Full Range of [E]Motion

By Bethany A. Hoppe

The Emoticon Meme that shows the range of emotions a man goes through compared to those of a woman has nailed it!  When I first saw this Emoticon chart I thought it was funny.  But then it began to rattle me a little bit because it was so true!

I eyed my husband suspiciously, realizing that he does in fact have a permanent amused expression on his face if he is awake.  I on the other hand go through everything from euphoric happiness to a blatant criminal mindset within the same 24-hours.  In stunned disbelief I realize that just this morning I felt like Julie-Freakin’-Andrews on a mountain top…but by the time I crash into my pillow tonight, I’ll practically be Marilyn Manson.  Not Monroe. 

How do guys let it roll of their backs?  How do they do it?  They have to be on to something because they age slower without coating themselves in anti-aging cream every night.  Plus, they only hang out in the shower for a grand total of 3-minutes.  I know they didn’t have time to pre-loofah.  And they certainly didn’t condition their hair, or end their shower with an almond shell scrub.  

We Are Not Less…We are More - A Journey of Self-discovery

By Wendy Crawford

Deborah Mellen, photo by Ginny Dixon

Now on tour, the Raw Beauty NYC photography exhibit was recently shipped from Acorda Therapeutics, a New York based, bio-tech company aimed at improving the lives of those with nervous disorders, where it was displayed for a month, to Shake-a-Leg Miami. Shake-a-Leg is a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the marine environment to improve the health, education and independence of adults and children with disabilities as well as disadvantaged youth and their families. This organization opens the sailing world to those who may have never been able to experience it, otherwise.

The exhibit was unveiled on the evening of May 14 to approximately 200 attendees and the funds raised went to Shake-a-Leg Miami and another non-profit,  Impossible Dream which was founded by Raw Beauty NYC model, Deborah Mellen.  

Intimacy and Disability: It's Not as Complicated as They Think

Christinne Rudd and her son

The word "intimacy" conjures up ideas that may or may not be accurate.  In the realm of dating, more often than not, people with disabilities aren't seen as potential partners by those who aren't disabled.  There are even many misconceptions by potential partners and even our parents, about this inevitable part of our lives. That doesn't mean that the person themselves hasn't thought about having a boyfriend or girlfriend, by the time they hit puberty. It makes me think about the "Law and Order: SVU" episode where there's a girl with Down Syndrome, who ends up pregnant and wants to take care of her baby. When thinking about becoming a mother, her disability doesn't even cross her mind.

When we're younger, and it's time for "The Talk", a lot of parents avoid it all together. I often wonder, how many parents realize that if they have a child who is or becomes disabled, they could still have the potential to lead a full life, complete with successful relationships and a happy family? Probably not too many. Some parents feel like if they don't talk about it with us, it just won't happen.  I don't think there's any malice in this line of thinking. It seems more like a way to protect us from the world, outside the safety of our homes. The downfall to that is if we don't get accurate information from our parents, we'll learn from our friends, and they might not be the best source of information.