Cancer is beatable, treatable, and survivable!
First: Am I going to die?
Second: How long do I have to live?
These are the words that are heard over and over again as people are told they have cancer. Are you
or someone you know coping with cancer or dealing with adversity? Unfortunately, the odds are great
that you do. If so I need your help.
Every year over 1.2 million people are told they have cancer,
leaving them lost and empty. Many of them give up. Even more lose hope. We can shed light
into darkness. AND show those in need that the darkest night can't blow out the light of one candle.
That is why I need your help. Imagine getting a letter as I did from an individual saying:
"Your story was so touching. You gave me such hope, inspiration and courage. Thank you!
Your story helped me get through the chemo treatments." Victoria - Age 16
Happiness is a Pair of Shorts! is a wonderful book that provides hope and encouragement to
those that are hurting, dealing with cancer, or overcome by adversity. Happiness is a Pair of
Shorts! helps people build a healthy self-image, guide them through fear, and shows them how
to set goals so they can maximize their potential even in the midst of adversity. It helps
educate them because, ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is poverty. Ignorance is illness.
Ignorance is devastation. Ignorance can kill you.
As you can tell, Happiness is a Pair of
Shorts! is not only about coping with cancer but dealing with adversity. Not only will it provide
hope but it will also help individuals get beyond just having hope to a life worth living.
I believe we should treat the person not just the disease. A disease has never walked into a
doctor's office. But a mother, a sweet child, or teenager with hopes, dreams, and ambitions has.
You can help by sponsoring me. I am asking of you to buy a copy or my book. AND
for every book sold I will tithe to cancer research and match your giving by
donating a book to someone that needs to be uplifted. Together we can make a
BIG difference!
I am overwhelmed with a sense of mission and purpose. Your support helps put the word Hope in
all capital letters for those who are suffering. HOPE. There, doesn't that look better now?
Just click below to start the process of making a difference. Thank you so very much!
With Great Respect,
Manuel Diotte
Speaker * Cancer Survivor * Author
Helping makes you bigger than you are.
The more you pour out, the more
life
will be able to pour in.
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Foreword:
HAPPINESS IS A PAIR OF SHORTS
Manuel Diotte is a young man who not only has fought (and thus far won) the battle with
cancer, he has also experienced challenges and disappointments that would have stopped many
people in their tracks. He has been deceived and set back in business ventures in which
he believed strongly and to which he gave his all. Yet, for whatever reasons, his hard work
and expectations simply did not pay off. At this point, many people would have thrown up their
hands in despair, saying, "What's the use? The deck is stacked against me." Surely Manuel must have
felt that way himself on occasion. And yet he knew that inside of him were the seeds of faith that would
nourish him to a happy conclusion and a story that would benefit and enrich the lives of others.
Manuel Diotte, though, is more than a survivor. He's a thriver, and though still a
very young man, in many ways he has lived the life of a much older one as far as
disappointments, betrayals, rejections and setbacks are concerned. Happiness is a Pair
of Shorts is a book about overcoming. And through the grace of God, his undying faith,
and his willingness to go not only the extra mile but to do whatever it takes to thrive
and to encourage, inspire and instruct others along the way, Manuel continues to overcome.
This is a book to be read slowly, carefully, digested, believed and followed. I
encourage you to read it seriously, pray about it fervently, ask for the blessings that are
contained within its pages, and believe you will receive those blessings, because God is
faithful. He always hears prayer. Sometimes, of course, He answers immediately, sometimes
His answer is "not now." Frequently He says no because "It's not in your best interests."
Good news: When you don't understand God's head, you can always trust His heart. That
message alone will bring joy and comfort to your life. Even as you may shed a few tears
with Manuel along the way, they will be tears of joy and gratitude that say, "Yes, Lord,
I know you are in control and I'm grateful for that, because I know you will always act in
the long-range best interests of your children."
When you finish this book you will pause for a moment and say,
"If Manuel Diotte can overcome, so can I."
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Zig Ziglar
Author and Motivational Teacher
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Excerpt:
Happiness is a Pair of Shorts!
