Thank you so much for all the love, for allthe warm. Thank you all for accepting me. Thank you very much. Well, I always start my talk with some disclaimer. And that disclaimer is that I never claimedto be a motivational speaker. Yes, I do speak. But I feel like a storyteller. Because where ever I go I share a story with everyone. I believe in the power of words. 
Many people speak before they think. But I know the value of words. Words can make you, break you, they can healyour soul, they can damage you forever. So, I always try to use positive words inmy life. Wherever I go, they call it adversity, I callit opportunity. They call it a weakness, I call it strength. They call me to disable, I call myself differentlyable. They see my disability. They see my disability. I see my ability. There are some incidents that happened inyour life. And those incidents are so strong that theychange your DNA. Those incidents and accidents are so strongthat they break you physically. They deform your body but they transform yoursoul. Those incidents break you, deform you butthey mold you into the best version of you. And the same thing happened to me. And I am going to share what exactly happenedto me. I was 18 years old when I got married. I belong to a very conservative family, aBaloch family. My father wanted me to get married and allI said was if that makes you happy, I will say ‘YES’. and of course, it was nevera happy marriage. Just about after 2 years of getting married,about 9 years ago, I met a car accident. Somehow my husband fell asleep and the carfell into the ditch. He managed to jump out, saved himself. I am happy for him. But I stayed inside the car and I sustaina lot of injuries. My right arm was fractured, whist was fractured,shoulder bone and collarbone was fractured. And because of the rib cage injury, lungsand liver were badly injured. I couldn’t breathe. I lost urine control. That’s why I have to wear the bag whereever I go. But that injuries changed me and my life completely. As a person, my perception towards livingmy life was the spine injury. My backbone was completely crushed. And I got paralyzed for the rest of my life. So this accident took place in a far-flungarea of Balochistan where there was no first aid, no hospital, no ambulance. I was in the middle of nowhere. Many people came to rescue. They drag me out of the car. While they were dragging me out I got thecomplete transaction of my spinal cord. And now there was this debate going on, shouldwe keep it here, she is going to die, or where should we go. There was no ambulance. The was one four wheeler jeep standing inthe corner of the street. They said, put her in the back of the jeepand take her to the hospital which is 3 hours away from this place. And I still remember that bumpy ride. I was all broken. They threw me in the back of the jeep andthey rushed me to the hospital. That is where I realized that my half bodywas paralyzed and half body was fractured. I finally ended up in a hospital where I stayedfor two and a half months. I underwent multiple surgeries. Doctors have put a lot of titanium in my armsand there was a lot of titanium on my back to fix my back. That’s why, In Pakistan, people called methe ‘Iron Lady’ of Pakistan. Sometimes I wonder how easy it is for me todescribe all this all over again. And somebody has rightly said that when youshare your story and it doesn’t make you cry, that means you are healing. Those two and a half months, in the hospital,were droughtful. I will not make a story just to inspire you. I was on the verge of dis-pare. One day the doctor came to me, and he said,well I heard that you want to be an artist, but you ended up being a housewife. I have bad news for you. You won’t be able to paint again becauseyour wrist and arm are so deformed. You won’t be able to hold the pen again. And I stayed quiet. Next day, the doctor came to me and said,your spine injury is so bad you won’t be able to walk again. I took a deep breath. And I said it’s alright. Again, Next day the doctor came and said,because of your spine injury and your fixation that you have in your back, you won’t beable to give birth to a child again. That day, I was devastated. I still remember, I ask my mother, why me,and that is where I started to question my existence. Why am I even alive? What’s the point of living? I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t paint, fine. I cannot be a mother and we have this thingin our head being women that we are incomplete without. Having children, I am going to be an incompletewoman for the rest of my life. What’s the point? People are scared that they think I will getdivorced. What is going to happen to me? Why me? Why Am I alive? We all try to chase this tunnel. We all do this. Because we see lights at the end of the tunnelwhich keeps us going. My dear friends, in my situation, there wasa tunnel that I had to roll on but there was no light. And that is where I realized the words havethe power to heal the soul. My mother said to me that this two sell-pass. God has a greater plan for you. I don’t know what it is. But he surely has. And all in that distress and grief, mom’sthose