Blog Posts - #BecauseICan

November 30th, 2016

11/30/2016

So I've come to the simple conclusion that we can do what we want, say what we want, believe what we want, pursue what we want, but at the end of the day, it really isn't our call; it's all in God's hands. (Because we all know what happens when man plans...)
Sometimes all you can (and should) do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess.
Just. Breathe.
You may not always end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you were meant to be. Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.
If it's challenging you, testing you, pushing you, it's probably helping you become more of who you were meant to be. Go with it.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but today God, I am laughing with you. 😆

#BecauseICan

November 24th, 2016

11/24/2016

ap·pre·ci·a·tion: əˌprēSHēˈāSH(ə)n/ (noun) - the clear perception or full recognition of the good qualities of someone or something; sensitive awareness.
One cannot be thankful if one is not fully appreciative. And sometimes we get so caught up in trying to accomplish something big, that we fail to notice the little things that give life its magic.
Today, don't think of all the things you didn't get after praying; think of all the countless blessings God gave you without asking. Being appreciative is reflecting on the idea that the things we take for granted, someone else is praying for. As soon as we discover the importance of appreciation, thankfulness will soon follow.
And before you know it, we'll all be thankful we have a cup.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I am thankful & grateful. Everyday. 🦃

#BecauseICan #AndSoCanYou

November 14th, 2016

11/14/2016

I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken & in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful - for all of it.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can try my best. 🖋

#BecauseICan

November 8th, 2016

11/8/2016

Lesson 101: Confidence is like breathing; it happens a lot more naturally when you don't think about it.
You'd think that because of my physical state, I'd patiently sit tight & standby until I got strong enough to get out there & be adventurous.
K.
The greatest pleasure in my life is doing what people say I cannot do. I stopped waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel & lit that up myself.
My superman of the hour, @abiesabbagh1, supports me in more ways than the physical sense. Thank you for showing me around Israel in the coolest way ever, brother.
One last thing: there's nothing more beautiful than when you prove to yourself just how strong you are.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I believe I can fly. ☄️

#BecauseICan

October 31st, 2016

10/31/2016

So over the past two weeks, I had the privilege of visiting the Kotel. From the many times that I prayed where the Divine Providence rests, I noticed a central theme: hope.
You may be surprised, but Jewish people are not the only ones that beseech God at the Western Wall. From Christians & Muslims to Asians & South Americans who poured their hearts & troubles out, we all have this universal faith in God. The worlds greatest wireless connection, He is never blind to our tears, never deaf to our prayers, and never silent to our pain. He sees, He hears, and He heals.
The only thing stronger than fear, hope is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this hope is to see what you believe. I believe in a better future than past, and I do all that I can to make it so.
Shoutout to the best family for getting me up & down those hills and a special shoutout to the Bar Mitzvah boy, @jacobsabbagh - we love you!
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I am in love with hope. 🇮🇱

#כיאנייכולה

October 26th, 2016

10/26/2016

Relax. Everything is running right on schedule. YOU got this. 👊🏼 - The Universe

Make today AWESOME #BecauseYouCan

October 13th, 2016

10/13/2016

I recently visited the Life Vest Inside Headquarters where I had the honor of signing the Wall of Inspiration. This non-profit organization is on a mission to inspire, empower, & educate people of all backgrounds to lead a life of kindness.
What did I write? I'MPOSSIBLE.
Seeing the world differently through the same pair of eyes is what truly makes or breaks you. You can ask the universe for all the signs you want, but ultimately we see what we want to see when we're ready to see it. So, when my life got blurry, I adjusted my focus. Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I CAN.
Everything we see depends on how we look at it. Example #1: Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'mpossible.
Try to see one thing differently today. Adjust your lenses. Once you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change & everything else will fall into place.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I'mpossible. ✍🏼
#BecauseICan

October 13th, 2016

10/13/2016

Having a rough morning? Place your hand over your heart. Feel that? That's called purpose. You are alive for a reason!
There is always a reason to smile. Find it!! Especially because of yesterday, my reason is my DD (ok, it's everyday).
Whats yours?
Make today AWESOME!!

