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“Waking Spirit” author Shirley Cheng

By Lauren Smith | August 12, 2007

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Lauren Smith: Shirley tell us about your miracle…

Shirley Cheng: My mother said that my birth itself is a miracle; she is so blessed that God gave me to her. Quite a few miracles happened in my life. I was diagnosed with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at only eleven months old. I spent my early years in constant pain, and knocked on death’s door several times. My mother took me to China six times in a period of ten years, and by doing so, she had saved my life, for American medications offered no relief for me. She even lost custody of me twice in America after disagreeing with doctors’ recommended treatments–treatments that would have sent me to my grave. Fortunately, God helped her win both custody cases. (Now I’m an advocate of parental rights in children’s medical care–when doctors ask yes or no, parents should have the right to say no.) Owing to years of hospitalization, I received no education until the age of eleven. I started schooling in a special education class in elementary school. Having been brought up in a Chinese-speaking, single-parent family with no influence on education, I only knew my ABCs and few simple English; I knew that two plus two equals four and that three times five is fifteen. Other than that, my book knowledge was non-existent. But because of my thirst for knowledge, I devoured everything that was taught and mostly self-taught myself how to read. So after about 180 days of attendance, I mastered grade level in all areas and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. I’ve received many academic, art, and literary awards. I lost my eyesight at the age of seventeen, but that did not stop me from moving forward. I completed my schoolwork using strictly cassettes and tape recorders (I listened to my assignments, and recorded down my answers, including essays, on tapes for my teachers to grade). I also wrote and balanced long chemistry formulas and equations in my head without Braille (I can’t use Braille due to my arthritis). My high school average is 97 ( 3.9 GPA). But I couldn’t accumulate enough credits to graduate, so I earned my GED diploma. I took the entire GED test, including math calculations and problem solving, graphs, and an essay, in my head, and received an exceptionally high score of 3280, for which I got a special recognition award. I became an author at age twenty and completed three books within one year. With the aid of a screen reader (computer software), I do everything on my own–writing, formatting my manuscripts, publishing, website designing/maintenance, promotion, etc. I know I couldn’t have done all this without my Heavenly Father and earthly mother!

Lauren Smith: Was there ever a time when you felt you couldn’t do something, when you felt your disabilities were really in control of your life?

Shirley Cheng: Obviously, I’d have to accept the fact that I am wheelchair-bound, so I am unable to walk, run, or dance, though I dance with my heart. I am unable to see with my eyes, but my heart tells me all it sees. I do have physical limitations–plenty of them–but the thing is that I find other avenues to explore so I can still love the life I live. My motto is, “Although I’m blind, I can see far and wide; even though I’m disabled, I can climb high mountains.” Do I let my disabilities stop me from living the life I love and going for the gold medals in life? You bet not! Not before, not now, not ever. Life is too important and precious; no way will I waste my life. So my answer to your question is no.

Lauren Smith: What led you to write this book?

Shirley Cheng: This may sound odd, but what first led me to write this book is actually the title. I’ve had the title “Waking Spirit” in mind for three or four years, but I had no where to use it. I was a new author back then with three books. When I was twenty-three, I decided to collect some of the writings I’ve created from the past year into a new book, and I wrote dozens of poems within two weeks. Shortly thereafter, Waking Spirit was born. So the title was a huge motivator.

Lauren Smith: What do you hope people get out of this book?

Shirley Cheng: After reading Waking Spirit, I hope people will feel blessed about living, and will appreciate life, and all that it has to offer, more. I hope people’s passion about nature wonders and animals and insects will awaken and deepen. Life is a miracle, so treasure it, value it, as much as you can!

Lauren Smith: What’s the one thing that surprised you about this publishing journey?

Shirley Cheng: How some people cannot follow the simplest directions! Well, okay, I wasn’t surprised about this since I knew this long before this publishing journey. I honestly cannot think of anything that surprised me, either good or bad.

Lauren Smith: You’re such an inspiration to others, is there someone who inspires you?

Shirley Cheng: My beloved mother Juliet Cheng is my inspiration. She is very wise and good, so she sets great examples to others on what being a good person is all about. She’s the cornerstone and light of my life; the foundation of my happiness, strength, and success, besides God, of course. She supports me in all that I do. I wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for her.

Lauren Smith: What projects are you currently working on?

Shirley Cheng: I am publishing my fifth title, which is a parental rights advocacy book. I am working on my sixth title. It empowers others to empower themselves. True empowerment starts from within, and this book will act like a gentle nudge.

Lauren Smith: Besides writing, what else do you enjoy doing?

Shirley Cheng: I am a motivational speaker, so I love empowering, inspiring, and motivating others through my talks.

Lauren Smith: What is the next high mountain you’ll climb?

Shirley Cheng: The next high mountain I plan to climb is to get the eye surgery to hopefully restore my eyesight, then I hope to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. I love life, so I want to learn as much as I can about life.

Lauren Smith: What advice would you like to give to others?

Shirley Cheng: Dance with your heart! When you dance with your heart, you are dancing using your heart, and you are dancing together with your heart, and as a result, you become a dancing heart yourself to lead others in your dance steps so they can dance with their hearts as well. Hopefully, the entire world can dance with their hearts by the end…

Lauren Smith: Is there anything you’d like to request from the readers of this interview?

Shirley Cheng: If you know any good eye surgeon who is both kind and skilled, please by all means let me know! If I can’t find Mr. Right, let me at least find Dr. Right! Please contact me via my site: http://www.shirleycheng.com

Thank you so much for giving me this great opportunity to share with others a bit of my life story. 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; this interview will help me fulfill my goal, for which I’m most appreciative.

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