Columns

Avoid Mental Potholes While Navigating Your Life

In my last column, I shared how I’m always on alert for speed bumps as I travel down life’s highway, while living with ALS. These are the metaphorical unknowns that pop up, and challenge my resilience and positive mindset. But in addition to speed bumps, it’s the mental potholes that…

How to Have a Positive Mindset While Living with ALS

I have a good friend who also lives with a life-threatening illness; mine is ALS, her’s is cancer. Recently we visited, and I asked how things were going. Smiling broadly, she replied, “Oh, I’m still just one banana peel away from dropping the other shoe! So, hide the bananas!” We…

Meet Me for Dinner! Dining Out with ALS

“How about we try that new place that just opened up near the mall?”  I knew my husband was referring to the new restaurant in town. In the old days, I’d simply agree and that would be that. But now, living with ALS, I’ve learned a thing or two about…

Surviving the Dentist with the New Normal of ALS

Living with ALS means learning to live with a whole new normal. For example, before ALS, my old normal included diligently following recommended guidelines for annual health screening, such as monitoring bone density. This test (thanks to modern technology) is a simple x-ray of the lower spine and hips in…