Category Archives: Positivity

Do What Makes YOU Happy

Last Friday some coworkers and I were talking about the fun things we had planned for the long weekend and they laughed when I started listing things I was excited about accomplishing with the extra day off work.  The one that particularly got them was that I was excited to finally have time to draft some waiversContinueContinue reading “Do What Makes YOU Happy”

3 Life Lessons I Learned in the Saddle

While swimming this past Friday evening, I got to thinking about the lessons I’ve learned from horseback riding and triathlon and how those lessons have a broader application to daily life.  Here are 3 of the lessons I learned in the saddle – either on the back of a horse or on a bike or bothContinueContinue reading “3 Life Lessons I Learned in the Saddle”

Giving Thanks for a Tough Year

I feel like 2016 has had me constantly fighting to get off the struggle bus, mostly because this year has thrown quite a few monkey wrenches at me, including an accident that totaled my car in January, a month-long bout of bronchitis in March that had linger effects, and a broken rib from a bikeContinueContinue reading “Giving Thanks for a Tough Year”

Meeting Saule

Every now and then, I meet someone and immediately know they are going to have a positive impact on my life.  That happened to me when I met Saule this summer.  Saule is a young girl who lives in Kazakhstan.  She was given up by her birth parents because she has disabilities, so she’s grownContinueContinue reading “Meeting Saule”

Having a Sense of Humor

“A person has two legs and one sense of humor, and if you’re faced with the choice, it’s better to lose a leg.”  ~ Charles Lindner This has been one of my all-time favorite quotes since I first discovered it in high school.  I even wrote it out on a piece of paper, decorated theContinueContinue reading “Having a Sense of Humor”

Interview with My Mom

This evening I interviewed my mom over the phone (she lives in Spokane, WA) about her experience being the parent of a child with fibular hemimelia.  Here’s what she had to say… What was it like when you first found out that I had fibular hemimelia?  When was that? Unlike today, they only did ultrasoundsContinueContinue reading “Interview with My Mom”

The Impact of Limb Loss on My Life

This week I was contacted by a young mother about my life as a woman with a limb difference – here is her message: “Hey!  I’ve been following some of the fibular hemimelia groups online and came across your blog.  I’m currently pregnant with my first baby and she was diagnosed with FH in herContinueContinue reading “The Impact of Limb Loss on My Life”

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

Being perceived as a strong and independent woman is something I have always clung to as very important in my life, even when I was a child.  I don’t know if it’s something inherent or something I acquired as a kid growing up with a disability, but regardless of the genesis, it’s something I recognizeContinueContinue reading “It’s Okay to Ask for Help”

Celebrating Your Own Journey

I’ve come an extremely long way in my training and racing over the past three years, but I still struggle to truly appreciate and celebrate what my body is capable of doing.  Even after covering 70.3 miles in a single day using nothing but my own physical power, it’s still so easy to discount myContinueContinue reading “Celebrating Your Own Journey”

The Amputee Athlete’s Additional Logistical Considerations

Logistics are something every triathlete must consider, and there are additional potential considerations for me as an amputee.  This post is meant to be educational for amputees new to triathlon so they will get a little glimpse into the additional things I consider prior to race day.  I don’t intend to address all the logisticsContinueContinue reading “The Amputee Athlete’s Additional Logistical Considerations”

Starting Up!

I’m diving into the world of blogging because when I was first starting to do triathlons, I wasn’t able to find a lot of information about the ins and outs of doing a triathlon as an amputee online.  Luckily, I had friends I could turn to, but not everyone has that luxury.  My basic ideaContinueContinue reading “Starting Up!”