Risking To Live
The View From Dreamworld
Did you know that the boundaries between dreaming and consciousness are broken down in the brains of people with narcolepsy? I experience my night dreams as real as reality. So during the day, I chase down my life dreams. Current dreams I’m chasing: the steepest road race in America and my memoir. Is it selfish…
Read MoreLegs on Fire: Starting My Training for Mt Washington Road Race
Exciting update: I’ve received an official registration to run the Mt. Washington Road Race in my Father’s honor! The CEO of Northeast Delta Dental (the event sponsor) got word of my quest and contacted me to offer a complimentary registration. Turns out, a friend in the narcolepsy community tweeted about my quest and…
Read MoreFlygirl Takes On Flying Trapeze Despite Cataplexy
“Right hand on bar, toes over edge, left hand on bar… Left hand… Julie?” I am 23 feet above ground, on a small platform with the friendly trapeze man, Chad, pulling my harness/corset backward as I lean forward over the edge. Below – a net and a few miniature smiling faces. I’m supposed to…
Read MoreIn My Father’s Footsteps: Trying to Find Registration for Mt Washington Road Race to run in my father’s honor on Father’s Day for charity
What do you do on Father’s Day the year your father dies? I’m 28 years old, and 40 years ago this Father’s day, my father was 28 years old, and he ran the Mount Washington Road Race. The Mount Washington Road Race is 7.6 miles uphill race to the summit of Mt. Washington climbing more than…
Read MoreClimbing onto the Tightrope
“Life should be lived on the edge of life. You have to exercise rebellion: to refuse to tape yourself to rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge – and then you are going to live your life on a…
Read MoreCrow Pose: To Risk Falling On Your Nose
A crow is a large garbage-eating bird with a loud cry. It is also inverted balancing yoga pose in which you prop your thighs against armpits, squeeze abs tight, hinge forward and pray not to nose-dive! Over the past 6 months of practicing yoga, my reaction to crow pose has been consistent: “Oh…
Read MoreSAY IT LOUD: I’m a Person with Narcolepsy and I’m Proud!
“I really don’t care what people think…I just do my own thing… I like being loud and letting people know I’m here.” -James Brown We should all do our own thing and not care what others think, but easier said than done. How do we ignore judgement? How do we celebrate the things,…
Read MoreTaking Risks & Discovering Nia
“One hour of life, crowded to the full with glorious action, and filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances of paltry decorum.” – Sir Walter Scott Photograph provided by Nia Technique (www.nianow.com). Out of Habit: Like most mornings, I awoke a creature of habit. I had no intention of stepping out…
Read MoreAdventures of the Sleepy Yogi: Starting Summer with 21 Days of Yoga
If YOGA came in a pill, I’d definitely take it. Who wouldn’t want the benefits of improved sleep, better mood and overall well-being? Side effects include: better flexibility, strength, weight-management and general physical fitness. But yoga doesn’t come in a pill. It comes on a mat. And for me, it’s hard work. When…
Read MoreRain Showers Bring Energizing Powers
Rain makes me drowsy. On rainy days, all I want to do is curl up with a book and fall asleep. So when yesterday’s weather report called for torrential downpours, hail, high winds and lightening – I thought, “Hurray, I don’t have to go running.” Rainstorms aren’t for runners, or are they? I went…
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