words were so magical that they kept me going. I was trying to put my smile on my face allthe time hiding the pain. It was so hard to hide the pain which wasthere. But all I knew was that I will give up, mymother and brother will give up too. I cannot see them crying with me. So what kept me going was one day I askedmy brother, I know, I have a deformed hand but I am tired of looking at these white wallsin the hospital and wearing this white scraps. I am getting tired of this. I want to add more colors to my life. I want to do something. Bring me some colors, I want to paint. so the very first painting I made was on mydeathbed. It was not just an art piece or not just mypassion. It was my therapy. What an amazing therapy it was. without saying a single word, I could paintmy heart out. I could share my story. People used to come and say, ‘wow, whata lovely painting’. so much color, nobody sees the grief in it. Only I could. So that’s how I spend my two and a halfmonths in the hospital. Lying, never complaining or whining but painting. And then I was discharged. And I went back home. and I realized that I have developed a lotof pressure ulcers on my back, on my hipbone. I was unable to sit. There were a lot of infections all over mybody, a lot of allergies. So Doctor wanted me to lie down on the bedstraight. For not six months, for not 1 year, but fortwo years I was bedridden confined in that one room looking outside the window listeningto the birds chirping and thinking there will be a time when we will be going out with thefamily and enjoying the nature. That was the time, where I realized how luckypeople are but they don’t realize. That is the time where I realized, the dayI going to sit, I am going to share this pain to make them realize how blessed they areand they even don’t consider them lucky. There are always turning points in your life. There was a rebirthday that I celebrated. After two years and two and a half monthswhen I was able to sit in a wheelchair. That was the day where I had the rebirth. I was a completely different person. I still remember the day I sat on the wheelchairfirst time knowing that I am never going to live this, knowing that I am never going towalk for the rest of my life. I saw myself in the mirror. and I talked tomy self. And I still remember what I said. I cannot wait for a miracle to come and makeme walk. I cannot sit in the corner of the room crying,cripping and begging mercy because nobody has time. So, I have to accept my self, the way I am,the sooner the better. So, I applied the lip color for the firsttime. And I erased it. and I cried and I said whatam I doing. A person on a wheelchair should not do this. What will people say? Clean it up. Put it back again. This time I put it to myself. Because I want to feel perfect from within. And that day I decided I am going to a lifeof myself. I am not going to be that perfect person forsomeone. I am just going to take this moment and Iwill make it perfect for myself. And do you know, how we all begin? That day I decided, I am going to fight myfears. We all have fears. Fear of the unknown, fear of known. Fear of losing people. Fear of losing health, money. We want to excel in a career. We want to become famous. We want to get money. We are scared all the time. so I wrote down one by one, all those fears. And I decided I am going to overcome thosefears one at a time. You know what was my biggest fear. Divorce. I couldn’t stand this word. I was trying to cling on this person who didn’twant me anymore. But I said no, I have to make it work. But the day I decided that this is nothingbut my fear. I liberated myself by setting him free. And I made myself emotionally so strong thatthe day I got news that he is getting married, I sent him a text and said, ‘I am so happyfor you’ and wanna wish you all the best. And he knows that I pray for him today. My biggest fear number two was I won’t beable to be a mother again and that was quite devastating for me. But then I realize, there are so many childrenin the world, all they want is the acceptance. So there is no point of crying, just go andadopt one. That’s what I did. I gave my name to different organizations,different orphanages. I didn’t mention, I am on the wheelchair,dying to have a child. so I told then this is Muniba Mazari and shewants to adopt, boy-girl what so ever. But I want to adopt and I waited patiently. Two years later, I got this call from a verysmall city in Pakistan. They said, ‘Are you Muniba Mazari’. There is a baby boy. Would you like to adopt? And When I said ‘Yes’, I could literallyfeel the labor pain. Yes Yes, I am going to adopt him. I am coming to take him home. And when I reached there, the man was sittingthere and he was looking at me from head to toe. Don’t judge me, I am in a wheelchair. You know what he said, ‘I know you willbe the best mother of this child. You both will be lucky to have each other’. And that day, he was two days old and todayhe is six. You will be surprised to know the bigger fearthat I had in me. It was facing people. I used to hide from people. When I was in bed for two years and I usedto keep the doors