"Am I in the position to complain about my life?" my conscience asked.
Gigantiform Cementoma is a rate, autosomal dental tumor. It is benign, but without intervention it can result in severe disfigurement of the jaws. The cause of this tumor is currently unknown. This is an exceedingly rare tumor with only a handful of documented cases worldwide. In addition, it is the familial occurrence of cemental masses in the jaws; inherited as an autosomal dominant characteristic. I read in some articles that Gigantiform Cementoma is believed to be caused by abnormal growth of tooth or teeth. [1 2 3]
Novemthree Siahaan, a young boy from Indonesian Bataam Island, was reported to have this Gigantiform Cementoma at the age of two. To cut the story short, fortunately, heaven sent his savior in the form of Dr. David Lui, a Buddhist missionary from Tzu Chi Foundation. Novemthree was sent to Taiwan for the operation, and agreed that Tzu Chi Foundation would fund his treatment and the ongoing treatment in the future. The operation lasted over a fifteen week period, done by a group of specialist spearheaded by Dr. Cheng. The tumor was so large that it actually compressed his whole face. The surgeons could not fully attempt to remove the tumor because of the possible risk. They need to leave the part of the tumor to reshape the jaw of Novemthree. Dr. Cheng and the group performed tracheotomy for him to breath. In the end, he responded to all the surgeries wonderfully during all the weeks of stress, pain and hope.
However, after all hopes are up, Novemthree passed away on September 4, 2005. The tumor began to regrow and surgeons decided that it was too risky to have another surgery. Sadly, he also developed respiratory complications from which he didn't recover.
You see people, we complain a lot. Admit it, we are very conscious of how we look in public. Some people even resort to waste their money for beautification. We spend money for nothing but waste in the end. It's how we live, we enjoy our life now, then complain later. There are plenty of things we complain about, but there are people who are wishing that what we complain could be in their hands.
However, after all hopes are up, Novemthree passed away on September 4, 2005. The tumor began to regrow and surgeons decided that it was too risky to have another surgery. Sadly, he also developed respiratory complications from which he didn't recover.
"Novemthree was a kind, wise and clever kid. Whenever he was feeling ill he never once complained to us, he simply took all his suffering on his own." said his father.
I was looking at the mirror the other day, and complained with all the freaking pimples and dark spots in my face. I feel really devastated every time a pimple would grow out of nowhere. I come to the point that I asked God, "WHY ME?!". Suddenly, Novemthree's face flashed in my mind. I remembered his story, and asked myself "Am I in the right position to complain about my looks or my life?" I sat in silence, thinking if I really do have the rights to complain with my looks and life.
You see people, we complain a lot. Admit it, we are very conscious of how we look in public. Some people even resort to waste their money for beautification. We spend money for nothing but waste in the end. It's how we live, we enjoy our life now, then complain later. There are plenty of things we complain about, but there are people who are wishing that what we complain could be in their hands.
We complain of how hard and painful it is to walk for miles. But how about those who don't actually have feet? How they wish to have your feet. Do they complain? Yes, they complain, but imagine how many people reported in news that most of them accepted life, be happy and be a role model.
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| Scott McIntyre |
This guy joined American Idol and luckily passed the screening and be part of the group. He is Scott McIntyre. He is BLIND. I think he can see a little light. Despite his status, he managed to be part of American Idol, and SING. Some people I know complain how irritated they are about the blinding light of the sun. I mean yes, literally they complain. Ask Scott if he complain about being blind. Maybe he'd say YES, but no matter how hard he complain, he can't do anything about it. He still wishes to see how beautiful our world is.
I encountered people who complain about the same old foods sold in the canteen. I encountered people who devoted their lives going on DIET and actually lessen their food intake to eliminate fats in their body. I watched news about Africa, I bet you also know that they experienced food shortage there. GO TO AFRICA and ask people there if they go on diet and actually not eating anything to lessen their fats. GO TO AFRICA and ask if they complain about the same old foods sold there. ASK THEM, and tell it to my face if they COMPLAIN.
We complain a lot. That's how others live. I believe that we don't have contentment. We strive for whatever would satisfy us. It's okay. But at some point we have to set limitations, especially if the things we are striving for could damage others or ourselves. I want you to appreciate your life, but I know it would be hard. I want you to realize how lucky you are in your position, but I know it would be hard. And I want you to see how beautiful our world is, but due to some circumstances, events and even people, I know it would be hard. Life really is unfair. No matter how perfect you think your life is, still at some point you would strive to get something you don't have and ignore something that you have. That's the system of life. That's how we live.
In the back of my mind, I still hope that if you can't understand why your life is like the way it is now and not the one you wanted, I hope for you to accept who you are. It's the first step of accepting the kind of life you have right now. Accept who you are, and you'll start to accept your life.
VALUE OF TIME
To realize the value of ONE YEAR
Ask a student who failed his or her AP or board exam
To realize the value of ONE MONTH
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby
To realize the value of ONE WEEK
Ask an editor of a weekly magazine
To realize the value of ONE DAY
Ask a daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed
To realize the value of ONE HOUR
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE
Ask a person who missed the train
To realize the value of ONE SECOND
Ask a person who has survived an accident
To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND
Ask a person who won a silver medal in the Olympics
There are plenty of things to value in our lives. It's not just the material things and ourselves. We can learn to be happy if we start to accept ourselves and our life. Value everything in life. Sometimes the smallest thing in this world plays the biggest role in our lives. Live your life the way you should be, but remember to always set limitations. For our despair and sorrows could be someones happiness and contentment.
REFERENCES
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