I promised a few posts ago I would answer the question, “Why did it take you so long” when Daniel asked me about using a cane. You see the same behavior in other situations: Widows who can’t clean out their husband’s clothes after 20 years, the woman who’d been laid off for several years who […]
“Why Did It Take You So Long?” Read More »
Being deaf in my right ear makes for some socially awkward moments. They often occur on airplanes, especially if I’m sitting on the left side of the airplane. Planes, even before takeoff, have plenty of background noise, so I often don’t hear people talking to me. I figure if I’ve stowed my stuff and have
Another Socially Awkward Moment: Help Please Read More »
It took me a while to acknowledge that my vertigo was bad enough that I needed a cane to leave the house. In fact, I had a bad fall in May 2010 that cost 7 hours in the ER with Esther. That’s true friendship. Six weeks later, I met Daniel Steinberg, my editor for two
Embracing Life With A Cane Read More »
I’m in NYC at a client and was out for dinner last night with a friend and colleague. My vertigo is much worse at night, so as we were walking back to the hotel, I said, “I may need help walking.” Well, if that wasn’t they most wimpy way to ask for help, I don’t
Still Learning How to Ask for Help Read More »
One of Yves’ comments got me thinking about asking for help vs. when I get help inflicted on me. As a handicapped person (!), I use a cane now. I find it helpful to have a third leg, so I don’t lose my balance. And, it often means that people hold doors for me. Sometimes,
Inflicting Help vs. Asking for Help Read More »
Asking for help is key to living an adaptable life, and boy, it’s a tough one for me. I’m getting a lot better at it. I was in Belgium last week, transferring through Heathrow to and from Brussels. On a good vertigo day, I can do slow-to-medium speed up-escalators. Down-escalators are difficult under almost any
Learn How to Ask for Help Read More »
When I first was coping with my sudden hearing loss, I had a number of conferences. I thought I was coping really well. I was trying to take care of myself, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, trying to eat properly. I gave my talks, carefully walking from my room to the conference rooms and
All Elevators Arrive on the Left Read More »
I have to admit. I was (still am?) the obnoxious person who argued for the change in that feature because it “was the right thing to do.” Or that we should do things this way because it was more efficient. I still tell my husband to go this way because it’s faster. When Esther drives
“Don’t Care So Much” Doesn’t Help Me Read More »
It’s funny. In my consulting work, I meet a lot of people who think that change never happens in their organizations. Or they say, “Only death and taxes are sure things.” But I know that change is the only sure thing in life. We change from the time we are born until we die. Sometimes—indeed,
Change is Inevitable Read More »
We’re all adaptable for the small things in life. If the grocery store is out of something, we substitute or make something else for dinner. If a road is blocked, we take detour or turn around and go another way. If the shirt we thought we thought we wanted to wear is dirty, we wear
Becoming More Adaptable Read More »