closed. I used to pretend that I am not going to meetanyone. Tell them I am sleeping. You know why? Because I couldn’t stand that sympathy thatthey had for me. They used to treat me like a patient. When I used to smile, look at me and said,‘You are smiling, are you OK’. I was tired of this question being asked. Are you sick? Well, a lady at the airport asked me, ‘Areyou sick’. And I said, well, besides this spinal cordinjury, I am fine. I guess. Those were really cute questions. They never used to feel cute when I was onthe bed. so I used to hide from people knowing thatOh my god I am not going to see that sympathy on their eyes. It’s all right. Today, I am here speaking to all these amazingpeople. Because I have overcome the fear. You know when you ended up being in the wheelchair,what’s the most painful thing? That’s another fear. People on the wheelchair, who are differentlyable to have their hearts but they never share. I will share that with you. The lack of acceptance. People think that they will not be acceptedby the people because we and the world of perfect people are imperfects. So, I decided instead of starting an INGO,NGO for disabilities awareness which I know will not help anyone, I started to appearmore in public. I started to paint. I always wanted to. I have a lot of exhibitions for Pakistan,I have done a lot of modeling campaign, different campaign for brands like tony and guy. I have done some really funny breaking thebarriers kinds of modelings. There was this one by the name clown townwhere I became a clown because I know that clowns have a heart too. So, when you accept yourself, the way youare, the world recognizes you. It all starts from within. I became the national goodwill ambassadorof UN women, Pakistan. And now I speak for the rights of women andchildren. We talk about inclusion, diversity, genderequality which is a must. I was featured in BBC 100 women for 2015. One of the Forbes 30 under 30 for 2016. And it all didn’t happen alone. You all are thriving in your careers. You have bigger dreams and aspirations inlife. Always remember one thing, on the road tosuccess there is always ‘We’ not ‘Me’. Do not think that you alone can achieve things. No, there is always another person, who isstanding behind you, maybe not coming on the forefront, behind you, supporting you. Never lose that person. Never. No matter how much I say that I couldn’tfind a hero. so I became one. I still want to recognize those three peoplein my life who literally changed my life completely and I get inspiration from them every singleday. The women who believe in me even when I wascompletely on the verge of dis-pare where everybody left, she was there. And every time, I looked at her saying. She used to look at me and said, it’s toosell pass. God has a bigger plan. One day you will say that Oh my God, thatis why God has chosen me. She never cried in front of me. She always said that there will be haters,there will be naysayers, there will be disbelievers and there will be you to proving them wrong. My mother. Whatever I am today, I am nothing withouther. I am nothing without her. Thank you, mama, I wish you were here. Thank you for making me, who I am today. You know, what we human being have a problem. We always expect each from lives. We have this amazing fantasy about life. This is how things should work. This is my plan. It should go as per my plan. If that doesn’t happen, we give up. So my dear friends, let me tell you one thing. I never wanted to be in a wheelchair. Never thought of being in a wheelchair. I was always aspiring to do bigger things. and I had no idea, for that, I have to paythe price to be where I am today. It’s a very heavy price. This life is a test and a trial. Tests are trials. I never supposed to be easy and why you areexpecting each from lives. And life gives you the lemon. and you madethe lemonade. and then do not blame for life for that. Because you were expecting each from a trial. Trial make you a stronger better person. Life is a trial. Every time you realize that. It is OK to be scared. It is OK to cry. Everything is OK. but giving up is not bean option, should not be an option. They always say that failure is not an option. Failure should be an option. When you fail, you get up and then you fail,then you get up, that keeps you going. That’s how humans are strong. A failure is an option. It should be an option. but giving up is not. Never. We have these things in minds. We call it perfection. We want everything perfect. We want our self to be perfect. Perfect life, Perfect relationships, Perfectcareer, Perfect amount of money that we need to earn no matter what. Nothing is perfect in this world. We all are perfectly imperfect. And that is perfectly alright. That’s alright! You were sent here not to become perfect people. Those people who tell you how to look perfecteven those people are imperfect. Trying to fight this fear of looking imperfect. I used to be perfect. I still remember I got this complements, yearsago, when I used to walk. OMG, look at you, you are so fair, you aretall, you are perfect. Look at me now. Only the perfect eyes can see that. Only the