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The 3 Lines in ‘Doctor Strange’ That Floored Me as Someone With PTSD
The Thief of my Freedom & Dignity
I remember the exact day freedom was taken from me, perhaps never to return. I will never forget the sense of loss in that moment, when I came face to face with the reality of my illness. I have a seizure disorder, but until this particular moment in August 2012, I mistakenly believed life could …
Brittany Maynard Isn’t Brave, But These People Are
She is being heralded as brave for making this choice, and for publicizing it weeks in advance. But she isn’t brave. Don’t misunderstand me. I am not jumping into the fray with my opinion on whether physician-assisted suicide for terminal cases should be legal, or whether it’s ethical, or even if …
Did we overcome and shall we now thrive
On the very first day of the year, I made a declaration: I will not be overcome any circumstance, no matter how much it just plain sucks I was speaking of my seizures, and I made a promise to myself and to you that I would not be the victim of my condition any longer. Even if nothing changed in …
When A Train Stop Is More Than Just a Train Stop
My train stop on Halloween was more than a train stop. Maybe it could have been just a train stop under different circumstances. Perhaps it would have held far less meaning if my bus home wasn’t leaving right when I got off the train. I bet if my kids weren’t waiting at home for me to go …
Three Things We Always Control
We all have control issues – we want to be in control of everything. So much so that when we face a circumstance we cannot control, we experience anger or resentment or feel trapped. And yet, we are not helpless before any circumstance. We have so many choices still within our grasp. We Own our …
You are Never Alone
Today, I am sharing part two of Joanne's story. Part One is here. Her story is one of triumph and faith through crazy disasters. She is truly one of my heroes. I am so excited to share her story. Be sure to read her story in her own words here. There are no easy answers on how to stay steadfast in …
The Biggest Brightest Star of Hope I’ve Ever Met
This week I am sharing snippets from a year in the life of one of my friends Joanne. Her story is one of triumph and faith through crazy disasters. She is truly one of my heroes. I am so excited to share her story. Be sure to read her story in her own words here. Joanne is one of the most carefree …
The Weight of HERE
Sometimes the weight of here is just too much. The burden of the moment nearly breaks my back. I cry up in confusion and anger to my God, “WHY? Have I offended you? Do you love me this little? Where are you in this moment, here, right now?” My here is overwhelming right now, as I write at 3:47 am …
I’m Writing a Book
A lot has happened in my life, from an abusive father to drug abusing family members to epilepsy and more. Plenty of reasons to be a Debbie Downer, losing faith in God or being angry all the time. For reasons I am honestly still figuring out, I am able to still stay engaged in my faith on most days. …
Epilepsy and Guilt
Everyone in my family feels guilty because of my epilepsy. Often the first thing I hear from someone once I begin to recover from a seizure is, “I’m sorry.” They apologize for not catching me in time when I fall. For not noticing more quickly I was seizing. For the embarrassment I must feel over the …