How would you like to explore a world of dancing hearts, singing spirits, with infinite love from life? Now you can fly to where hearts dance to songs of delight sung by the spirits of life in the treasure trove of Waking Spirit: Prose & Poems the Spirit Sings, the latest book written by child prodigy Shirley Cheng, who dances with her heart despite multiple physical disabilities, including blindness.
Swing to the melodies as the essence of the prose and poetry, including 102 beautifully written haiku of nature wonders and delightful animals, awakens your soul. The inspirational quotes in A Moment with Shirley, and autobiographical tales, such as I'm Not Disabled--I'm Ultra-Abled, shine with the author's invincible spirit and precocious wisdom, empowering you to embrace the sky.
"Waking Spirit celebrates life while encouraging us all to appreciate what we already have. It's a book of survival, a tome of devotion, a bible of being," wrote New York Times bestselling author, Cynthia Brian, in the foreword. "Serve yourself a big helping of Shirley Cheng's inspiration and you'll be motivated to shoot for the stars."
Some of the proceeds from the sale of Waking Spirit: Prose & Poems the Spirit Sings will go to Christian Blind Mission International and Be the Star You Are!
Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI), based in Germany with affiliate offices in ten countries, is the oldest and largest ministry with the primary purpose of improving the quality of life for the blind and disabled in 113 developing countries, providing preventative, medical, rehabilitative and educational services in more than one thousand projects. Their aid is available to all people regardless of religion, nationality, race, or gender.
"Being blind or disabled is already hard enough without having to endure the suffering resulting from economic barriers. I have always wished to help anyone in need, and this is my chance to do so. I hope people will support me in this good cause," says Shirley.
Be the Star You Are! is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Cynthia Brian in 1999 that collects and distributes books and other positive media to youth at risk as a way to raise their life skills and self esteem.
An inspirational miscellany from one of the braver souls on the planet. The author of a number of works in genres ranging from memoir to short fiction to poetry, this motivational speaker is seldom at a loss for words to celebrate life and promote her indefatigable character. Here, Cheng collects a menagerie of lyrics, haiku, short personal essays and even briefer aphoristic words to live by--all on the theme of leaping over seemingly insurmountable hurdles, a subject with which this author is well-acquainted. Though plagued from infancy with near-fatal juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and then blindness as a teenager, Cheng continues to tackle on the page all life has to offer, enlisting but her two index fingers, the aid of a screen-reader program that reads back what she's composed and her indomitable will.
Cheng's prose statements detail a few of her tribulations, offering philosophical insights on suffering, though never with a hint of self-pity; her poems, particularly the vivid haiku, turn more to objects of the natural world that delight her.
For those ready to be eased of their burdens, Cheng provides a lift.
--Kirkus Discoveries
This book is an amazing read by an amazing person. While shops and shelves are piled with inspirational and self-help books written by people with disabilities, only luck can lead the reader to an author capable of transporting them to a world outside the normal and understood. Shirley Cheng is one of these lucky finds, driven as she is to help others understand the lives of the disabled.
Cheng is one person who has never allowed her differences to dictate her attitude towards life. She not only appreciates life as a gift, but expresses gratitude to her mother for her positive outlook on life, and to the existence with which her Heavenly Father has blessed her. No matter what, Cheng views her life as an opportunity to make the most of, and views her differences as giving her a unique outlook on life.
Waking Spirit is a collection of poetry of different types including haiku, quotations and essays that embody Cheng's positive attitude towards life and strategies for dealing with adversity. Her writing is very accessible and enjoyable as she "shows without telling," without arrogance or preachiness.
This book is an expression of joy, of wonder, and of passion for life. It teaches simple truths and lifelong lessons that are often overlooked in the current complex world.
--ForeWord Magazine CLARION Reviews
Constantly our Great Creator blesses us with a gift to remind us why life is so special and worth hanging around for.Hellen Keller was one of those gifts, and now the world is lucky enough to have blind and disabled Shirley Cheng take up Helen's gauntlet, and remind us of how special life can be and what a courageous survivor is all about.Shirley Cheng's new book Waking Spirit is a masterpiece and you would be making a wise decision to take time to read its poignant contents.Shirley proves the motto of the world Positive Thinkers club holds water through the centuries of time. "The Positive Thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible." That is what Shirley is all about!
