Writing Through Illness

Flight.

In a single moment, with a single jump, you suspend in the air. Putting life on pause for one, joyful, split second, only to moments later land safely back on your two feet, either lifting off again or climbing down to solid ground.

But when something unexpected double-bounces you off life’s trampoline, suddenly, the suspension of reality feels less free and more threatening. The landing pad looks less even and more unsteady. The fall becomes fearful and threatening. And the next few moments, days, months, and years…uncertain.

We’ve all had those moments — a shocking diagnosis, the discovery of a lump, the loss of a loved one, a life with a chronic illness. We’ve all felt the jolt of the double bounce and the struggle for a steady state. We’ve all felt alone and scared, weak and wilted, changed and converted. And we all have the chance to use those experiences to take flight once again.

This is Writing Through Illness.

An opportunity to bring meaning to those double-bounce challenges and turn life-altering moments into life-changing messages. It is a course I am offering through Stanford Continuing Studies this April (yes, two weeks away) in which we turn lemons into lemonade and then turn that lemonade into powerful pieces of writing that will in inspire and encourage and catch others as they free fall.

This is the time to tell your story so that, when someone else flies off their expected path, they can just keep flying.

So I’ll keep it short and simple for now: please pass this information forward. To your support group, doctor, favorite health organization, and Zumba class. Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, and your work’s water cooler. To young people, wise people, medical professionals, grant writers, caretakers, health warriors, and novices. Because you never know what obstacles people have faced or are currently facing. You never know who this class will empower and touch. You never know what stories need to take flight.

Registration information can be found here: https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/course.php?cid=20123_PDV+26

And thank you in advance for passing it forward.

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