A Second Life C

(Picture: Cynthia Groopman (alone, with New York City in background) and Cynthia and other recipients of the honorary Liberty Award for New York City)

She is an inspiring woman; Cynthia Groopman.
Sudden blindess didn't kill her life, instead it gave her new life.
~wonderful is HIS work...


A Second Life C
February 28, 1988, will always be the beginning of my second life.

Sixteen years ago I received a prescription cough medication. Although pleasant tasting, it would change my life and my vision forever.

I awoke at midnight from a fitful sleep with a pounding headache and red eyes that felt like they were going to pop out of my head. Everything seemed hazy.

My dad and brother accompanied me to the local eye and ear hospital. In the taxi, tears began to stream down my face. What was happening to me? I thought.

I was 39 years old, active, vibrant and enjoyed life. I was an elementary school English teacher.

An intern and nurse awaited me in the emergency room. The intern looked into my eyes and measured the pressure, which was 55 in each eye. When I showed him the cough medicine bottle, he said that I was one in five who experiences an adverse reaction.

Immediately the doctor and nurse went to work to lower the pressure with injections, liquids, pills and drops. I was in the emergency room all night and into the wee hours of the morning. I had laser surgery, and the pressure was lowered.

The sight in both eyes, however, was gone.

I found myself in a dark and isolated world. I thought to myself: What purpose do I have now?

In the taxi going home, I listed in my mind some goals to reach by the year 2002. I was just imagining things and thought that this would allay my fears.

In the beginning it was like a bad dream. Going to the doctor. Using drops and Just sitting around and moping.

I felt I had to retire from my job. The medical board asked me stupid questions.

I then underwent intensive rehabilitation and was taught new skills, including cane travel.

I began taking adult education courses from the Hadley School for the Blind. Later, I would become Student of the Year.

In 1991, I became a social work, educational and recreational volunteer professional at the local seniors center where I began to utilize my skills as a teacher. I taught ESL, conducted groups and spoke to the homebound and counseled people. I was named Volunteer of the Year and blessed by the Monsignor.

I was adjusting to life because I had a purpose.

I was photographed for Time Magazine, using the Reading Edge machine and inspired others.

Time passed, and I realized that the goals I had verbally listed on that February night were becoming realities.

I began to write poetry and was one of the best poets for three years. I was awarded a Citation of Honor for volunteer service, the Hero of Winter Exceptional and Role Model Person. My fondest dream came true when, in August 2001, I had a Bat Mitzvah at age 53.

Today, I mentor children and talk to groups about blindness. My letters appear in our local papers, and I am interested and involved in social actions with senior citizens. The ability to use the computer was my last goal, and I had special technology lessons.

My life is full. I have insight, the ability to grow, lead a productive life and see the light of the Lord. My life is truly rich and blessed, and yes, now I know the true purpose of my life. God gave me an unconquerable soul.

By Cynthia Groopman, mailto:Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net


The Evening’s Coolness
By Cynthia Groopman

As the radiant sunshine glow begins to gradually fade,
Bathed am I, in the coolness of the evening shade

Embrace tenderly by a splendid caress of refreshing fresh air,
My weary soul is renewed with sudden flare
Softness and comfort adorns my heart,
As the stressful events of the day begins to depart

Oh, coolness of the evening you are so alluring to me,
Enfolding me into God’s warm loving arms
of love and tranquility.

Copyright © 2007 Cynthia Groopman.

Working Spirit

Teman saya, pemilik dua perusahaan besar, mengeluh dan mempertanyakan mengapa spirit di dua perusahaannya sangat berbeda.

Perusahaan pertama usianya 51 tahun, sementara yang kedua tidak lebih dari 10 tahun. Perusahaan yang lebih "dewasa" dan sudah berkembang baik, sulit dikatakan punya spirit yang segar.

