Leaving a Legacy That Creates Impact
Speaking on the theme Gratitude at Speaker Slam® in Toronto on Sep 17, 2019, Anna Lopes took the stage with a five minute story.
Transcript
rachel was four years old and battling leukemia I saw her picture in the local magazine and instantly fell in love with her smile when I realized this four-year-old was battling cancer and she was doing her own fundraiser I knew I needed to meet her I contacted the magazine and was instantly connected with the mother Rachel was the bravest young girl I had ever met her journey had just begun from long hospital visits to poking of needles and high dose of chemo that wasn't fair a four year old to be playing Barbies and hide-and-seek with her friends instead her new home became the hospital her long
hair was falling out due to treatment and her immune system was extremely weak - Rachel life wasn't fair but her old soul and attitude kept her going her mission was to help other children dealing with cancer just like her and if she could smile it made her smile Rachel inspired me enough to know I needed to make a difference in her life and in the lives of other children and that's when my life completely changed she told me all the blessings this world has and when we can create moments we can really change a person's life and the magic happens when you create these memories
I have to be one of the richest people in the world and it has nothing to do with money it's become about contribution I have created a life so filled with love and I've taken action because that's where the magic begins all my life I was giving to my friends and family because made me feel significant loved but an actual fact I felt like I didn't belong I felt like something was wrong with me I realized I was giving for the wrong reasons I was giving to receive love I was giving selfishly I had an attachment to everyone and everything I gave to and as
a result I always felt empty the only person I wasn't giving to was myself I reached a point I looked at my Creator and my universe and looked at all the gifts that were right in front of me that I could see I could move and I could actually make choices and how grateful I was to have the most beautiful mom that I enjoyed her daily phone calls from who was winning the soccer game and of course it was Italy to all the Italians soap operas I enjoyed our walks our ice cream dates and all the musicals we got to see together I'll never forget
the day of her funeral how I honored her through love and not fear when you can create the most magical memories with the people you love your life gets filled with so much gratitude my journey started in 2005 I started a nonprofit organization called million dollar smiles we create smart we create smiles for children dealing with life-threatening illnesses and special needs we have a variety of gift-giving programs that we do all year long but our biggest gift is we build playgrounds for these children in their very own backyard where it's safer for their immune system in the last 10 years we've built over 500 playgrounds
all over the all over the GTA and surrounding areas and we actually went to Thunder Bay this year and there's not much in Thunder Bay no we built we build communities to volunteer their time and build a playground in a backyard for a child in a family that needs it I truly living my legacy and giving people opportunity how to give back unconditionally my mission and a purpose is to teach others how to give in the most powerful way by using their heart when you live a life of gratitude you live with no fear tonight I dedicate this speech to a very special young girl
her name was Emma she was 15 years old she passed away in April I'm honored to have her mom here as a guest she taught me what gratitude was all about she was the gift to this world and tonight I want to share her legacy and her gratitude note she wrote months before she passed my legacy spread awareness for childhood cancer share my story show paced patients with rotation plastique videos of me doing gymnastic and boy could she flip live your life to the fullest and tell your loved ones how much you love them because you never know when you will last see them give
hugs give compliments spread love Thank You Emma
Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.