I am obsessed with running, desperate to train and race as often as possible. The best part is when friends and family ask for advice about miles, shoes, weather, injuries, you name it. I get a special kind of runner’s high when playing coach. I’m told runners make good leaders and clear thinkers so I figure why not keep moving? I’m also inspired by other runners, no matter the distance or speed. I love the head nod hello with the regulars on my training path.
I am also a news junkie, vegetarian, justice seeking mom who finds piano to be another form of therapy. Even listening to my kids practice is soothing. I opened the windows on one of the recent 60 degree winter days and played my favorite, Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
My kids, who just had their own recital, get a real kick out of the fact that I can still read music I learned 30 years ago using the hand-written music from my teacher in Oak Park. I used to think I would become a professional musician or dancer as a kid, so it’s no surprise that “What about TV news?” came out of the consultant’s mouth at UW- Madison when I struggled to pick a major.
I just finished two books that make made me want to practice more piano and pick up speed on both my professional and running paths. The first, a memoir, is written by a friend in Madison, a pediatrician who opens her heart and pours out personal details about her battle to beat epilepsy. Dr. Kristin Seaborg wrote “The Sacred Disease” and beat seizures with a tremendously successful career and three, healthy, beautiful children. Hers is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read: Kristin Seaborg “The Sacred Disease”
The second book, Half Time, encourages us to make a difference and find meaning in the second half of life. My guess is that it falls into the self help genre, which would normally send me running, but I had whispers that had been shouting at me about this for years. Half Time is based on Christian values while managing to speak to and about those of varying or no religious affiliations. The concept is “from success to significance,” which I imagine someone has used as a tattoo by now. If not, it’s a really good idea.
I do not fit into any professional or personal categories the Half Time author refers to, something it took me a while to be proud of. My unique status is my best friend. I lost my first career to seizures and I used to feel forced to allow my life to be controlled by the condition. Today, I embrace it and use my experience with epilepsy, among other things, to help others who suffer. Just before these two books were handed to me as gifts (talk about signs), I decided that in order to feel like I was living, I had to find a way to make a difference for a living. Soon after, I got my way.
I am the official Manager of Virtual Sales and Social Media Strategy for OWP Pharmaceuticals. OWP Pharmaceuticals site: click here . OWP Pharmaceuticals will sell epilepsy medication and share profits with the ROW Foundation for those who struggle with access to diagnosis and care. ROW: Rest of the World. There is an enormous population of untreated patients all over the world, some with no way to even be diagnosed. OWP is a tremendous business and non-profit run by real people who care. Please check out the website and head to Facebook and Twitter and share, like, join and follow the pages as much as you can. The OWP Facebook page is called Heart for Epilepsy: OWP (Heart For Epilepsy) Facebook page: click here.
I do not regret becoming a public spokesperson when diagnosed in 2008 because, well, how else do you handle it when you have seizures on TV? I also felt strongly about raising awareness. 1 in 26 people will have epilepsy in their lifetime.More suffer from epilepsy than Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsey combined. I didn’t know all my public speaking and social media honesty would hurt me professionally. Now I know it was meant to be.
When I’m not working for the 1 in 26 at OWP, you’ll likely spot me training to do 26.2 on the ground to raise funds. Thank you to everyone who has given me hope and help during my half time journey. And my apologies in advance to those who don’t get out of my way on the path from success to significance.
“Sometimes the challenge isn’t to move forward. Ships don’t move forward while in the grips of a big storm. To succeed during a storm means just to stay afloat. Don’t worry so much about getting ahead. There will a time for that. For now, just get through.” – Doe Zantamata
Seize the Day with Sarah 