British teenager Athena Orchard, of New Parks, Leicester, died on May 28 this year, having succumbed to osteosarcoma (a bone cancer) after a six-month illness. Unknown to her family, before she died, she had written her deepest thoughts at the back of a tall mirror laid against a wall in her room. Only discovered days after her death, her family was amazed at the 3,000-word message she had written intended as advice for them to live by. What it revealed was the mind of a spunky and optimistic spirit, wise and mature beyond her 13 years. So pure, so innocent and so idealistic!
As my personal tribute to her courage, wisdom and inspiring attitude, let me present a selection of her writing so that we can all learn from her.
ATHENA'S MAXIMS AND APHORISMS
ON LIFE
"Thank you for existing."
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
 |
| Athena - a fit and athletic boxer |
ATHENA'S MAXIMS AND APHORISMS
ON LIFE
"Thank you for existing."
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
"Every day is special, so make the most of it."
"You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day".
"Life is only bad if you make it bad."
"Remember that life is full of ups and downs; without the downs the ups don't mean anything.”
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
"Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about."
"People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!"
ON HAPPINESS
"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
"Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story."
"You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day".
"Life is only bad if you make it bad."
"Remember that life is full of ups and downs; without the downs the ups don't mean anything.”
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
"Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about."
"People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!"
ON HAPPINESS
"Happiness is a direction, not a destination.”
"Be happy, be free, believe, forever young.”
"Be happy, be free, believe, forever young.”
"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
"Maybe it's not about the happy ending, maybe it's about the story."
ON LOVE
"Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it's about who you can't see spending your life without.”
"Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true."
"Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can't see it."
"If someone loves you then they wouldn't let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is.”
"I'm waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to.”
"Love is not about who you can see spending your future with, it's about who you can't see spending your life without.”
"Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true."
"Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can't see it."
"If someone loves you then they wouldn't let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is.”
"Love is like glass, looks so lovely, but it's easy to shatter.”
"Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change.”
"Sometimes love hurts."
"Life is a game for everyone, but love is the only prize."
"Life is a game for everyone, but love is the only prize."
ON HERSELF
"You know my name, not my story.”
"You have heard what I've done, but not what I've been through.”
"You have heard what I've done, but not what I've been through.”
"Now I’m fighting myself. Baby I can feel your pain. Dreams are my reality. It hurts but it’s okay, I’m used to it."
"Don't be quick to judge me, you only see what I choose to show you... you don't know the truth."
"I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged."
"This is my life, not yours, don't worry about what I do."
"Only I can judge me."
"I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged."
"This is my life, not yours, don't worry about what I do."
"Only I can judge me."
"I want to be that girl who makes the bad days better and the one that makes you say my life has changed since I met her!"
"There's no need to cry because I know you'll be by my side."
"There's no need to cry because I know you'll be by my side."
No comments:
Post a Comment