--Ken Bossone, President of World Positive Thinkers Club
Her wisdom and captivating writing style reveals a rare beauty of the heart. Humorous haiku blends effortlessly with devotional selections as quotes sing a wisdom we want to hear and live.
The positive energy in Shirley Cheng's books is refreshing, real and inspiring. I hope you will invite her writing into your heart to experience the beauty of love's transforming energy.
--The Rebecca Review, Amazon.com Top Ten Reviewer
Shirley is an excellent thought provoking writer and poet with a charm and intelligence that would make anyone envious. Shirley's ability to see life in such a positive way has left a lasting impression on many of her readers, myself included. Her inspiration and never ending strive to see all good in life is rare and commendable and should be used as a definite positive thought when one feels that things are just not fair in their lives. Her age and illness has never stood in her way of succeeding and embracing everything that life has to offer.
--Dorothy Lafrinere from WomensSelfEsteem.com
Shirley's poetry, which spans a variety of meters, tones, and topics, is always eloquent and heartfelt. For me, the highlights were the short and simple poems that described daily scenes, endowing them with a new sense of importance. The way Shirley cherished the small pleasures in life encouraged me to slow down and enjoy a trail of ants, or the birds flying overhead. I feel that she has helped me open my eyes to a different world, one that is intricately laced with simple joys. Additionally, I particularly liked inserts of "A Moment With Shirley," which are gems of comfort, advice, and inspiration. It felt like I had a best friend, providing me with encouragement.
--Jennifer Tao, 17, Be the Star You Are!
Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled motivational speaker, poet, author of five books, and contributor of seven books, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. However, after about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from HarvardUniversity.
Shirley is also the author of The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine: A Young Woman's Autobiography of a 20-Year Tale of Trials & Tribulations (ISBN: 1411618602), Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells (ISBN: 1411618580), and Daring Quests of Mystics (ISBN: 1411656644). With highly acclaimed experts like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy, Shirley co-authored Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Finding Your Life's Passion, Second Edition; she is also the co-author of 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2, with experts Jack Canfield and Dr. John Gray.
Shirley is available for interviews, speaking engagements, book signings, and inspirational events. She has been on over twenty radio shows, including Be the Star You Are! for three times. She was featured in World Journal, the largest Chinese national newspaper in North America, in July 2004.
Blind, Disabled Child Prodigy Co-Authored Book with Bestselling Authors, Including Jack Canfield and John Gray
Shirley Cheng, a blind and physically disabled poet and the author of three books by age twenty, shares with the world her precocious wisdom and profound insight in a new self-improvement book, 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, volume 2, which she has co-authored with some of the world's leading experts and #1 internationally bestselling authors, including Jack Canfield, John Gray, Bob Proctor, Alan Cohen, and Richard Carlson.
We can all reach our dreams. We can all soar. It's just that sometimes we need help getting off the ground. In Volume 2 of the 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life series, our experts disclose success secrets on achieving your ideal life, maintaining mind-body balance, dealing with difficult people, and countless other important topics. Self-improvement is a journey that never ends. This book will make that journey a bit easier for you.
Shirley's chapter, Dance with Your Heart: How to Befriend Your Heart and the World Around You, gently teaches the reader how to achieve spiritual affinity with oneself, then with others around them.
"I've made it one of my life's missions to touch as many people as I possibly can to bring humor, hope, and healing," says Shirley, whose personal motto is "A dancing heart teaches true."
ISBN: 0974567272 416 pages, Trade paperback Available from http://www.shirleycheng.com (with Shirley's personalized autograph). Newly released in September of 2006, and coming soon to Amazon.com.
"101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Vol. 2 is a treasure trove of creative ideas and practical techniques and strategies you can use to almost instantaneously reshape your thinking, increase your passion and motivation, develop your skills and confidence, and add significant meaning, purpose, and satisfaction to your life. This book is must-have!" remarked Signe A. Dayhoff, The Social Effectiveness Guru, Effectiveness-Plus LLC
"With 101 mentors to guide your path, this superb book offers many practical strategies, indispensable life lessons, and relevant ideas. Each chapter gives you solid methodology for personal and business success," wrote Michael G. Rayel, CEO of Oikos Global and author of A 31-Day Series
"What do you want out of life? More accomplishment? A better self image? Improved balance? Love? Self-confidence? Satisfaction? Peace? Opportunities? Healing? Inspiration? Success? Friends? Passion? More happiness for children? Wealth? Not sure?
