Team SBH Disney 2016
SBH The Source: My Disney Experience
"Welcome to Disney World: the Place Where Dreams Come True."
Those sweet words are music to my ears. No matter how old you are, it's the only place where you're a child again and you're allowed to be. It's the Happiest Place on Earth and for good reason. People go in to the magical place and forget the outside world. The best part is, dreams really do come true there. And take it from me, magic is real.
Before I even begin to attempt to explain what an indescribable weekend I had with my SBH family at Disney World, I must first illustrate my infatuation for Disney.
I am that girl that believes in happily ever afters, the one who gets starstruck when seeing Mickey in the flesh, and that Disney geek who knows every Disney film verbatim. My bedroom looks like a 7 year olds, decorated with Disney's Princesses picture frames, Disney character stuffed animals, and Disney themed pillows. You know my obsession is pretty bad when I get more excited to see Cinderella's Castle than all my nephews and nieces put together. You get the picture.
Now, imagine my reaction when SBH granted my wish and invited me to join them on their weekend getaway to Disney. Don't stress - I'll tell you.
As part of my #BecauseICan campaign, SBH and I stirred up a magical plan. I would participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon by having someone push me along the way. As for the "someone", I nominated my hero and my brother in law, Solly Elmann. With a 7.57 minute pace, pushing me would be a breeze for him (and he wouldn't mind the attention.)
Now for the real challenge: SBH suggested I try and raise $10k. If you don't know me, I'm not one of those people who can just ask an uncle here and a friend there and be set with the fundraising. This was going to be hard work, especially since I registered so late into the game. But, in 10 short weeks, my brother in law and I miraculously raised $15,656. (All Hashem, by the way).
If I could describe the entire weekend (if possible) in one word, it would have to be "magical". Between the packaged lunches to accommodations left and right, the weekend could not have been more perfect. The hotel was magnificent and luxurious. The food was delicious, with so many options to choose from. We got so blessed with the weather (sunny and 77° everyday!). The minyan and inspirational speeches were unbelievable. The continuous entertainment and music was phenomenal. The room and flight arrangements could not have gone more smoothly.
And then we cannot forget about the marathon. Originally, Disney disallowed an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair. It has never been done before and Disney had no intention of making that happen, mainly because it serves as a safety hazard to the other athletes. As much as SBH pushed and persuaded Disney, they would not budge. Being the persistent person that I am, I took matters into my own hands and contacted them myself. After some convincing, they agreed to grant my wish. (I mean, it is the place where dreams come true, right?) Having an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair has never been done before in Disney history and hopefully, this will set a precedent for the future. We are the first power duo to participate in Disney's Princess Half Marathon in recorded history!
Sunday morning could not arrive any faster, and when it did, I was so ready. As amazing as it felt to know that we were about to create history, the highlight of that morning was definitely seeing the spectators root us all along to the finish line. Witnessing all the support and cheering from my SBH family was truly an incredible feeling and a moment I will forever cherish.
Not only did Disney make my dream come true by setting this new record in Disney history, but SBH arranged something wonderful for me as well. My family and I - we're pretty big. And as many times as we attempt to vacation together, it never seems to work out. Until this weekend.
SBH invited my entire family to share this magical weekend with me. My parents, my siblings, my nieces and nephews, the whole mishpacha. We were together all the time; it was beautiful. And as close as we are, this trip somehow managed to make us closer. My sister in law nonchalantly called my dad "dad" for the first time. My emotionless nephew hugged me and thanked me for bringing him on this trip. My brother in law and I have created a new bond while training for the marathon. And my parents got to relax. Except when my siblings threw their kids on them. And except when they had to wake up at 4am three times. Uh never mind; scratch that last one.
This unforgettable weekend could not have mount to what it was without the wonderful SBH team and of course, Charles Anteby. Working day and night for months to perfect this weekend, they did not miss a beat in making this trip as spectacular as it was.