perfect eyes will see that. Only the perfect eyes will see that. So, Yes. And all those imperfections you have to listento your hearts. You don’t have to look good for people. You don’t have to be perfect just becauseother people wanted you to be perfect. If your soul is perfect from within. That’s all right! This is all that you want. This is all that you need to be. Our society has made a very weird, very weirdkind of norms to look perfect in grade. For a man, it’s different. For a woman, it’s different. We think too much about what people say. We listen to ourselves too little. You know what makes you perfect. When you make someone smile. You know what makes you perfect when you tryto do something good for the people around you. You know what makes you perfect. when you feel someone’s pain. And how beautiful pain is that it connectswith people. No other medium can connect you other butpain. That’s why I always say I am in pain. That’s a blessing for me. Today, just because I am in pain and I amon the wheelchair, I work for children. Being the head of CSRF of company we conductmedical camps in far-flung areas of Pakistan where so many kids died because there theydon’t have medical facilities. And I personally believe that just becausethey cannot afford to live doesn’t mean that we will let them die. so we give them money, we give them medicaltreatment. We try to heal their wounds. Physical and emotional. And I also work for the beautiful people wecall them third gender. The transgender community of Pakistan. You know, what connects me with them. All my imperfections. When I go and hug them they never judge meand this very good friend of mine. Her name is Bijli. Bijli means electricity. She called herself electricity. And I said are you electricity. She says ‘no’. I am lighting. I am as strong as lightning. I am thunder. I am lightning. She came to me and the first time I hugged she said You are justlike me. And I said I am like you. Because to people, we are so imperfect. So how beautiful these imperfections are. Because of these imperfections, you can connectto people then why are we all running after being perfect. What’s the point? Every time I go in public. I smile. And People asked me, ‘Don’t you get tiredof smiling all the time’ What’s the secret. I always say one thing. I have stopped worrying about the things thatI have lost, people I have lost. Things and people who were meant to be withme are with me. And sometimes somebody’s absence makes youa better person. Cherish their absence. It always a blessing. I always say that people are so lucky thateven they don’t realize, you must be thinking. OK. You are lucky in that sense. Well, the breath you just took now was a blessing. Embraces it. There are so many people in the world whoare dreaming to live a life that you are living right now. You have no idea. Embraces each and every breath you are taking. Celebrate your life. Live it. Don’t die before your death. We all die. We live this one routine of the day for 75years and we call it life. No that’s not life. If you are still thinking about why you havebeen sent here. If you are still juggling with the conceptof why you are here, you haven’t lived yet. You work hard. You make money. You do it for yourself. That’s not life. You go out and seek for people who need yourhelp. You make their lives better. You add colors to their lives, you add valuesto their lives. You become that sponge which removes all negativity. You can become that person who can emit beautifulpositive vibes and when you realize that you have changed someone’s life. And Because of you, this person didn’t giveup. That is the day, when you live, Always. We were talking about gratitude. Why I smile all the time. I cry all night when nobody sees me. Because I am a human and I have to keep thebalance. And I smiled all day because I know that ifI smile I can make people smile, that keeps me going. Be grateful, what you have. And you will always always always ended upwith having more. But if you will cry, if you will crip forthe little things that you don’t have or the things you have lost. You will never ever have enough. Sometimes we are too busy thinking about thethings that we don’t have. Forget. Cherish the blessings that we have. I am not saying that I am not healthy thatmakes me unlucky. But Yes, it is hard.
It is hard when I say I can’t walk. It’s hard when I say I have to wear that bag. It hurts. but I have to keep going. Because never giving up is the way to live. Always. So well, end my talk, on a very short note. Live your life fully. Accept the way you are. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to yourself. I will repeat, Be kind to yourself. and then only we can be kind to others. Love your self. Spread that love. Life will be hard. There will be turmoil, there will be trials. But that will only make you stronger. Never give up. The real happiness does not lie in money orsuccess or fame. I have all this and I have never wanted this. Real happiness lies in gratitude. So be grateful and be alive and live in everymoment. Thank you so much, everyone
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