#BecauseYouCan

October 6th, 2016

10/6/2016

To some of you, Judi may be known as @glossipgirl, the amazingly #1 talented makeup artist (that must be booked waaaay in advance FYI). To me, this woman is a role model who moonlights as a gifted writer, a special soul that turns her can'ts into cans & her dreams into plans, and a person I am truly honored to call a great friend.
We are thrilled to present this article to you, wholeheartedly written by Judi, which she not only executed beautifully, but makes me feel like a million bucks.
Life is only as good as the people you get to share it with. Because of you, Judi, life is GREAT. I am so so proud of you.
If you need a reason to smile today, I hope this feature will do. Please check it out --
http://www.sephardic.community/cheri-srour-does-it-all-becauseshecan/
It will also be available this weekend in the Image Magazine: October issue.
She believed she could, so she did. 👏🏼
#BecauseSheCan

October 1st, 2016

10/1/2016

It is with great pleasure to share that today marks one year since #BecauseICan has begun!! Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back, everything is different?
It started with a hair donation, but 50+ posts later, endless comments & messages of hope & motivation, my utmost respect & gratitude is to YOU. It is because of YOU that I am reminded that the hard days are what makes us stronger. It is because of YOU that I realize the bad days are what make the good days even better. It is because of YOU that I continuously feel inspired to push my limits to be the best I can be.
If you take anything away from my posts, I leave you with this message: "Do not forget that you are better than no one and no one is better than you. If you really believe that, you know you have nothing to win and nothing to lose." Remember that the happiest people don't have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything.
I want to wish you all a very HAPPY, healthy, and successful year. May this year bring all that your heart desires - and more. Cheers to many more days of inspiration, happiness, and adventures together.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but it is because of YOU that I can live vicariously. AND I LOVE IT. 👍🏼
#BecauseWeAllCan

September 25th, 2016

9/25/2016

Look Ma! I made it to Hollywood!!
Just kidding. Well, sorta kinda. I mean, #BecauseICan did get me here.
My brother once told me there's a great saying, "Act as if". Act as if you're the president of the United States. Act as if you're a billionaire. Act as if you know how to fly an airplane.
So this week I acted as if I were a celebrity. I traveled around Los Angeles, sightseeing & touring the City of Dreams. I ended up on Dancing with the Stars and The Ellen Show. I experienced mindfulness & the power of paying it forward. Why? #BecauseICan.
Act as if you are not afraid & you will become courageous. Act as if you like a person & you'll find a friendship. Act as if you could & you'll find that you CAN. In order to guarantee success, act as if it were impossible to fail. You have to live it if you want it.
To be honest, at the end of the day, I'm just thankful that my blessings are bigger than my problems.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can fake it till I become it. 🌠
#BecauseICan

September 21st, 2016

9/21/2016

Whoever is reading this, you are beautiful & someone out there is crazy about you.
So smile! 😃 Life is too short to be unhappy.

Have an AWESOME day!! #BecauseYouCan

September 14th, 2016

9/14/2016

Fun fact #621: If you were "full-figured" during the Rennaisance period, you weren't just considered beautiful, you were healthy & wealthy by default. It's only recently that looking sickly & starved has become "attractive".
People tell me ALL THE TIME that I'm "so lucky" because I can afford that piece of cake or bowl of mac & cheese.
Lucky? I was so thin at a point that the lack of fat between my organs resulted in an obstruction, causing me to profusely vomit. I was actually "bones". So I now eat anything & everything literally #BecauseICan.
Lucky? Pfft, I wish I was "unlucky".
So to all the girls that think you're fat because you're not a size zero, you're the beautiful one. You're the lucky one. It's society that needs the remodeling.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can indulge in milkshakes & donuts. And I'm not even sorry. 🍩

#BecauseICan #AndSoCanYou

September 08th, 2016

9/8/2016

People have this stigma that just because someone is wheelchair bound, they can't do anything (more on that next time). Don't fret. I am here to show you that being "in" a wheelchair means getting a second chance at life, striving to push myself to do the things I thought I couldn't, and seeing the brighter side of things.
Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. The only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. If it excites you & scares the crap out of you at the same time, it probably means you should do it.
Next on my bucket list: getting onto a roller coaster. Not gonna lie, I'm pretty scared. But, fear is just temporary; regret last forever. So, I'm taking baby steps: I go on motion-stimulated 3D virtual reality roller coasters.
Up next, the real thing. (Don't tell my parents! 🙊) Who's coming with me?
I may not be able to do the things you do, but until I get there, I can enjoy the ride. 🎢

