Thank you Christine for reminding me about Nick Vujicic.

Watch how Nick gets up.

“On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations.” - Rachel Beckwith

Rachel Beckwith wanted to raise $300 by her ninth birthday to help bring clean water to people in poor countries. She was about $80 short of her goal when she turned 9 in June, and then a horrific highway traffic accident took her life away last week.

She was in a car with her mother and younger sister on Interstate 90 when a semitrailer jackknifed into a logging truck, causing a chain-reaction crash involving more than a dozen vehicles, according to media reports. The semi rear-ended the car carrying Rachel, the only person critically injured.

She was taken off life support over the weekend.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do it! Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” ~Dr. Howard Thurman

Or what does growing up in your career mean ?

Does it mean you can do what others can ? Even though it leaves you exhausted at the end of the day and uninspired when you get up in the morning. Just to prove to others that you can do it...too ? And if you can't or you don't want to, does it mean you fail ? Why do we want everyone to be the same ? So we can compare ? So we can set their salary ?

Or does it mean you find what your talent or interest is,work it out, feel happy, feel fulfilled and be able to make a living out of it ? Even though you step into the unknown future where no steady income is foreseen.

Or does it only mean getting out of your comfort zone ? Does working hard in your comfort zone mean you are immature ?

Are we not at our best when we are doing what we are good at or interested in ?

Is success judged by the amount of money you make, the numbers of awards you receive, the recognition you gain, the competition or simply your happiness ?

What is it ?

I don't believe I deserve respect because I'm older. I deserve it because I've earned it, and you deserve it because you've earned it.

"Just do it."

- Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story

I read a story about this girl about a month ago. You have to agree she is very determined.

Kulsoom Abdullah, a Muslim-American who is passionate about weightlifting, recently learned she can do neither in a national competition unless she agrees to bare her arms and legs but such exposure would violate her deeply held religious beliefs.

Rather than giving up on her dreams, she’s pressing for a change in the sport’s international rules.

With the help of a lawyer, Kulsoom Abdullah, a muslim-american, put together a 44-page appeal laying out her argument and detailing several long-sleeved, long-legged garments that would meet both modesty requirements and competitive needs.

On June 29, the IWF announced it would allow a close-fitting “unitard” with long legs and arms under the standard singlet that most competitors wear.

“Weightlifting is an Olympic Sport open for all athletes to participate without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin," stated Tamas Ajan, IWF President. "... This rule modification has been considered in the spirit of fairness, equality and inclusion."

For Abdullah, getting to take part in high level competitions will allow her to focus her training, but she has greater hopes for her triumph over the old dress code.

“It will help increase female participation in weightlifting, and possibly increase the participation in other sports, regardless of faith,” she said. “I hope to continue and be able to help others in similar situations,” she said.

Susanne Janson lost her daughters, her ex-husband and three other members of his family to tsunami in 2004.

"When I realized I wouldn't bring them back home alive, I wanted to die," said Janson, 47.

In March 2005, Janson and Forssell, her partner, returned to Thailand as volunteers at the orphanage, and in 2006 they made their stay permanent. They sold their Swedish apartment and became the managers of Barnhem Muang Mai, a care home that has helped more than 100 children to date.

"They had suffered so much more than I suffered. Here, you had people that lost children, homes, everything, and they were strong. So I think that affected me, and their kindness to me was such that I wanted to give something back."

In June, Barnhem achieved an important milestone. Fame, a teenage boy who's lived at the home since 2006, started college. After he passed his entrance exam, Janson found a Swedish family to sponsor his studies. She is excited about what it means for his future and that of the other children in her care.

"We can't decide what they should do with their lives," she said. "But by helping them with education, we hope that we can help them have a choice."

"We hope we can help the other kids understand that they actually can change their lives."

While Janson has made a new life and family for herself in Thailand, her daughters -- whose remains eventually were found in Khao Lak -- are never far from her mind.

"I think I feel closer to them here than I do in Sweden. I don't know why," she said. "I think of them every day. My daughters loved their life. And I wanted to show them that I would survive this. And if (I) could help my new children to love their lives, at least one good thing came out of this." - Susanne Janson

Charee Godwin-Smith and her husband, Kerry Smith, always wanted to adopt another child. They just never imagined he'd be a 20-something Marine aviation operations specialist.