words about me in his dedication. I was amazed that due to my kindness and wanting to be encouraging I had actually helped someone. Someone actually took what I said and it helped to empower them to achieve something. I was truly amazed. I began offering more support and making several more author friends. I truly felt I was making a difference but I wanted to do more. I saw all the interaction on their fan pages and decided to create my own.

“On the Brighter Side” was born August 2011. At the time I decided this would be a place where I would keep inspiring quotes, pictures etc and share them with my fans. Little did I know that I was on a journey of self enlightenment. I made my page a place where everyone is important and I show that by responding to every comment. I respond with a “like” or a kind word. I made it my mission that I would share things that warmed my heart or made me feel good. I also felt very strongly that my page would be about others, not a place for me to vent or talk about my private life. I began buying all kinds of quote and self help books, and I began exploring other inspirational Facebook pages. All this research and posting slowly began to change me in more ways than one.

I have always been the type of person who if I really wanted something bad enough I found a way to get it. I have always tried to look at the brighter side of life and learn from my mistakes, embarrassment and heartache. I will admit my fear is really what has held me back from many opportunities in my life. Believe it or not my page is what has been the pumice to my soul. It has encouraged me to let my light shine.

Spending about 2-3 hours a day reading and writing about positivity, I must say it began to rub off and everyday I felt better, I felt happier, I felt like it is okay to just be me no matter what. As I began to feel this on a day by day basis, I believe I became more accepting of myself and I felt happier. I began to care less and less what people thought and more about what I thought. I was friendlier, more out going and more willing to help out others. I was becoming liberated. I just needed to shine my soul with a little bit of self confidence. All of this can sound very selfish but I believe it is not. When I am happier and feel free I am willing to give so much more of my time and energy to those around me. I am always making a conscious effort to be helpful and kind to someone else. I must also acknowledge another awesome thing that my page has brought into my life and that is the sense of connection. My fans may not realize this but I have found encouragement, friendship and support from other page owners. The other page owners have also encouraged me to be a better page owner. I am more aware of page etiquette, sharing and what is respectable in the Facebook community. By trying to encourage others and help others I really in turn helped myself without realizing it until later. The quote by James M. Barrie really is true “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves”. I really have done this. I want to express that my fans have really made a tremendous impact on me as well. I have been encouraged since day one with all the likes and comments. It was so motivating to see that people liked what I had to say and liked my ideas. I let myself shine and the world accepted and encouraged me.

The positive reinforcement I have felt from fans, friends and other page owners has motivated me to compliment my page by writing a book. I am in the process of writing my first inspirational book. My hope is to inspire others to find the light within them. Everyone here is important, everyone matters. I believe that if everyone just accepted themselves and loved who they are then the world could be a better place. People would feel better, they could achieve what they want to achieve, whether it is small or large it doesn’t matter. Once you realize you have this power within your reach you can make great things happen. The biggest obstacle I think is to just believe in you. Hopefully my page and my new book will continue to help and motivate others along with myself. I want to express that I have been completely out of my comfort zone with this process. It is always scary to be in the public’s eye and much easier to stay hidden. But in order to grow and learn new things I must push myself to attempt new challenges. My goal is to have my book available December 2012.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to share it in this venue. I hope it encourages you to find your own inner light and to realize how truly amazing and wonderful you are. Once you believe in yourself, have passion and work hard anything is possible.

~Sara

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Overcoming, running and inspiring

by Sara Wales

Story by Ernie Kasper

I was a rehab assistant who dealt with post op hip surgeries and frequently provided aid in rehabilitating stroke survivors in an acute facility. I loved my work and I loved the people that I tried to encourage and support in their walk for freedom and independence. After several years being in the field I suffered a stroke during my lunch break and became one of the ones I so dearly loved to inspire. After the initial shock of finding out that I had suffered a stroke at such a young age (34) I decided to fight for my therapy. Treatment didn’t go as planned and support was barely if non existent. I chose to take it into my own hands and begin to read, walk, talk and run! I wanted a new dream, a new hope and so I began to run for change. I have currently run up to 37 km… I am proud of every bit of blood, sweat and tears that were put into accomplishing the impossible! I believed in what God had for me and that I would never be left alone. So here I am!! Believe in who you are and that you are precious…

Dreams were meant to be broken

but what we do with the pieces

how we survive

that is what defines the very nature

of our existence

our purpose

the character of inspiration!

Ernie has a very inspiring facebook page called Way of the Dove, here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Way-Of-The-Dove/159043010803248?fref=ts.

You can follow him on his journey of running 7 miles in 70 cities. He hopes to encourage others struggling with various illnesses.