Karyawannya pulang "teng-go" (tepat jam 5 sore) bersikap hati-hati dan cenderung "cari aman". Sementara, begitu memasuki perusahaan yang lebih "muda", terasa dinamika dan semangat, seolah suasana yang kita alami ketika bergadang di ruang senat mahasiswa, mengerjakan proyek organisasi. Yang jelas, memasuki dua lingkungan kerja yang berbeda ini, "mood" kita langsung beda, padahal lokasinya di gedung yang sama, hanya berbeda lantai.


Kita lihat bahwa spirit ada di udara, mudah terasa dan tercium. Bagi sebagian orang, spirit tidak sulit diciptakan. Terkadang hanya perlu "dipancing" dengan gorengan di sore hari atau kebersamaan saat lembur sampai pagi. Namun, di beberapa organisasi tertentu, terasa bahwa spirit ini sulit dikembalikan, walaupun sudah "diangkat" dan "ditarik-tarik" .


Organisasi yang penuh birokrasi, misalnya, sering membuahkan karyawan yang terlalu berhati-hati, "cari selamat", terlalu berhitung, takut berubah, hanya menunggu ide untuk berubah dari orang lain, dan enggan mengeluarkan ide baru. Tidak ada dinamika, kewaspadaan dan kenikmatan untuk berinisiatif lagi. Bila kita terjebak berada dalam organisasi seperti ini, namun secara pribadi memiliki spirit yang kuat, kita tentunya bertanya-tanya, apakah saya nanti tidak aneh sendiri? Bukankah spirit itu bersumber dari suasana kerja tim? Akankah kita bisa mempertahankan spirit yang segar dari waktu ke waktu? Bagaimana menyuntikkan spirit ke dalam diri sendiri, bahkan sampai memengaruhi organisasi?

Ingat Umur!

Bila kita sudah kehilangan spirit bekerja, ingatlah umur. Bayangkan profesional seperti Martha Tilaar, yang berusia 70 tahun, tetapi, semangatnya serasa 30 tahun. Beliau mengisi kehjdupan kariernya dengan `passion" dan urgensi. Berapa usia kita sekarang? Masih berapa tahunkah kita harus berproduksi? Bila sekarang saja semangat kita sudah kempis, bagaimana kita akan giat berkarya pada tahun-tahun mendatang?

Hati-hati dengan "Menerimà Apa Adanya"

Bayangkan sebuah rapat yang "garing", tidak bersemangat, di mana kebanyakan orang tidak mempunyai persiapan materi yang menantang, hanya menjawab bila ditanya atasan, tidak mempunyai ide dan pasrah menjalankan kehidupan perusahaan apa adanya Saat seseorang mengemukakan ide berbeda, semua pandangan menghujam padanya. Dan, si kreatif ini bisa-bisa kemudian meragukan idenya. Kita lihat bahwa sikap "menerima apa adanya bisa mematikan spirit sehingga perlu juga diwaspadai dan diperangi.

Pandanglah ke Depan

Bukan saja entrepreneur seperti Henry Ford (Ford Motor Comp), Bill Gates (Microsoft Corp.), Larry Page dan Sergey Brin (Google) yang mempunyai kemampuan untuk memandang ke depan, kita pun bisa! Kita selalu bisa melakukan "benchmark" ke perusahaan yang mempunyai aspek yang bisa ditiru. Kita pun selalu bisa mempunyai obsesi untuk meningkatkan produktivitas kita sebagai individu, kelompok atau bahkan perusahaan.

Bacaan-bacaan mengenai "best practice? profesi dan perusahaan serupa tidak terbatas jumlahnya. Dari sini kita bisa menumbuhkan mood untuk maju, mentransfer dan merealisasikan ide dan berobsesi untuk lebih sukses.

Bertanyalah, "Bagaimana Caranya?"

Bisnis dan situasi negara kita sëkarang membutuhkan produk baru, cara dan metode produksi, pasar baru, kecepatan, transfer kekuatan, dan informasi. Bagaimana mungkin kita tinggal diam dan menunggu?

