Fear doesn’t disappear just because we’ve healed, received a prosthesis, or reached a new milestone. Sometimes it’s still there when we try something unfamiliar, or return to something we used to do. This Halloween week, I’m talking about the fears that can hold us back and how we can begin moving through them, one step at a time.

I love Halloween, especially the creativity it gives me as an amputee. I’ve dressed as a leg lamp from A Christmas Story, a pirate, an IHOP sign, and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. There’s humor in making a costume around something that might otherwise feel hard. That spirit of finding possibility in our circumstances connects with this week’s bigger question: What fear is lurking in your shadow?

Sally for Nightmare Before Christmas

iHop sign

Gotta be a Pirate!

My recent fly-fishing trip gave me a vivid example. I was standing in rushing water, trying to find my footing on slick river rocks I could barely see. I was afraid of falling, getting soaked, and having the day become harder for everyone. I didn’t know exactly what the current or riverbed would be like. I had to take it slowly, focus on the next step, and lean on my guide for support. I stayed in the water for five hours, and I didn’t fall.

That experience reminded me that fear looks different for everyone. For a new amputee, it might be the fear of falling, phantom pain, or taking those first steps around the house. For someone else, it may be trying an activity they miss or facing a new challenge. Your fear doesn’t have to look big to matter. If it’s holding you back from something important to you, it deserves your attention.

In this episode, I share a few ways I work through fear: name the shadow, ask what I’m actually afraid of, and decide whether the goal is worth moving toward. Then I choose a manageable next step and accept support when I need it. Asking for help doesn’t take away from what you accomplish. Sometimes support is what helps you try something for the first time.

We don’t have to do everything at once. We can take one step, learn from it, and keep going. And when we look back, we may realize those small steps carried us farther than we thought possible.

What fear or “shadow” are you facing right now?

Name it, choose one small next step, and get after it this week!

Also, please share your Halloween costume with me in the comments. I’d love to see how you have overcome and made lemonade from lemons!

Let’s celebrate the courage it takes to keep showing up.

Have a spooky but safe Halloween,

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

Much love,

For my birthday, I went to Park City to fly fish with my family. I love being outdoors, but wading into a river as an above-knee amputee challenged me in ways I hadn’t expected. The current pushed against my prosthesis, the river rocks shifted underfoot, and every step required focus. I was trying to find stable footing, listen to my guide, learn to cast, and still enjoy the experience.

That day reminded me that balance isn’t always about standing perfectly still. Sometimes it means adjusting your footing as life moves around you. I found a spot where I could fish, then challenged myself to try a stronger current. The glare from the setting sun made it hard to focus, so I eventually chose to move back to a place where I could enjoy the experience again. I didn’t fail by adjusting. I listened to what was happening and responded.

Life can feel like that, too. A major change can leave us feeling stuck while the world around us keeps moving. We can’t always control the current, but we can pay attention to where we are, focus on what we can do, and take the next step with intention.

Learning to walk as my life changed. Building confidence and trust and being intentional with every step.

I think about my own early days learning to walk with a prosthesis. I started at home, near a wall. Then I walked in the courtyard, down the street, and eventually went hiking. I didn’t begin at the mountain. I built trust and confidence one step at a time. That kind of progress may feel small, but it can lead us somewhere we once thought was out of reach.

This experience also made me think about the mental load of change: how tiring it can be to plan every step, find your balance, and keep going when your footing feels uncertain. If that’s where you are, give yourself grace. You don’t need to have the whole path figured out today.

What’s changing in your life right now?

What’s one next step you can take with intention?

If you’re feeling stuck or need help figuring out how to adjust your path without giving up, reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you and be part of your journey.

Keep your eyes on where you want to go, Warriuor, and take it step by step—even when life throws you into a raging current.

Hope this week brings balance thro9ugh changing currents and you make changes to your footing as you go, one step at a time.

And as always,

Be Healthy,

Be Happy,

Be YOU!!!

Much love,