#BecauseICan

August 31st, 2016

8/31/2016

Am I dreaming or did this really happen??
I can't wrap my head around it - we had this idea for some time but didn't hit full execution until very recently. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for being apart of this amazing community I am lucky enough to call my family. Thank you to everyone who was involved - you know who you are.
With a full house & sold out goods, this night was simply amazing. It was a night to stop & just appreciate the beauty of life. A night of celebration for all that we have and all that we don't have. It was a night to recognize how lucky we are to have each other & how precious life really is.
To be inspired is great. To inspire is INCREDIBLE.
Hashem - this night was dedicated just for you. And "Many Thanks to ALL OF YOU".
I may not be able to do the things you do, but it doesn't matter. I am too lucky to even notice. ❤️
#BecauseICan #TeamDeej #RJ2 #SBH

August 25th, 2016

8/25/2016

Trivia Time: What's the first thing you noticed in this picture? The wheelchair, the red puzzle piece, or both?
As a kid I was never the "leader", but I wasn't the "follower" either. I was that girl in between - you know, the one that just went with the flow.
When I first started to need the wheelchair, I hated it. HATED. I hated that I stood out. I hated that everyone noticed me. I hated that I was different. I hated that I was a flamingo in a flock of pigeons.
Now? I don't wanna say that I "love" it because I'd still rather be abled. I do, however, embrace it. Because I have this crazy idea that my purpose is bigger than me. Because now I realized that I needed to stop trying to fit in when I was born to stand out. Because I know that even a dead fish can go with the flow. It's easy to stand with the crowd; it takes courage to stand alone.
STAY. WEIRD.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can dare to be different. ♿️

#BecauseICan

August 10th, 2016

8/10/2016

per·spec·tive: pərˈspektiv/ (noun) - a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
When I look at my reflection, I won't lie; I do see a girl who used to be a dance teacher but is now wheelchair bound. I do see someone who was once invincible but now relies on help from others. HOWEVER, I also see a girl who beat the odds, one who kicks butt what she does, and a fighter with the best outlook on life.
How others see you is not important. How you see yourself means everything.
I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing & see something totally different. Sometimes a change in perspective is all it takes to see the light: we can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. Are you the grandma in the wheelchair or the dancing ballerina? The choice is yours.
So, what's it gonna be?
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can discover the silver lining to every cloud. 🌤

#BecauseICan

August 05th, 2016

8/5/2016

This is my best friend in the whole world: Albert Cherem. We met over a decade ago by accident & instantaneously clicked. I listened to his stories and looked up to him for advice & countless words of wisdom, which never ceased to amaze me.
When I became ill, he called my dad EVERYDAY asking about me. He was so worried for me. When I pulled through, I think he was happier than everyone in my family put together.
Things took a turn when an unwanted guest, named cancer, decided to third wheel our tango. We didn't have enough time together. I wasn't done learning. I wasn't finished telling him about how I went back to school because he pushed me to do it. I wasn't done hanging onto every word he said. I wasn't ready to hear his last "bye-bye".
He taught me everything I know, from showing me the glory of old tunes to portraying the power of love. He changed my life & left an imprint in my heart. I miss him everyday, but take him with me everywhere I go. And because of that, he will live on forever.
Today would have been his 74th birthday. Today, I am the unhappiest of all colors. Today, I am the color of his deep, yet sensitive eyes. Today, I am blue.
I may not be able to do the things you, but I have been lucky enough to befriend such an incredible person. 💔

#BecauseICan #CancerSUCKS

July 21st, 2016

7/21/2016

This weeks theme - KINDNESS
I had the pleasure of doing the things I love to do: participating in races while raising money for amazing organizations, spending time with special people on Chessed Mission, and inspiring others to be the best they can be.
I don't think we realize how lucky we are in that we have the privilege of having fun while giving back to our brothers & sisters.
I recognize my own personal power. My smile has the power to brighten someone's day, my touch has the power to convey love, and my words have the power to inspire.
Never underestimate the power of kindness. Even the smallest act creates a ripple effect. Just as one drop of water creates countless ripples, so too does one act of kindness change countless lives. Don't forget that your small gesture may just be the added lift that someone needs to go from falling to flying.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can be powerful. 🙌🏼

