A few months later my brain let me know that it has secretly been in counselling and had come to terms with the whole “eye cutting” thing. It said that if I really wanted the surgery, it would support me by not inducing vomiting everytime I thought of it. Thanks, brain!
Finding Redemption
When Mary Black Bonnet was 17, she was raped. Today, she looks back at that young girl who felt so alone and unheard, and with the power of writing, she documents her journey from helplessness to healing.
The Only True Disability is a Crushed Spirit: Aimee Mullens on TED
As the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games open in Vancouver, Life As A Human is proud to feature athlete Aimee Mullins’ talk at TED about embracing adversity. American Aimee Mullins is a record-breaking Paralympic athlete (breaking sprinting records in 1996) who was born without fibular bones. As a result both her legs were amputated below the […]
The Beauty of Sports Trumps the Need to Win
The Olympic men’s hockey final game gave sports fans, and the occasional viewer, something new to think about. It could have gone either way. Team Canada players could have been the ones staring up at the crowds like pole-axed oxen.
How David Blaine Held His Breath for 17 Minutes…and Why
How does a human being hold his breath for 17 minutes…and why would he even bother? Stuntman and magician David Blaine offers a personal glimpse into his mind and methods in this compelling TEDMED video.
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream: How Much Sleep Do Humans Really Need?
Many of us don’t get enough sleep, while others get too much. Spurred on by her family’s sleep patterns, Heather Vale Goss investigates how much sleep is enough for optimal health.
Resonance
I feel vibrations in my feet when I stand on the stairs, after I’ve come in from a run on a weekend morning. I like to think it is the past residents of this old building buzzing through the place; I close my eyes and imagine they are leaving impressions of their lives. I trust […]
The Comfort and Chill: E.B. White and the iPad
New technologies like the iPad will change the way readers read, and the way writers write. Yet there is still great value in placing ourselves in the hands of masterful writers who understand the organic unfolding of story.
Sparring with the GIRRRL in the Mirror
I make eye contact with the girl in the mirror — yes, she feels like a GIRRRL! — as I aim for her face with each punch. She glares back at me, looking really tough.
Being at the Olympics (And Yes, I’m a Fan!)
Okay, yes, I’m an Olympic fan in the midst of the two-week event that brings the world together. Despite the worries, financial concerns, protests, and naysayers, I’m having a great time.