Truly a trip I will never forget, in a place where I created a memory to last a lifetime, it is an experience I will take with me wherever I go. So don't forget to dream, and dream big. Whatever it is that you aspire to do, reach for it, strive for it, built it. Because some dreams really do come true. As Walt Disney reminds us, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Those sweet words are music to my ears. No matter how old you are, it's the only place where you're a child again and you're allowed to be. It's the Happiest Place on Earth and for good reason. People go in to the magical place and forget the outside world. The best part is, dreams really do come true there. And take it from me, magic is real.
Before I even begin to attempt to explain what an indescribable weekend I had with my SBH family at Disney World, I must first illustrate my infatuation for Disney.
I am that girl that believes in happily ever afters, the one who gets starstruck when seeing Mickey in the flesh, and that Disney geek who knows every Disney film verbatim. My bedroom looks like a 7 year olds, decorated with Disney's Princesses picture frames, Disney character stuffed animals, and Disney themed pillows. You know my obsession is pretty bad when I get more excited to see Cinderella's Castle than all my nephews and nieces put together. You get the picture.
Now, imagine my reaction when SBH granted my wish and invited me to join them on their weekend getaway to Disney. Don't stress - I'll tell you.
As part of my #BecauseICan campaign, SBH and I stirred up a magical plan. I would participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon by having someone push me along the way. As for the "someone", I nominated my hero and my brother in law, Solly Elmann. With a 7.57 minute pace, pushing me would be a breeze for him (and he wouldn't mind the attention.)
Now for the real challenge: SBH suggested I try and raise $10k. If you don't know me, I'm not one of those people who can just ask an uncle here and a friend there and be set with the fundraising. This was going to be hard work, especially since I registered so late into the game. But, in 10 short weeks, my brother in law and I miraculously raised $15,656. (All Hashem, by the way).
If I could describe the entire weekend (if possible) in one word, it would have to be "magical". Between the packaged lunches to accommodations left and right, the weekend could not have been more perfect. The hotel was magnificent and luxurious. The food was delicious, with so many options to choose from. We got so blessed with the weather (sunny and 77° everyday!). The minyan and inspirational speeches were unbelievable. The continuous entertainment and music was phenomenal. The room and flight arrangements could not have gone more smoothly.
And then we cannot forget about the marathon. Originally, Disney disallowed an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair. It has never been done before and Disney had no intention of making that happen, mainly because it serves as a safety hazard to the other athletes. As much as SBH pushed and persuaded Disney, they would not budge. Being the persistent person that I am, I took matters into my own hands and contacted them myself. After some convincing, they agreed to grant my wish. (I mean, it is the place where dreams come true, right?) Having an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair has never been done before in Disney history and hopefully, this will set a precedent for the future. We are the first power duo to participate in Disney's Princess Half Marathon in recorded history!
Sunday morning could not arrive any faster, and when it did, I was so ready. As amazing as it felt to know that we were about to create history, the highlight of that morning was definitely seeing the spectators root us all along to the finish line. Witnessing all the support and cheering from my SBH family was truly an incredible feeling and a moment I will forever cherish.
Not only did Disney make my dream come true by setting this new record in Disney history, but SBH arranged something wonderful for me as well. My family and I - we're pretty big. And as many times as we attempt to vacation together, it never seems to work out. Until this weekend.
SBH invited my entire family to share this magical weekend with me. My parents, my siblings, my nieces and nephews, the whole mishpacha. We were together all the time; it was beautiful. And as close as we are, this trip somehow managed to make us closer. My sister in law nonchalantly called my dad "dad" for the first time. My emotionless nephew hugged me and thanked me for bringing him on this trip. My brother in law and I have created a new bond while training for the marathon. And my parents got to relax. Except when my siblings threw their kids on them. And except when they had to wake up at 4am three times. Uh never mind; scratch that last one.
This unforgettable weekend could not have mount to what it was without the wonderful SBH team and of course, Charles Anteby. Working day and night for months to perfect this weekend, they did not miss a beat in making this trip as spectacular as it was.
Truly a trip I will never forget, in a place where I created a memory to last a lifetime, it is an experience I will take with me wherever I go. So don't forget to dream, and dream big. Whatever it is that you aspire to do, reach for it, strive for it, built it. Because some dreams really do come true. As Walt Disney reminds us, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
Speech
We are all dealt certain cards from Hashem. And what makes us so special is that every person is given their own unique set of cards. Some of us are given the card of good fortune. Some of us are given the card of bringing laughter into this world. Some of us are given the card of spreading kindness. The key to success is learning how to use your cards not just to make yourself a better person, but to make the world a better place. Now, there is a special bonus card given to all Jews: the card of emunah. This card can be used at all times, in combination with other cards or even alone.
