Smelting

Okay I wasn’t even sure ‘smelting’ is a real word. Every time I write it my spell check puts a bright red line underneath to remind me that it is not a word; course I was spelling it with an extra letter. In the Urban dictionary it has a million definitions many of which are very, well letʼs just say theyʼre very…..

But itʼs my word and so in my mind I can spell it anyway I want and I can define it any way I like. Just to be precise, I will spell it without the ʻhʼ. Even though I like it better that way.  
 
Not to be confused with “smelt” as in: “He has the personality of a dead smelt”, to me smelting is one of those great words that rolls off the tongue like gargoyle and pergola.  
 
Smelting – the act of melting down metal to make something new. To re- purpose something out of date but of value. Example: I smelted my wedding band and engagement ring. It was cathartic!  
 
Three years ago when gold was at an all time high, I scoured my jewelry box, sock drawer, childhood memorabilia collection and sought out remnants of gold. The backs of old earrings, gold chains given by some eighth grade beau, something I think a great aunt left behind (although it turned out to be fake….shh donʼt tell Mom) and re-purposed all those lovely but out of date items into something new, something of value. It felt good.
 
It felt right because I was not discarding these bits and pieces of my past, I was reworking them. I was acknowledging their value, their memories and re-purposing them into a new memory.

So now, today Dec. 10, 2014 I am smelting yet again. But this time Iʼm not digging for gold in my attic trunk; Iʼm re-purposing myself!

Iʼm taking all that I have done the past 14 years and melting it together. A pinch of savvy here, a dash of humor there followed by at least a ton of perseverance, sweat, tears and failure.

Add to this some luck, gumption, will power and the most important ingredient, people! The people who have believed in my journey to educate, motivate and challenge.

I have all the ʻingredientsʻʻ and Iʼm almost ready to smelt them all together…

And wait until you see what I come up with!

Climb On!

- Wendy

Wendy Booker

Author, Speaker and Life Adventurer

Team Player

Team on the South Pole

Now don’t get jealous….but on a recent perfect October morning it was too good to pass on so I headed to the beach with my over weight mutt, Cada. Perfection summed it all up.

So as I walked the half-mile stretch of beach my mind was all over the place. For those of you who know me this is no surprise. I have been called out on this characteristic of mine many times. My kids refer to my distracted moments as similar to the dog in the movie UP – when anyone said to that pooch the word “squirrel!” – and he was then all over the place.   

Anyway, the surf, the sand, the happy pooch running after the gulls took my mind on a ride. Suddenly I began to think of a dear old friend, Josh. Josh and I have climbed many a mountain together, shared tents and lots of laughs. Josh is a firefighter in Phoenix with the biggest heart I know and the loyalist friend on earth.

Josh never forgets me. He calls frequently just to check in. He follows my blog, my website and if I am speaking anywhere near Phoenix, he will show up. He is always upbeat, always positive and I don’t know what I would do without his steady, unfaltering friendship. There aren’t many Josh’s out there. How lucky I am to have him.

Speaking last week in Las Vegas at IMEX International, the theme of the conference is Team Work. You know, when you start to analyze your life and how things evolve and unravel you will see the common thread of the people who were there with you, your team. Personally, I don’t think we ever accomplish anything alone. Look at every success and failure for that matter you will always see people there with you in one form or another.  

Recently I went to a symposium sponsored by MassBio. The theme was the value of Biotech: Defining & Building Value in Healthcare. Investors, providers, payers and patient/patient advocates made up the distinguished panel. They were there to address what biotech and pharma need to focus on to provide value and be relevant moving forward. Wow! There are actually people out there identifying and listening to the patient, the investor, the physician and huge companies. Talk about a team!

It got me to thinking about my work with the local food shelter, Open Door. We serve meals to the public, have a food pantry and many community services to provide food and care to the people who need it. I love volunteering in the kitchen preparing and serving the meals.

Course my status as a ‘non-cook’ is often put to the test. I would much rather sing out of tune and wash the vast quantity of pots and pans. But Ken who runs the program is a gem! Never once has he so much as raised his voice to me, or anyone else working there. He treats each and everyone, from the dinner guests to the troops in the kitchen with respect. His leadership creates harmony in the kitchen and a hot wonderful meal to those who need it. Not possible without that team!

So here we are, those of us with MS. Everyday can be a challenge. Everyday can be both frightening and exhilarating, depending on the day…depending on our MS. But look around did you make it through your day alone? Most likely you did not.  

There was probably a team behind you, some silent, some cheer leading, some helping you get to a doctor’s appointment or a stranger helping you on the city bus.   I’m betting your day was defined by teamwork. I know mine always is.

These are just a few examples of the value of teamwork that popped into my daily life as I was happily walking the beach. I will thread these examples into my talk next week.   I will carry all of you with MS along with me since you are a big part of my team.

And Josh? He will be the team leader because we all need someone like Josh, who likes us for who we are…despite ourselves.

Come climb, explore and join my team with and for MS!

- Wendy

Wendy Booker
Author, Speaker and Life Adventurer

Changing Altitudes

I am thinking with the season’s changing it is a good time for me to take mental stock and change along with the season. It has been another magical summer full of all the things I love… self discovery, new friends, new experiences. I also have been so comfortable with all that is familiar, spending magical days with my 93-year young mother!   

This summer found me climbing mountains, cycling, swimming in the quarry at sun up, and even taking up a new sport – stand up paddle boarding. And on top of all that, I have set my sights in a new direction… well, not really new… better said – expanded.  

I can’t say this transition has been effortless. But then nothing of value ever comes easily. And if it did come easily would I appreciate and value it as much? Probably not.   So I have launched my new website along with the new blog Changing Altitudes that I am also sending out via email to people like you who have along the way asked me to keep you posted on my whereabouts.   

My mission without a doubt is to educate, motivate and challenge those living with MS or any challenge that prevents them from living the life they thought. No, this isn’t a new mission for me at all – but it is time for me to expand on it and to use all that I have done to now take all of you on the adventure with me.   

A few Saturday’s ago I was a guest of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at PBS for a taping of the highlights for  the world wide MS Conference. There is some amazing science out there and the general feeling of optimism and encouraging new studies in the treatment and progression of the disease.   

I am in awe of the collaborative efforts of the MS Societies globally as they have come together, to pull resources and to address the progressive side of MS.     Several therapies are in the testing stage for Myelin repair, natural supplements to prevent progression is also being studied. The theory was also discussed around second hand smoke and it’s impact on the disease and in contracting MS.   

And my favorite topic on the list, the one that each and every one of us can do right now today is in taking advantage of the incredible value of exercise. It is fascinating how these efforts have helped with cognition, progression, energy, mood and more.    

I walked away from the event once again reminded that we are not alone in our struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. Today, in 2014 we can and should be hopeful and optimistic that the face of MS is changing. I encourage you to be a part of that change. You have that power and choice within you!   

You can see and hear the entire webcast at the NationalMSSociety.org for me? Well I can tell you that not only will I be reaching out more and more to the MS community globally through webinars, blogs and public speaking but I too have another adventure brewing! I’ll fill you in as soon as it comes together.   

Come climb, explore, mush and advocate with and for MS with me!   

    
Climb On!  

- Wendy


Wendy Booker 
Author, Speaker and Life Adventurer