In 2001, when I was eighteen years old, some friends and I went into the woods and climbed gnarled, moonlit limbs of pigmy oak trees. The branch that I was on broke and I fell. The impact caused my first lumbar vertebrae to burst and the bone shard that went into my spinal cord was blunt. It didn’t sever my spinal cord, but rather smashed it, leaving some of it intact. I was left with mixed function and sensation below my waist. Generally, I can feel all of the areas where the muscles remain paralyzed, though it’s more nuanced than just that, of course. I never moved my ankles or toes again.

 

Despite what most people naturally assume — namely, that this is a horrible tragedy — I don’t feel that way. The way that I see it, the injury is a part of my life-adventure, and it has continuously provided me with opportunities for self-development and growth in ways that feel more important than physical prowess. That is not to say that the injury doesn’t ignite extra fires of suffering at times, but it is to say that it all takes shape much differently than what people think, with my overarching take away being positive. I don’t say this to inspire or to tokenize myself to fit an inspirational disabled person trope. I say it because it is true.

 

I was fortunate to have grown up in the Sierra Nevada foothills outside Yosemite valley, living an adventurous lifestyle centered in the outdoors. Post SCI and despite not being able to move my feet and more than half of my upper legs, I’m able to participate in lots of outdoor activities by adapting them or just having the right equipment. I mountain bike, rock climb, kayak, paddle board and ski. The enormous gift of healing and wellbeing that nature provides is not lost on me, so I work to bridge the gap between my physical limitations and high country and back country adventures.

 

When I was twenty years old, my path led me to India and to diving more deeply into yogic philosophy, self-inquiry and humanitarian outreach. Over the next two decades, I travelled to India many times, most often for four to six month visits, and also travelled the world with my spiritual teacher serving in various humanitarian activities. This path is very important to me.

 

I began to be invited to give educational talks to various groups or classes about disability, and from that I have been invited to more. I’m SO excited to do this work.

it’s a natural fit to share what I’ve learned, and I am passionate about it because it can help every one of us to embrace and love our bodies more and free us from limiting blind-spots and biases.

 

Thank you for reading. I’m looking forward to connecting more!