SMA News Today Columns

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022

Staying Organized Helps Me Simplify Life With SMA

Before I dive into this column about how the art of organization keeps my life balanced, I believe a disclaimer is necessary. After all, no matter the number of “Queer ... Read more

January 12, 2022January 12, 2022

Powering Up (and Out) for Another Year

SMA News Today Columns

Goodness, that didn’t take long. We’re already closing in on the middle of the first month of another new year. For most, 2021 felt like a tedious extension of the ... Read more

January 11, 2022January 11, 2022

Storytelling Lets Me Experience Others’ Stories, and My Own

SMA News Today Columns

In 2021, I kept a log of every new movie, TV show, book, and comic I watched and read throughout the year, as well as notable music and podcasts I ... Read more

January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

My Year of Liberation

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

When it comes to rituals, I am religious. Weekly rituals are the shortest, and consist largely of short-term planning. Monthly and quarterly rituals, on the other hand, are more reflective. ... Read more

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022

Sharing Our Stories With the SMA Community’s Next Generation

SMA News Today Columns

Many years ago, I was sitting in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom waiting for the start of a parade. A few feet away, a boy with a disability also was waiting. ... Read more

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022

Reflecting on a Year Gone By Brings Me Gratitude

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

Like many others at the turn of the year, I enjoy setting aside some time to reflect on the past 365 days. I’ve never been the goal-setting type at the ... Read more

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022

‘Don’t Quit Before the Miracle Happens’

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

“I’m doing good, I’m on some new s**t/ Been saying ‘yes’ instead of ‘no.’” These lyrics opened Taylor Swift’s song “the 1” and her 2020 album “Folklore.” I thought them ... Read more

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021

Year’s End Brings a Little Bird and Memories

SMA News Today Columns

Our baby Jeffrey snagged his wings in early November 1997, ending the brief active-duty portion of our SMA assignment. A few short months later, my husband, Randy, and I opened ... Read more

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021

The Blessings That Spark My Ambitions for the New Year

SMA News Today Columns

I’ve recently learned about two kinds of achievements in life. One is when you’re up a creek in a bad situation, but miraculously, things seem to resolve on their own. ... Read more

December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

What Will Become of Me Once I’m 23?

SMA News Today Columns

“Lord, what will become of me/ Once I’ve lost my novelty?” was the original lyric sung in Taylor Swift’s “Nothing New,” a bonus track she included with her recent remaster ... Read more

December 16, 2021December 16, 2021

How to Make the Joy of Christmas Last All Year Long

SMA News Today Columns

As Christmas and the end of the year draw near, I’m reflecting on what 2021 has meant to me. If I look at the past year through a pessimistic lens, ... Read more

December 15, 2021December 15, 2021

Not All Gifts Are Wrapped in Shiny Paper

COVID-19 Columns, SMA News Today Columns

December is replete with giving opportunities in the form of holiday presents, donations, and volunteering with myriad charitable causes, making its designation as National Giving Month apt. It’s a natural ... Read more

December 10, 2021December 10, 2021

The Greatest Gifts Are Filled With Love

SMA News Today Columns

Christmas is my favorite holiday for many reasons, and gift-giving is just one. I genuinely enjoy hunting for the perfect gift for everyone on my list. It’s one of the ... Read more

December 10, 2021December 10, 2021

Cherishing Togetherness During the Holidays

SMA News Today Columns

Every year at Christmastime, my family carries out one of my favorite traditions. We all gather in the living room — my parents, brother, his wife and kids, and me ... Read more

December 9, 2021December 9, 2021

Hope, Oxygen, Acceptance, and Other Essentials in the Anatomy of a Cold

SMA News Today Columns

Most days, I try not to worry about my SMA to the extent that I forget to breathe and live. I attempt to construct a balance in which I’m tending ... Read more