"Relax. Whether you know what you want or not, Volume 2 of 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life has valuable insights, action plans and examples to help you find your path and follow it successfully and joyfully. Volume 2 exceeds Volume 1 in diversity of subjects, helpfulness of advice, interesting stories and wonderful writing.
"Get this book today, read it and apply what inspires you!" said Donald W. Mitchell, co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage
"As a success coach, I have volumes of self-help books on my shelf. But 101 Great Ways is a new favorite! It covers nearly EVERY topic in easy-to-read-and-apply articles by some of the most motivating success experts around. Reading just one article a day guarantees 101 fantastic days!" remarked Shawn Driscoll, Career Success Coach/Succeed Coaching & Development
"I'm inspired! The wealth of knowledge contained in this book confirms that everyone is an inherent teacher, whose unique experiences and wisdom needs to be shared for the greater good of everyone! I hope many more volumes are on the horizon!" wrote Jo-Anne Cutler, owner of JC Connections and author of "Breaking the Cycle" programs
"I always find it helpful to take the time to read stories that inspire me when I feel myself out of balance. When the energy is not flowing in my life, an exercise can change my perception or release an unhealthy emotion like anger, fear or self-doubt. Moving through a process of taking responsibility can move me into truth, giving me freedom. 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2 can be the emotional support I need every day of my life. I celebrate with and respect each author who has shared their gifts in this book." commented Colleen Hoffman Smith, Facilitator and Developer of The Inner Workout™
"As somebody who helps hundreds of individuals improve their lives from the ground up, what I like best about 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Vol. II is the gamut of tips, strategies and wisdom contained in one book! 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2 is a great RESOURCE to have around when you're trying to figure out how to navigate your way through life's obstacles and opportunities," said Cari Vollmer, founder of LifeOnTrack.com. "This book is a great addition to my personal growth library and one I recommend it to all of my online subscribers."
Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled author and poet of three books by age twenty, was diagnosed with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at only eleven months old. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no schooling until age eleven. Having mastered grade level in all areas after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she was transferred to a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University.
"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains," says Shirley. "Let the ropes of hope haul you high!"
Shirley Cheng is the author of Daring Quests of Mystics (ISBN: 1-4116-5664-4), a soothing read to relax the mind, body, and spirit. Her empowering 700-page autobiography, The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine: A Young Woman's Autobiography of a 20-Year Tale of Trials and Tribulations (ISBN: 1-4116-1860-2), was self-published at age twenty-one, as well as Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells (ISBN: 1-4116-1858-0), an anthology of inspirational and fantasy short stories (fairy tales, fables, and myths) and poems for the heart from the heart.
She had been published twice before her writing career. One of her short stories, Mary Miller, the Elusive Lady, was published by the Poughkeepsie Journal in 1997, and a poem, The Colors of the Rainbow, was published in Celebrate! New York Young Poets Speak Out in 1999.
At the start of the New Year 2006, Shirley tied for 1st place in the national writing contest for Be the Star You Are! founded by New York Times bestselling co-author, TV/radio personality Cynthia Brian. Shirley's winning entry, titled The Jewel from Heavenly Father, is dedicated to her beloved mother Juliet Cheng, the cornerstone and light of her life, and it can be read on Shirley's site: http://www.shirleycheng.com
Shirley is also an advocate of parental rights in children's medical care, and aide/caregiver monitoring and screening for students with special needs and disabled people. As a parental rights advocate, she wants to help today's loving parents protect and keep custody of their children. "When doctors ask yes or no, parents should have the right to say no," says Shirley, who is the survivor of the 1990 five-month internationally broadcast news of mother's custody case against a doctor. Juliet was on CBS This Morning with Paula Zahn.
Shirley promotes aide advocacy for the disabled because she was mistreated and abused by one-to-one aides when she attended school. "The trouble with the uncaring aides actually lies in the authorities," she says. "If they listened to my complaints and kept a close watch on the aides, I wouldn't have gone through all the sufferingg."
Shirley is available for interviews, book signings, and inspirational events. She has been on over a dozen radio shows, including Be the Star You Are! with host Cynthia Brian for three times, The Donna Seebo Show, and Stu Taylor on Business.