#BecauseICan

September 28th, 2016

6/23/2016

My Person of the Week: Josh Marshall
Josh's 8 year old son, Gabriel, was left with a large horseshoe scar above his right ear after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor.
His son, self conscious & fearful of all the stares (been there), expressed that he felt like a monster. Josh then did the unthinkable: he got a tattoo that resembles his son's scar on the side of his head & told Gabriel, "If people want to stare at you, then they can stare at both of us."
This small gesture not only boosted his son's confidence, but sparked awareness for the detrimental effects, both physical & emotional, of childhood cancer.
Never get tired of doing little things for others, sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of their hearts.
Josh may not be able to do the things you do, but he can win the hearts of millions across the country, while being the greatest dad out there. 👦🏻

#BecauseJoshCan

June 14th, 2016

6/14/2016

Why are children so happy?
Because their minds are so innocent. Because they give everyone the benefit of the doubt. And because sometimes, believe it or not, they can be pretty insightful.
Of course my nieces & nephews ask me from time to time why I need help walking or why I sit in a wheelchair when we go to the mall. I always respond with the same answer: I don't know why. God does; ask Him.
The first time I replied this to my nephew, he returned ten minutes later & said: God told him why. It's because I dont eat my pizza crust, so I don't get strong. These clever kids. They have an answer for everything, don't they.
I have to admit, that's a pretty valid answer. Faith tells me that no matter what lies ahead of me, God is already there.
These days, I wouldn't think twice about not eating my entire pizza. I mean, God did tell him Himself after all. (Hey, you never know.)
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can eat my pizza crust...and have a little faith. 🍕

#BecauseICan

June 02nd, 2016

6/2/2016

Five years & 56315 Dunkin cups later, I'm finally here. Graduating cum laude & hand still attached to my DD, I've shlept to school in the snow, in days of broken legs, and times of mere exhaustion. (Ok I'm kidding about the burnout part; I may be as nerdy as it gets, but girls gotta get at least 7 hours of shut eye.) The tassel was definitely worth the hassle.
Every goal begins with a dream. Challenges, obstacles, and distractions also seem to be part of what we must deal with on the way to achieving those goals.
Going back to school seemed inapprehensible, but I still challenged myself to do it. Whenever you find yourself doubting if you can go on, just remember how far you've come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won, & the fears you've overcome.
Whatever you do, JUST KEEP SWIMMING.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can graduate from college with a BA degree in health & psychology. 🎓

#BecauseICan

September 23rd, 2016

5/23/2016

Some people make the world special just by being in it. Some people make you see the sun where you once saw clouds. Some people make your laugh a little louder, your smile a little brighter, & your life a little better.
When you put all those amazing traits together you get the incredible @djcohen7.
The great things about new friends is that they don't just bring new energy to your soul, but they see the same truth & share it.
To remind me how precious life really is, to live it & have fun in the moment, this rockstar isn't just the epitome of strength, he's a warrior poet with wings. He's a phenomenon that shows us that life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning to dance in the rain.
I am honored & privileged to call this character my friend & my hero.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can celebrate life with this warrior. 🎉

#BecauseICan + #TeamDeej = #CollabInTheMaking?

May 11th, 2016

5/11/2016

Every accomplishment begins with a decision to try:
When I decided to go back to school, I was faced with some challenges. One of them was figuring out how to independently get from class to class on a ginormous campus. I resolved this issue by handing over my schedule of classes to the Disability Department, who would then rearrange all my classes into one building.
Last night, I was recognized & awarded for this achievement; apparently it has never been done before.
I hope this innovative approach will motivate you to do whatever you aspire to do. Whether it's going back to school or building up your dream, obstacles are just a bump in the road. It's just a matter of figuring out how to get over that bridge.
And listen closely: if you're still looking for that one person to change your life, maybe it's time you take a look in the mirror.
I may not be able to do the things you do, but I can change the world - one school at a time. 🏦
#BecauseICan

May 08th, 2016

5/8/2016

When your hero writes you poetry =
Life. Made. ❤️

#BecauseICan + #TeamDeej