Columns

I looked around and grinned. Our individual values are upheld by the people with whom we surround ourselves, and that made it incredible to be there. The corner office on the 20th floor of a building in downtown Philly was a far cry from home. The…

I recently wrote a column about trying something new, and I challenged readers and myself to get out of our comfort zones. I’ve been trying many new things lately. Well, not brand new things, but things I haven’t…

Being a writer without the ability to write is a conundrum. I think about it often, especially when I write these columns. I never realized how much I wrote until that ability was slowly taken away. When I was younger, I loved to write. I would use every colored…

Marriage is wonderful, but it comes with challenges. When one partner has Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), the challenges may be overwhelming. Now imagine the second partner also lives with a chronic illness. My husband, Justin, has Fabry disease. Like FA, Fabry is a rare genetic disorder. It results in a…

Before I knew it, I was face down on the tiled floor. When I started to fall forward, seated in the handicapped-accessible shower, my arms made a last-ditch effort to grab onto the bench.  This plan failed. Without my arms to impede my crash, my forehead…

I’ve been thinking about the “bare minimum” in the context of guest or customer service. Many companies would argue that their success, or a healthy amount of it, is due to the extraordinary service they provide their patrons. This makes sense. In a world of plenty…

We made it! A new decade is here, and the atmosphere seems a little fresher. For now, at least. I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and spent them however you wanted to, with or without family. My previous columns about the new year consisted of sharing my plans for…

Many people aren’t aware of how sensitive people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) can be about using a mobility aid. I struggle with feeling like a “minority” in society by standing out and looking different, so when people throw out negative words and actions, I feel awful about…

I was grateful to be around my large extended family at our yearly Christmas party. Zeego, unleashed in the huge building where the festivities took place, sniffed beneath the rows of white plastic tables. I had hoped that he would bring some holiday…

The start of a new year always seems to bring new goals and commitments. I’m sure you’ve thought about a thing or two, or have created a long list of resolutions for 2020. Whether we’re talking about specific actions such as exercising three times a week, or vague…

It’s the end of a decade and the beginning of a new year. At this time, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and set our goals for the year ahead. In the past, I have made resolutions that weren’t realistic or achievable; whether it was losing a lot…

Happy New Year! I hope all my readers had a great holiday with their loved ones and are ready for 2020. I had three main goals for 2019 regarding the progression of my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA): accept help when needed; know that my disease is in…