I set a record on this trip. Actually, I set two records. The first one was raising $15,656 in such a short time period. The second record we'll get to in a minute. How do you think I raised all that money? I learned to play my cards right.
My life has been anything but easy. For those of you who don't know, I was not always in this condition. I was a healthy teenager doing what healthy teenagers usually do. When I first realized that this was my new life, I had a very hard time accepting it. I was in denial. So I threw in my emunah card and literally stayed in my room waiting for something to magically happen. The thing is, the emunah card can be a bit tricky. If you don't use it with the right mindset, the card will not work.
I decided to lay out all the cards I was given. For starters, I have been given the card of resilience and the card of perseverance. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried to live this new life I was given. I tried to see the better side of things. I went to therapy five times a week and I went back to school. This was no piece of cake. As soon as I started walking again (yes, I can walk), I fell a lot and broke bones. I still fall and break things. I actually fell about six weeks ago and needed hip surgery to repair the bone, but I threw in my resilience card and started walking again a week later. Speaking of walking, my physical therapist is constantly mind blown at how I can walk. He says that the muscles used for walking are so weak that I utilize all my strong muscles together and figure out how to walk. This is where I threw in my compensation card, along with my emunah card. I figured out how to solve any problem by compensating and having a little faith.
School was tough too. Getting from class to class was not easy, so I used my compensation card and had the administration rearrange all my classes to one building so that I can get around independently. (I probably ruined a bunch of students' schedules though - oops.)
A few months ago, I finally broke my silence and began a campaign on my Instagram called #BecauseICan. I show people that just because I'm in a wheelchair, I can still try to be the best I can be. I can still do things that you may be surprised I can do. With the right mindset, you can do anything you really want.
I have been given the card of having an awesome family. As much as we love to hate one other and as much as they use me just to cut all the lines on rides, we can't do anything without each other. So when SBH asked me if I wanted to come to Disney as part of my #BecauseICan campaign, I refused unless the whole family tagged along. And as close as we are, this trip somehow managed to make us closer. My sister in law nonchalantly called my dad "dad" for the first time. My emotionless nephew hugged me and thanked me for bringing him on this trip. My brother in law and I have created a new bond while training for the marathon. And my parents got to relax. Except when my siblings threw their kids on them. And except when they had to wake up at 4am three times. Uh nevermind; scratch that last one.
So here's the secret on how I raised all those donations. I have been given the hazit card. I probably use this card way too often. I use and abuse it and then use and abuse it some more. You wouldn't believe the things I get away with just by using this card. People just instantly see my chair and give me that "aw hazita" look. Trust me, I'm anything but hazita, but I still get the look, so I just take advantage of it.
This led me to the second record I broke on this trip. Originally, Disney refused to allow an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair. SBH tried to convince them, but they wouldn't budge. I decided to give it a shot. Being the persistent person that I am, I would not give up until they said yes. I threw in my hazita card and my perseverance card and contacted Disney. After little convincing, of course they said yes. Like I said, you'd be surprised by the things I get away with. Having an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair has never been done before in Disney history and hopefully, this will set a precedent for the future. We are the first power duo to participate in Disney's Princess Half Marathon in recorded history!
To get the 15k, I threw in my family card, my hazita card, my perseverance card, and my emuna card. The rest - well - the rest was history.
I have a friend who was given the card of being unable to sit still. She swears she has ADHD, but instead of causing trouble, she multitasks on a million different projects and makes the world a better place. It just shows you that even the 'bad' cards can be beneficial if you have the right mindset.
If you're given the card of laughter, go visit an old age home and make them laugh. If you're given the sweet tooth card, join the Big Brother, Big Sister Program and take them for ice cream. (This does not apply to diabetics, dad.) If you're given the athletic card, run for a dream - even if it's not your own.
