4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
4 years. 4 years ago my life flipped upside down. Everyday I think about what a gift it would be to call for a mulligan on October 11th, 2017. . . . It’s wild to reflect on events and people in your life that brought you tears during the moment of opportunity and experience. It’s absurd when those same things, looking back, bring you to tears knowing that they are now gone, never to be had again. . . . With loss a piece of your heart dims. Spinal Cord Injury is a loss of yourself. These people pictured have also been hard losses in my life. With each loss, I have learned more about myself, my heart and my mind. Reactions vs responses. I also have learned a lot about others—- their distance, their fear, their pain and suffering. . . . For me, the pain, stigma, shame and day-to-day effort isn’t a life that I would choose for anyone. . . . Unlike many of my friends and loves, I am still here. So, I wake up everyday. I pull my flattened bum out of bed and flop into my wheelchair. I work my ass off to find a smile, get my heart rate up outside and continue the personal emotional growth—- to be kind, more patient, compassionate to the experiences of others and myself. The work continues whether I like it or not. . . . 4 years of reflecting. 4 years of trying harder then any damn big wall or ultra run. A lifetime ahead sounds exhausting, lonely AND yet I am not gonna just let it pass me by. I still have so much shit to do and love to give—- to myself and others. #heartofgratitude . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
Boundaries. . . Setting them emotionally. Pushing them physically. Challenging them mentally. . . . Spinal cord injury and pandemic have partnered with exponential veracity, further exposing personal needs with strong emotional backing. . . . Do we share our physical accomplishments because culturally they feed our ego, impress others, are an easy “I am vulnerable-sharing” grasp?” #feignrelatable. Yes. . . . Does my spinal cord injury #disability mean inherent social distancing because others are uncertain, uneducated or immature in how to “deal/manage” a wheelchair “bound” person and therefore non-communicative and distant? —FYI correct nomenclature is person first #notconfined #notbound Yes. . . . Is the pandemic exhausting us? Yes. Is it socially distancing us physically? Yes. And emotionally? Yea. . . . To me, and many, the two experiences share akin feeling of loss, hardship, grief, frustration, misunderstanding, miseducation, uncertainty and much more …. . . . Is social media mimicking a dopamine release of personal connection in crucial time of need and simultaneously spiraling us into bad-ill-connection? Yes. . . . When we share our emotional work, why does it feel judged, tiring to others, misplaced (like blank “I am sorrys or god bless”) or reaching? . . . Do you have an appropriate outlet beyond a screen? More important, how can we shift a trend away from the scrolling screens to #humanconnection #touch #eyes #faces #writingletters #pickupthephone . #growth #thegiftthatkeepsongiving . . . . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #wilderness
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
How it all started 👉🏼how it’s going. . . . I adore this lady. Our adventures were and continue to be amazing. From our first ever climb together on #elcapitan a partnership beyond imagination was created. The support, love and caring that @ljsauter generously dotes out even in the hardest of times is a gift of all gifts. The journey of climbing and running up and across 🏔 mountains and 🌵 deserts —-pales in comparison to the emotional scape—our heads and our hearts, the laughs and the tears. . . . #friendship #gratitude 1- on top of El Cap after our first time roping up together, 8 hours or so of climbing on the Nose. 2014 2- seriously sussing our strategies on Touchstone Wall. 2016 3- in the throes of gear checking during our successful 4 walls-in-a-day in #zionnationalpark 4- climbing under the great roof #yosemitenationalpark 5- Libby chasing or pushing me, prepping for long ass running adventures. 6- Libby birthday climb with @josie_mckee_ just a few days before my big digger. 2017. 7- first time outside after the fall. 2017. 8- freshly fancy, @americanalpine dinner. 2018. 9- return to Zion different adventures, same love. 2019. 10- different helmets, stronger friendship. 2021. . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #wilderness #disability
Oh shit!!!!! Forgot to squeeze the last #sciawarenessmonth post before October. . . . Where did we leave off with 💩?! Fingering out the specifics…..literally. . . . As mentioned in last post, there are 4 methods to assist our stubborn lack of signaling from the brain to our balloon knot gate keeper; manual removal (bearing down-pushing etc), digital stimulation (sticking a finger thru the stinky freckle to stimulate pooping and/or finger it out) , suppository (push magic bullet thru rusty Cheerio. Wait 20 minutes or more for bowel & intestines to react and hopefully poop), and/or mini-enema (faster working version of a suppository, insurance rarely covers). . . . Some of us sit in the porcelain office for 10 minutes, others for 2 hours or more. Some of us with less finger dexterity—or none use special tools or personal care attendants. This process, to me, was humiliating at first. It still can be even now on camping trips or sharing a hotel room. Sitting on the toilet for extended times, sticking a finger in my ass, #rubbergloves the uncertainty if poop is not interested in the swimming pool below. If not, would I then have an accident later in the day! #rememeberihavenosenseofsmell #spinalcorsinjurymeanslossofsensationtoo . . . The most important part of not feeling our bowels, the crossed-up or dead wire aka Spinal Cord and last nights 🥃 doing its work is creating a poop routine. Like every morning or every night. Some do their poop routine every other day due to the time consuming nature of the routine. . . . Now you know! Spinal Cord Injury is the gift that keeps on giving! 🤩😤🤡. Cheers!!! . . {image description: a brown haired Caucasia woman sits in her wheelchair. She looks excited, holding up a clear bag filled with urine in one hand, and in the other a clear Playtypus bag of white wine. 🤷🏼♀️#annashut . . . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability
Science day! 🦢 & 🐝 😀 . . Sex. Yes disabled people have it. Yes, disabled people enjoy it, desire it, are good at it, enjoyable to do it with. Most I would suggest are even kings and queens at it —- a byproduct to be open with communication, desires, adaptations and needs. #intimacy . . . It might feel different to us or require a few more props—- but honestly everyone has their hang-ups and their fetishes behind closed doors. Is being disabled really that different? #judgement . . . Babies. Yes those can still happen to. Via all the fancy and helpful ways that every other human deals with. From infertility, to dryness, needing help with erections, c-sections, natural birthing and surrogacy …the list goes on. . . . Disability can deepen the challenge at times but again, parenting is freaking tough for everyone. #normalize . . . The more you know, the more we all know! Questions? Ask away. #dontberude . . . . . . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #wilderness #babies #pregnancy #disability #education
Tipping points. The hand cycle has one. So do we. #graceland . . . The last 4 years have opened my eyes to many things; self respect, judgement, anger, depression, love, longing, loneliness, freedoms, friendships, expectations and the evolving layers of every single one of those—-and many more. OH, and acceptance! . . . Andrew Barnes words ebb and flow in time “live with a heart of gratitude.” Some days I can do that, feeling good and fulfilling. Other days gratitude seems ridiculous. I am a failure and those around me disappoint. . . . While the sun 🌞 sets, the moon 🌚 is rising. With each revolution the nerve pain is mild and strong. The friendships are close and far. The love for self is strong and questionable. This body is beautiful and horrific. The mind is welcoming and resistant. . . . The sun continues to rise and so does the moon. Without each other we wouldn’t appreciate them individually for their unique gifts. #cornysundaythoughts. . . . . . I am grateful for the changing seasons. I am grateful for the experiences and community that surround me. . . #climbing #rockclimbing #enduranceathlete #skiing #mountains #mountainbiking #trailrunning #running #roadbiking #crossfit #yoga #paragliding #outdoors #athlete #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordresearch #paralyzed #medicine #walking #peeing #protectpubliclands #nationalparks #summitsforall #wilderness #disability #moretrailsclosetohome