Kita bisa mengaktifkan otak dan selalu mencari cara baru. Seberapa pun kecil peranan kita di perusahaan, bantulah untuk memikirkan "improvement" , karena hal ini pasti akan berguna bagi
perusahaan, tim dan diri Anda sendiri. Selain itu kekuatan spirit Anda akan terasa oleh atasan. Dengan demikian kita secara tidak langsung membuat harapan baru bagi diri sendiri setiap saat dan terbiasa menanggulangi ancaman.

Kembangkan mindset "Memulai"

Menjadi orang yang pertama maju ke depan memimpin diskusi, memberi
tanggapan atas email kolega, mengirimkan notulen rapat ke pelanggan yang baru dikunjungi, sama sekali tidak sulit! Dampaknya terhadap
diri sendiri-lah yang lebih besar. Kita akan mendapatkan apresiasi
orang lain, dipandang sebagai orang yang gesit. Bayangkan kalau kita
selalu menjadi orang yang pertama menyapa "halo" di setiap kontak
dengan orang lain. Kita pasti akan menebar semangat. Dan, untuk diri
sendiri, kita akan menumbuhkan semangat ekstra sebagai pemulai dan
penyerang tidak sekedar responsif.

Cintai Teknologi

Pemrosesan data, jaringan internet, telekomunikasi tidak pernah bisa
kita hindari. Teknologi juga berkembang demikian pesat sehingga sulit diikuti. Rasanya baru beberapa tahun saja kita menikmati teknologi GPRS, CDMA. Sekarang, kalau tidak ber-3G-ria, rasanya kuno. Baru saja, kita menikmati "i-pod", sekarang kita perlu bersiap siap memahami "i-phone'. Bila kita sedikit berusaha untuk menyukai dan memperdalam teknologi, kita secara tidak langsung terpaksa mengadaptasi derap inovasi dan perubahan dari perkembangan teknologi.


Menjaga agar tetap ber-spirit ibarat menjalankan dinamika kehidupan
seorang artis; seorang artis tidak pernah berhenti memerhatikan, berpikir, mengembangkan ide, bereksperimen, mencari ide baru, antusias, bekerja tak kenal waktu dan berupaya menciptakan sesuatu yang unik dan baru. Jadilah orang yang senantiasa hidup dengan spirit. Hidup akan terasa lebih artistik. ***

Sumber: Spirit oleh Eileen Rachman, EXPERD

This is For Me, My Mother & Father...

Laws of Parenting
1. The later you stay up, the earlier your child will wake up the next morning.
2. For a child to become clean, something else must become dirty.
3. Toys multiply to fill any space available.
4. The longer it takes you to make a meal, the less your child will like it.
5. Yours is always the only child who doesn't behave.
6. If the shoe fits... it's expensive.
7. The surest way to get something done is to tell a child not to do it... :-))
For example: Filina, don't spoil it... Soon, you'll have to take a wipe.

For My Papi
At the age of sixty-four, Dad retired. I wanted to buy him something to thank him for all his hard work and sacrifice. As I shopped, I realized there was nothing I could buy that could thank him enough. He had taught me through his own hard work and faith in God that the greatest gifts come from the heart and not the store. That night, I sat down and wrote a list of "Thank You's" to my father for all he had done for me. I left it on the kitchen table for Dad to read before this final day at work.

THANK YOU DAD

For waking up every morning when it was still dark outside and going to work, while we slept in our warm beds.
For teaching me how to pray.
For loving my mother with all your heart.
For teaching me I can never say "please" and "thank you" too often.
For giving me life even after you lost a son.
For being a wonderful grandfather.
For telling me it's okay to cry.
For being my hero, for being my friend.
For translating my first novel, Robinson Crusoe.
For always asking my math homework.
For not asking me why I haven't got married at the age of 27.
For encouraging me to be myself. (This is the greatest gift from you).
I feel easy and comfortable to be what I am now, it is because of you.

What I think of my Mother . . .

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either!
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it.
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
Submitted by Kiri Hyatt