By: Manuel Diotte
Life! What a precious gift from God. What a blessing to be alive in a wonderful vibrant
world of unlimited possibilities. Then, adversity strikes, and this "gift" feels more
like a curse. "Why? Why me?" we ask. Yet we never get an answer, or do we? After
contracting Hodgkin's disease at age seven and given six months to live, I triumphed over
the odds. Call it luck, hope, faith or courage, there are thousands of survivors!
Winners like us know the answer - "Why not us? We can handle it!" I'm not dying of cancer.
I'm living with cancer. God doesn't make junk, regardless of what comes our way,
and I don't have to be afraid anymore.
In my sophomore year of high school, the class was scheduled to run the mile. I will
always remember that day because due to the swelling and scars from surgery on my leg,
for two solid years I had not worn shorts. I was afraid of the teasing. So, for two
years I lived in fear. Yet that day, it didn't matter. I was ready - shorts, heart,
and mind. I no sooner got to the starting line before I heard the loud whispers.
"Gross!" "How fat!" "How ugly!" I blocked it out. Then the coach yelled,
"Ready. Set. Go!" I jetted out of there like an airplane, faster than anyone for
the first 20 feet.
I didn't know much about pacing then, but it was okay because I was determined to finish first.
As we came around the first of four laps, there were students all over the track. By the end
of the second lap, many of the students had already quit. They had given up and were on the
ground gasping for air. As I started the third lap, only a few of my classmates were left
on the track, and I began limping. By the time, I hit the fourth lap, I was alone.
Then it hit me. I realized that nobody had given up. Instead, everyone had already finished.
As I ran that last lap, I cried. I realized that every boy and girl in my class had
beaten me, and 12 minutes, 42 seconds after starting, I crossed the finish line. I
fell to the ground and shed oceans. I was so embarrassed.
Suddenly, my coach ran up to me and picked me up, yelling, "You did it.
Manuel! Manuel, you finished, son. You finished!" He looked me straight in the
eye waving a piece of paper in his hand. It was my goal for the day, which I had forgotten.
I had given it to him before class. He read it aloud to everyone. It simply said, "I, Manuel
Diotte, will finish the mile run tomorrow, come what may. No pain or frustration will stop me.
For I am more than capable of finishing, and with God as my strength, I will finish."
Signed, Manuel Diotte - with a little smiling face inside the D, as I always sign my name.
My heart lifted. My tears went away and I had a smile on my face as if I had eaten a banana
sideways. My classmates applauded and gave me my first standing ovation. It was then
I realized: Winning isn't always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing.
RAVE REVIEWS:
"Manuel is brilliant, and so handsome, too!" ~Manuel's Mom
"A beautiful book. Full of information and inspiration we all need. You have
learned the lessons of life and are a wonderful teacher."
~Bernie Siegel, MD:
Author - Love, Medicine & Miracles
"Your book, Happiness is a Pair of Shorts, is an
inspirational work of encouragement that would be excellent for anyone facing
challenges in their life, physical, mental or emotional."
~Ed Foreman: Former U.S. Congressman
"Your love of life and of others shines throughout your amazing story. It is no
wonder God chose to keep you on this earth. He filled a void of despair and
darkness with the light of your life."
~Janet Chism: Vice President - AwesomeSpeakers.com
"This book will touch your heart, give you hope and strength and the desire to share it with others."
Mark Victor Hansen:
Co-Creator, #1 New York best-selling series Chicken Soup for the Soul
"This is a wonderful book about an important subject, Inspiring and Helpful."
Nido Qubein: CEO - Creative Services Inc.
"Your story was so touching. You gave me such hope, inspiration, and courage. Thank you!
Your story helped me get through the chemo treatments."
Victoria - Age 16
"Your book was very inspiring to me and my class and my teacher. Everyday she would
read to us and when she finished reading the whole book, we asked her to read us the whole book again!
P.S. Please come to St. Matthews to talk."
Daniel - Age 12
Daniel's letter was accompanied with letters from his entire class.
Manny granted the wish and the event was spectacular!!!!
Philanthropy is an expression of love
and an act kindess. Compassion is
the catalyst and a pure heart is the womb
that allows dreams to be born. It is
knowing the world will breathe easier
because you have lived, smiled upon it,
and spread your goodwill.
Manuel Diotte
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