Look to Those Who Inspire

We live in a time that offers easily accessible information of all kinds regarding illnesses and disabilities. We can connect with people all over the world on the Internet, even people who have walked in our shoes who might offer a different perspective. That's why it's important to know who we can connect with that will boost our own wellbeing.

Through the Internet, I just met Janet Cromer, author of Professor Cromer Learns to Read, a story of love and commitment in the most difficult of times. I came away amazed at the intelligent strategies she used to deal with her husband's brain injury, dementia, and parkinson's disease as she cared for him at home. Her story is complex, as many of our stories are; it's deeply tragic, yet shining with moments of pure joy and revelation.

And through a small blurb in Time Magazine (Feb. 12, 2012 issue), I learned that professional skier, Jill Kinmont Booth, a U.S. champion skier in 1955, has recently passed away at age 75. Jill broke her neck during a race, and was paralyzed, yet she learned to use her neck and shoulder muscles to write, paint and study. She was a teacher for thirty years. Her quote says it all, "To get mad...doesn't get you anywhere. You sort of look for what's good that's left." These are wise
words we can soak up and use to push forward.
Happy hunting in your search for inspiration, it flows all around us, waiting for us to take notice.