Boxer Muhammad Ali’s Advice To His Daughter

An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters: “When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.” He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

Currently listening to: Radiohead - Lotus Flower (Jacques Green remix)

Proust questionnaire.

What are you thinking of right now?
If I am completely honest, this one person that has never left my mind for 3 months.

What makes you laugh?
Alot of things! When people accidentally say funny things, Friends TV show, The Office, Parks and Recreation.

What makes you cry?
When watching poverty, injustice and heartbreaking difficulties people go through.

What do you consider to be the greatest invention?
Music.

Do you have a mentor or inspirational figure that has guided or influenced you?
My best friend Anja inspires me all the time.

Where do you feel most at home?
When I am in my room, listening to music, reading the Bible or reading other books and watching DVDs in bed.

Where are you right now?
In my room, sitting on the floor in my underwear.

What is your proudest achievement in work?
Sounds cheesy, but being able to help people discover new music or being able to help them find a CD.

What is your proudest achievement in life?
Raising money for abused children in Thailand with a friend of mine.

What do you most dislike about contemporary culture? 
The breakdown of Biblical tradition, such as marriage.

What do you most like about the age we live in?
Communication - we are more aware of what is out there in the world and have more oppotunities to make a difference in the world.

At what points do life and work intersect?
I sometimes bring my personal life into work, or sometimes something dramatic happens at work like it is now and I have to deal with it in my personal time. 

What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Love always.

What is the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Knowing that if I did something my family and some of my friends would not approve of, and doing it anyway.

Recommend a book or poem that has changed your perspective on life?
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller or Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
My mum standing in the mirror putting lipstick on, then looking down and putting it on me.

What’s the most important relationship in your life?
Mostly, my relationship with God, my sister and my two best friends.

What’s the most romantic action you’ve taken?
Flew down to see someone I liked alot.

What’s the most spiritual action you’ve taken?
Giving my heart to God.

If you could wish for one change in the world what would it be?
Sounds cliche, but no poverty.  

Currently listening to: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

Tears.

Someone once said to me that there is a set amount of tears that you can only cry for each boy that breaks your heart. If that's true, then I still have an ocean of tears to go for you.

Currently listening to: Rihanna - P.S. I'm Still Not Over You

Call to arms.

A few days ago, my mum woke up me from bed. She usually never does this, but this particular morning she lay down next to me and told me that a family friend of ours was going to a funeral today for a woman around 24 years of age who committed suicide. She asked - herself or God or me or even the wind - 'Why?' I mumbled, still half asleep, 'Because sometimes, they don't have God.'

Later that day, I found it peculiar that my mum woke me up to tell me that. I have been going through another slip into depression again and for the first time in a very long time, I felt suicidal indeed. It's funny how mum's just know. I thought of ways to do it silently and without commotion to end this seemingly never-ending pain. Health, finance, family, heartbreak and confusion about where I am and why I wake up every morning took a massive toll on me and finally I admitted to myself with fear that I am at the very bottom of my life. That night where I completely broke down, crying to myself in agony in my bed, suicide filled my mind. But then I thought of my loved ones - my little sister Sarah, my best friends Ling and Anja and my mother, all who love me and all who I can't bear to inflict this pain on. I thought to myself that if I committed suicide, it would be selfish. It doesn't end the pain, as one quote says, it inflicts it onto others.

This morning, my mum came up into my room again and showed me a picture of the girl who had committed suicide. She was very pretty, and my mum told me she was smart too. She had a family who loved her and a young son. The father and her separated last year. My mum began going on, asking again to whoever and whatever was present, 'Why? It's so sad.' She said when you feel like you can't go on anymore, and that you can't even step over a line because you're on your knees, ask God to bring you over and see what He does. In my mind, when you ask God to do that, he's not beckoning you or trying to push you over. He's carrying you.
She went to say that Christians and non-Christians all face the same problems and that just because we have accepted God in our lives doesn't mean we are exempt from the trials of life. We all struggle and most go through depression, even greats from the Bible did. However, the way each of us can handle it is by our choices. Without God, I may not be able to handle the pain and think that suicide is the only way out. But with God, I can ask Him to give me the strength to carry on, and if need be, carry me over.
I remarked to my mum how funny it is that New Zealand has the complete freedom to preach the gospel, but how we have the highest youth suicide in the world. I'm not saying that it is Christianity's problem, but what is? Is it because we have not enough youth help lines? Is it because our message of love and hope aren't stressed enough? Is it because our youth culture places importance more on sex, drinking and drugs than on accepting each other for who they are?

As I looked at her picture, tears and sadness began to well up in me. It was just what it was - sad. I have been on the verge of killing myself, and if it weren't for the people who loved me so much, I wouldn't even be here today. It makes me think again that we can do a lot in someone's life just by saying some kind or encouraging words, because you never know what struggles someone is facing behind closed doors or in the secret of their heart. As people, we have this honorable responsibility to lift each other, love each other, pray for each other, listen to each other and cry with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all on a stormy journey, and we all need one another. We must rise to this agonizing problem in our countries and take a stand for life.

Seeing the blue sky outside, I am grateful for life despite my numerous burdens. I am grateful that I have been given this life, not by any means to endure, but to enjoy. If you are going through the same thing, remember that your life is so precious and valued, and if you don't think by anyone, by God. Sounds cliche right, but you came into the world just to be loved and with hopes that you will reflect that love back into the world, the way only you can. Your life is beautiful, and so are you. Live your life with love and joy and reflect your light - because it could just pull someone back from death.

 

Currently listening to: Ascend the Hill - Wind of God