Blessings Come In Different Packages

Stubbornly persist, and you will find that the limits of your stubbornness go well beyond the stubbornness of your limits. ~Robert Brault

Last night, DD asked me if I could find "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" on YouTube done by a baritone. She's mentioned the song the other day, and I asked if she'd ever heard it sung by a man with a low voice. So... I went on a hunt on YouTube and found it by a man I've never heard of: Thomas Quasthoff. What an incredible voice!



It was done with stills from album covers, so I had no idea about the man I'd stumbled over.

Next, I had to play "Ol' Man River", right? I mean... when you think 'baritone' isn't that the first song you think of? Maybe it's just me... *G*

And here, in this video, is when I realized that Thomas Quasthoff was no ordinary man.



And I realized that he'd been truly blessed in his life with a voice that can bring you to tears but that he had to get past those things he'd been born with that would have held back a person less determined.

You see, Thomas Quasthoff was born with serious birth defects caused by his mother's exposure during pregnancy to the drug thalidomide. I remember my mom telling me that her doctor had prescribed this to her and she didn't take it -- it was given for morning sickness, and it was only later they realized what it would do.

From Wikipedia: Thomas Quasthoff is unusually short (about four feet tall) due to shortening of the long bones in his legs, and he has phocomelia of the upper extremities with very short or absent long bones and flipper-like appearance of his hands.

He lived in a home for handicapped children, was teased and ridiculed and even denied admittance to the school for performing arts because he was unable to play the piano.

But, determined, he forged ahead -- and thankfully we are now blessed with his voice. He's amazing... here he is with Bobby McFerrin:



Doesn't it make you think?

Doesn't it make you realize that maybe you don't have it as hard as you might think you do?

It does me. Just saying.

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People Think You're Sometimes Happy

At times, you seem like a very happy person. Other times you don't seem happy at all. Happiness is a bit complicated for you right now, and you may not always feel like you can be happy. Perhaps it's time for a big change in your life. You may need to work on finding relationships, hobbies, or a career that makes you happier. Be thankful for what you have, but don't be afraid to strive for something more. You have it in you!

Do People Think You're Happy?

Ah... very true.

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