In Asian culture, it’s important to take your shoes off before entering a house. It’s a sign of respect. When visiting friends for dinner parties or any kind of gathering, you can almost always find a corner near the doorway where shoes congregate.
I had a conversation with someone recently about the positive things we were grateful for in the past year. Perhaps it is a typical topic of discussion this season. However, this year hasn’t felt like a normal year for me, and I know many others feel the same.
I was looking at some Christmas decorations at a store the other day, a set of oversized, faux gift-wrapped boxes complete with bows and lights. And they reminded me of something I had heard before about disabilities, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT): For those of us affected by disability, we can…
My Chinese professor in college once told my class that according to popular belief, a person who hasn’t been to the Great Wall of China cannot yet call himself a man (or woman). When I was…
A few months ago, because I’m on its mailing list, I received an email from the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation highlighting an opportunity to audition for a role in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The casting call described a need for a woman in her…
The trees in North Carolina are beautiful right now. I don’t even mind running into traffic during my commute to work these days. The trees that line the route are gorgeous draped in their autumn colors. But seeing nature’s beauty from the vantage of a car…
It’s the reason I wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Charcot-Marie-Tooth” to begin with: to spread awareness and to encourage questions. But when I heard a voice behind me ask about CMT while I was standing…
Many folks are familiar with the saying that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a nice expression that refers to the fact that unfortunate circumstances are often temporary. But author and retired Navy SEAL David Goggins writes in his book, “Can’t Hurt…
I never considered myself high-strung or irritable until I entered a spa for the first time last weekend. The employees spoke in such hushed and relaxed tones that I felt hyperactive and tense by comparison. I was there for a float therapy…
I last sat on my piano bench over a year ago. For most of the past year, I had been neglecting the bench’s original purpose by stacking library books and old notes on it. But a few days ago, I decided to clear it off, and ended up…
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