“Do you need help?” My spouse will call this out from the next room when I am grumbling about my latest technology glitch. Why is it so hard to ask for assistance? I am married to an engineer and computer science teacher for heaven’s sake! And how do we know Continue Reading
Pain recovery
Finding an Open Door
When losing a job, people will sometimes say, “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” This is a common phrase that many people assume is biblical in nature, but Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, first coined a version of the phrase. On the flip side, many Continue Reading
Dream Dashers and Hope Restorers
How do you react to people squelching your dreams or selling you short? Does this make you dig your heels deeper to prove them wrong, or surrender to low expectations? Balancing Potential and Goals A former colleague of mine, Jeff Atkinson, dug deeper. We both worked in thankless jobs at Continue Reading
Conquering Mountains
We all have a mountain to climb. For some, it is the simple goal of getting up and making it through the day without physical or emotional pain. Somehow we find a way past a devastating injury, the death of a loved one or a difficult divorce. Whatever the hurdle, Continue Reading
The Perils of Perfectionism
Had you ever had moments where you faced a challenge and your attempts to resolve it perfectly led to a bigger quandary? We all have moments that cry for a do-over, but those of us with sensitive nervous systems must try even harder to reign in our reactions and keep Continue Reading
Seizing the Moment
Step into the Spotlight “Please excuse me if I stutter, I’ve never done anything like this before,” Joy warned the audience. My suspense mounted as she carefully navigated her stylish heels onto a stage in front of a hundred people. I watched, slack-jawed, as the words to This is Me filled the Continue Reading
Strength in Community
What inspires cyclists to race thousands of kilometers in the Tour de France? Many of them don’t even reach the finish line—their role is simply to help their team’s strongest cyclist win a stage, and earn the coveted yellow jersey. Success is measured by how well they contribute their unique Continue Reading
The Power of Hope
As my anniversary of a life-changing surgical complication approaches, I wanted to share the background of what led me to write about my journey with pain and the ultimate gains that resulted. It is my desire to pass on the hope that others once gave to me. But first, I Continue Reading