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A Better Life After Multiple Lessons

by Sara Wales

Jessep Magoon’s Story

I would like to say I’m very grateful for the loving and supporting family I’ve been blessed with. During my teenage years I put my parents through many sleepless nights wondering if I was alive or dead. I’d like to say thank you to my father for raising me and teaching me the important things about being a man. He worked very hard and made sure I always had everything I needed, and he is still there for me to this very day if I need him. My mother loves me like no other person ever has, she prays for me daily and I can still feel her heartache for years past in her voice. My parents did the best they could, and that wasn’t enough for me. I chose to leave home around 16, not because it was bad, but because I was addicted to the chase of finding something better. The lifestyle I wanted wasn’t something allowed in either of their homes and off I went. I was a travelling man as they say. I was blessed with landing in Southern California, The Panhandle of Florida, and everywhere in between. All that mattered at the time was what made me feel good. As time went on, the travels and the excitement started becoming work. I just wanted to be carefree and have fun forever…the mind of a 20 year old. By this time I had burned most of the bridges behind me on the journey and didn’t think twice about ever rebuilding them. I had officially started becoming sick of being sick and tired. I didn’t know how to have a productive relationship, maintain a friendship, or really even care about anything or anyone other than me. The road was becoming pretty lonely, and all my old tricks quit working…the charm was wearing off. I knew then, something had to change and it started changing without me even realizing it was happening. All these circumstances, consequences, and the worlds troubles being thrown at me started sinking in…maybe this is actually my own fault why this keeps happening, this is what I started thinking, the seed was planted for sure. I struggled for a year or so deciding what kind of life really meant something to me…and it wasn’t the one I was living at the time. I remember the day it happened. I was in jail for my 3rd drunk driving, and had been there for almost 3 months already knowing I might be facing prison time, I wasn’t that cool dude anymore I thought I was…I turned into a scared boy. I didn’t know what to do, I was laying in my bunk and started crying, the next thing I knew I was on the concrete floor on my knees begging for forgiveness. That was the day my life changed forever. I knew at that very moment I was no longer a prisoner to myself. Over the next 7 months I found inner peace and maybe for the first time in over a decade actually took responsibility for my actions. I was defeated and I knew it, I could no longer live how I was and expect different results, it just wasn’t going to happen. I didn’t give up, but I gave in for sure…I was changing, period. I slowly started making progress and started living life on life’s terms with the understanding everything was going to be fine. I met some new people that had traveled similar roads and had the answers I needed. They changed and seemed to be happy, and free without the influence of anything other than their inner being. WOW, what a concept I thought people couldn’t be happy just because, well I was wrong. My life ended up changing for the better and all the old ways of thinking slowly faded away. I still had the defects of character in my pocket and let them shine and still do today. I guess that’s why they call us Humans. I started getting some “clean” living under my belt, and all those bridges started rebuilding themselves actually. It amazed me that people actually liked me, and wanted to be around me again…I was regaining some trust and it felt great. People trusting me again was the stepping stone that I needed to continue growing. I didn’t realize how important trust was until I lost it from everyone around me. I stole from my own family, and they actually still loved me and started trusting me again…hmmm, maybe those were the people that actually cared about me to begin with? Funny how things go full circle and we usually end up with what we needed and started with. I wanted something else, I chased it for years, and finally realized the temporary satisfaction wasn’t fulfilling. I’m thankful for my past today, it reminds daily of who I can be again anytime. My yesterdays were empty, lonely, and sad. My today’s are blessed with joy, happiness, and peace. The only thing I do differently is love myself, so that I can love others. My family all waited for me patiently to figure life out, when I came crawling back they had open arms, what a blessing that was. I’ve rebuilt almost all the bridges in the past 10 years or so, a few didn’t need rebuilding and that’s fine. I’m good with it. I love my father for being a hard working middle class man, I love my mother for being a mother that shows extreme understanding and concern, which is the highest form of love in my world. I’m constantly reminded by her phone calls that I sometimes ignore for days, that she will never stop loving me. All she wants is to hear my voice, and have me tell her I’m doing good. That’s it. I’ve found out there’s actually a lot of people in my life that just want to hear my voice and have me tell them I’m doing good, and that makes me smile BIG. I don’t have much to offer when it comes to material things, but God has allowed me to venture out to see what really matters back at home…LOVE. My son is 3 years old and that little man is something I actually started praying for when I was still a kid. I just wanted to be a good dad for as long as I can remember. That was it, I knew that would be the missing piece to the crazy puzzle of my life. My prayer was answered and all the little things that came with being a father that I didn’t ask for…I now understand how my dad felt when I walked away. Life’s lessons have been very painful for me, but I needed them all to happen exactly how they have, or I wouldn’t be here typing this. My story would be different. I’m not unique, thousands of people have my story, not everyone has the same outcome. Many are still suffering, dying, or praying on the concrete floor in a jail cell. I don’t have to do that today. I’m thankful, my family is thankful, and my son will someday understand through my actions. If I have one foot in yesterday, and one foot in tomorrow, I’ll end up pissing al lover today. Its not worth it to me not to live in the moment, and live it to the best of my ability. All my people, you know who you are…I love you. ~ Jessep Magoon

I have to say that Jessep Magoon has a very inspiring facebook page that I have been following for a long time. I find him to be very inspiring and I love how much he nurtures and cares for his son. Check him out at https://www.facebook.com/SmileBigLoveEverybody?fref=ts

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Inspiring Stories Coming Soon

by Sara Wales

I believe we get more inspiration and motivation when we hear other peoples’ success stories. I have decided to once a week post an inspiring story about someone who has overcome an obstacle while staying positive or looking at the brighter side of life. I have a few stories so far to post but I am currently looking for more. If you have a story you want to share with me please email me at onthebrighterside@hotmail.com. Thank you so much for following this blog and being so supportive I am very grateful for all of you. I appreciate all the support and comments. Stay tuned for the first story in a few hours.

Thank you and STAY POSITIVE ~Sara

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