I live in the middle.

Not fully “abled.”
Not always “disabled.”
Somewhere in between.

It’s a strange place to be, honestly.

Difficulties in life are not here to break us; they are here to shape us. They are the refining fire that turns raw experience into wisdom, perspective, and strength. The choice is ours: we can dwell in the darkness of what went wrong, or we can turn toward the light of what we can learn.

Ever pulled into your driveway and realized you don’t remember the drive at all?

I have. More times than I can count.

I was behind the wheel, navigated traffic, followed the lights—but somehow, I arrived with no memory of the journey.

It’s a strange feeling… and a powerful metaphor for how many of us live.

July is Disability Pride Month.

And like most things that matter—it’s not about perfection.

It’s about presence.

It’s about honoring the parts of ourselves we were once told to hide.

The pieces we tried to downplay. The differences we felt we had to overcome.

You see, diversity, equity, and inclusion – they’re not just catchy terms we throw around. They’re the foundation of a society that truly gets it, that see’s each person for who they are with acceptance. For someone like me, realizing that my dance with disability isn’t just a personal battle but a critical piece of diversity changed everything.

We often think of disabilities as things we can see. A wheelchair. A white cane. A prosthetic. Something visual that signals, “This person is navigating life a little differently.” But the truth is, not all disabilities are obvious. In fact, some of the most difficult ones are completely hidden.

Mental health is one of those.

Thirty three years ago, my life was transformed by the most profound gift one can receive – a new heart. This journey, marked by challenges, gratitude, and countless learning experiences, underscores the immense importance of organ donation. As both a heart transplant recipient and a keynote speaker on organ donation, I've had the privilege of sharing my story, inspiring others, and advocating for this life-saving cause.