When You Jump To Conclusions

I have this terrible tendency to form on-the-spot judgments. I don’t always engage with grace and an open mind before instantly staking out a position. I believe that’s what they call “being judgmental.” A while back we met a young, energetic leader. In the course of our conversation he made what seemed to be a curious […]

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How A Dog Starts Conversations

“That’s a great-looking dog.” You’d be amazed at how many conversations begin like that. So we talked a bit about Labrador Retrievers and dog hair, but this guy in the hotel lobby had deeper questions. It wasn’t long before he asked about the wheelchair, my injury, and the recovery process. He wanted to know about […]

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Responsibility

HAPPY MONDAY!  One particular audience got me thinking about today’s word-of-the-week… RESPONSIBILITY Becky asked how I felt after speaking to a group of men at a county detention center. I realized I felt a huge sense of responsibility. My response surprised me, but as I reflected it made more sense. I spoke to guys desperate […]

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A Familiar Figure In An Orange Jump Suit

Do you REALLY believe what you believe? Today I’ll speak to a group of inmates at the Marathon County Detention Center. Yesterday we talked to kids at the Juvenile Detention Center. I’ve addressed similar audiences before, and each time I experience the same haunting impressions. In June, 2009, I shared these thoughts. # # # As […]

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Can You Laugh At Yourself?

I spoke yesterday at a Rehab Celebration at Gunderson Medical Center in La Crosse. I talked about community, because rehab and recovery aren’t individual efforts. Like most meaningful parts of life, rehab happens in community. I offered three stories, including one I don’t share often. I thought you might appreciate a giggle wrapped around an […]

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Where Was The Tipping Point?

Yesterday I spoke to a group of leaders at Dynamic Recycling in La Crosse. During Q&A time, we heard a great question. “On your Mississippi River trip, where was the tipping point? Where was the point when you knew you’d make it?” Interesting notion—where’s the tipping point? Where’s that instant where impossible transforms to inevitable? When […]

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Hope Described

Hope … Knows there’s light when all that’s visible is darkness. Believes in possibility when confronted by impossibility. Expects order to emerge from chaos. Reaches out in the presence of isolation. Seeks joy when surrounded by despair. Accepts freedom even when buried by guilt. Moves forward despite fear. Perceives a remarkable future beyond the immediate […]

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