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Waking today to the news that Professor Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76, I felt sad to hear the world has lost another great mind and agent of change.  At 21 he was diagnosed with ALS and given the prognosis of this disease, he would not live past 23.  Yet he managed to defy all the odds, and lived 55 more years.  During this time his disease didn't seem to stop him from making considerable contributions to our world. He had purpose and his life meaning. He made the most of the time he was given.

In 2006 he won the Copley Medal for Highest Scientific Acheivement sharing the honor with former recipants as Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur and Capt. James Hook. His thoughts on the honor humbling "This is a very distinguished medal," Hawking said in a statement.  "It was awarded to Darwin, Einstein and (Francis) Crick.  I am honored to be in their company."
In 2009 , President Obama awarded Professor Hawking the Presidential Medal of Freedom , America's highest civilan honor.

Hawking had so many great insights that influenced our world. One quote I am particularly drawn to as it speaks to the craziness that is happening around us.

"We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet."

I wrote a poem a few years back that I pulled out and dusted off to read again. It speaks to the importance of having an open mind. To continue to learn and grow. Investigate and dig deeper into things. Speak up and make the most out of your life. Don' t be afraid to take risks ...If you aren't sure do it anyway!

As Professor Hawking once quoted “However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Where there's life, there's hope.”

Fear if you must what you cant comprehend

The strongest are those with flexibilty to bend

The future between two souls isnt promised a new day

Time lost when the ego forgets what is important to say

Fear if you must what you cant comprehend

Its all in the message the eyes honestly send

The only part that can never pretend.

Tracey(Aug 2013 copywrite)