123: Shelley Peterman-Schwarz on
Gardening with Disabilities.
Finding solutions and work-arounds for physical challenges.
Shelley Peterman-Schwarz has distinguished herself by meeting the personal and professional challenges of living and working with progressively disabling multiple sclerosis. An award-winning writer, author of 7 books, and professional motivational speaker, Schwarz uses her experiences to inspire and empower audiences to rise above challenges and teaches them how to bloom where they’re planted.
Her focus is finding solutions to common everyday problems that people diagnosed with chronic illnesses face. From getting yourself dressed and making meals to tending gardens and continuing recreational activities you enjoy, her philosophy is that a problem is only a situation waiting for a solution.
In This Podcast: Shelley shares an account of life with Greg who recognizes her as having an “epic” story. She has refused to allow her life enjoyment to end with her diagnosis on MS and now works to help others keep living their lives as well. She shares some tips and encouragement for how to keep doing what you love despite the physical challenges of illness or age.
Listen in and learn about:
- How she realized that her life was changing and what that meant for her
- What Multiple Sclerosis is how it can affect the body,and how it can affect people differently
- How she has made up for the changes the disease has wrought upon her
- Her pragmatic attitude with life and its challenges
- How she has changed her routines to make accommodations around the challenges the heat and the weather present
- Some tips for how to make the gardening easier when faced with limitations
- How important support groups can be when facing a problem
- How she encourages others to be open and willing to learn
- How the realities of aging can make us take a second look at the processes we use in our yards
- How she wrote seven books starting with the encouragement of a good friend
- How her writing has combined with her public speaking to help others make adjustments in their own lives
- Why the sound of the refrigerator motivated her to action
- Her book about tips to make safety changes to your home at low or no cost
- What three things she recommends to those facing physical changes
As well as:
- What she learned from her struggles such as fighting to do things the old way and how changing a little here and there made such a difference
- The successes in her life such as not giving up on herself
- How looking for a purpose or reason for developing the physical challenges actually helped her stay driven
- Her advice to listeners is to “Not Should” on yourself
Books Shelley has written:
Blooming Where You’re Planted: Stories from the Heart
Parkinson’s Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier, 2nd Edition
Home Accessibility (300 Tips for Making Life Easier)
Multiple Sclerosis: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier, 2nd Edition
Arthritis: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier
Dressing Tips and Clothing Resources for Making Life Easier
Memory Tips Making Life Easier
How to Reach Shelley:
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