You're all given the cards Hashem knows is best for you. It's just a matter of learning how to use them to become a better person. Because once you learn to live with the cards you were dealt, you don't even need to play the game. You already won.
I set a record on this trip. Actually, I set two records. The first one was raising $15,656 in such a short time period. The second record we'll get to in a minute. How do you think I raised all that money? I learned to play my cards right.
My life has been anything but easy. For those of you who don't know, I was not always in this condition. I was a healthy teenager doing what healthy teenagers usually do. When I first realized that this was my new life, I had a very hard time accepting it. I was in denial. So I threw in my emunah card and literally stayed in my room waiting for something to magically happen. The thing is, the emunah card can be a bit tricky. If you don't use it with the right mindset, the card will not work.
I decided to lay out all the cards I was given. For starters, I have been given the card of resilience and the card of perseverance. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and tried to live this new life I was given. I tried to see the better side of things. I went to therapy five times a week and I went back to school. This was no piece of cake. As soon as I started walking again (yes, I can walk), I fell a lot and broke bones. I still fall and break things. I actually fell about six weeks ago and needed hip surgery to repair the bone, but I threw in my resilience card and started walking again a week later. Speaking of walking, my physical therapist is constantly mind blown at how I can walk. He says that the muscles used for walking are so weak that I utilize all my strong muscles together and figure out how to walk. This is where I threw in my compensation card, along with my emunah card. I figured out how to solve any problem by compensating and having a little faith.
School was tough too. Getting from class to class was not easy, so I used my compensation card and had the administration rearrange all my classes to one building so that I can get around independently. (I probably ruined a bunch of students' schedules though - oops.)
A few months ago, I finally broke my silence and began a campaign on my Instagram called #BecauseICan. I show people that just because I'm in a wheelchair, I can still try to be the best I can be. I can still do things that you may be surprised I can do. With the right mindset, you can do anything you really want.
I have been given the card of having an awesome family. As much as we love to hate one other and as much as they use me just to cut all the lines on rides, we can't do anything without each other. So when SBH asked me if I wanted to come to Disney as part of my #BecauseICan campaign, I refused unless the whole family tagged along. And as close as we are, this trip somehow managed to make us closer. My sister in law nonchalantly called my dad "dad" for the first time. My emotionless nephew hugged me and thanked me for bringing him on this trip. My brother in law and I have created a new bond while training for the marathon. And my parents got to relax. Except when my siblings threw their kids on them. And except when they had to wake up at 4am three times. Uh nevermind; scratch that last one.
So here's the secret on how I raised all those donations. I have been given the hazit card. I probably use this card way too often. I use and abuse it and then use and abuse it some more. You wouldn't believe the things I get away with just by using this card. People just instantly see my chair and give me that "aw hazita" look. Trust me, I'm anything but hazita, but I still get the look, so I just take advantage of it.
This led me to the second record I broke on this trip. Originally, Disney refused to allow an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair. SBH tried to convince them, but they wouldn't budge. I decided to give it a shot. Being the persistent person that I am, I would not give up until they said yes. I threw in my hazita card and my perseverance card and contacted Disney. After little convincing, of course they said yes. Like I said, you'd be surprised by the things I get away with. Having an elite runner run while pushing a wheelchair has never been done before in Disney history and hopefully, this will set a precedent for the future. We are the first power duo to participate in Disney's Princess Half Marathon in recorded history!
To get the 15k, I threw in my family card, my hazita card, my perseverance card, and my emuna card. The rest - well - the rest was history.
I have a friend who was given the card of being unable to sit still. She swears she has ADHD, but instead of causing trouble, she multitasks on a million different projects and makes the world a better place. It just shows you that even the 'bad' cards can be beneficial if you have the right mindset.
If you're given the card of laughter, go visit an old age home and make them laugh. If you're given the sweet tooth card, join the Big Brother, Big Sister Program and take them for ice cream. (This does not apply to diabetics, dad.) If you're given the athletic card, run for a dream - even if it's not your own.
You're all given the cards Hashem knows is best for you. It's just a matter of learning how to use them to become a better person. Because once you learn to live with the cards you were dealt, you don't even need to play the game. You already won.
IMAGE Magazine: April 2016
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