AwareNow: Issue 54: 'The Thrive Edition' by AwareNow™

AWARENOW

THE WORLD'S OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR CAUSES

KOBY STEVENS & KEVIN PEARCE

TRIUMPHS IN TRANSFORMATION

THE THRIVE EDITION

ON THE COVER: KOBY STEVENS & KEVIN PEARCE PHOTO BY: BILL MCCULLOUGH

AwareNow Magazine is a monthly publication produced by AwareNow Media™, a storytelling platform dedicated to creating and sustaining positive social change with content that inspires and informs, while raising awareness for causes one story at a time.

AMANDA FAIREY

JACK MCGUIRE

KOBY STEVENS

DR. TODD BROWN TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE INGRID SILVIAN, NSSC

My mission in life is not to merely survive, but to thrive; and to do so with passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Maya Angelou

thrive: (v.) to prosper, to ﬂourish

The world today is complex, ever-changing, and ﬁlled with challenges that demand more than survival. They demand that we thrive—not just as individuals, but as a united, inclusive community.

At AwareNow, we’ve always believed in the power of stories to inspire change. This issue, the Thrive Edition, is dedicated to exploring what it means to thrive in a world that is both beautiful and broken, connected yet divided.

ALLIÉ McGUIRE

CEO & Co-Founder of AwareNow Media

Allié McGuire began her career as a performance poet, transitioned into digital storytelling as a wine personality, and later produced the Hollywood Film Festival. Now, as co-founder of AwareNow Media, she uses her platform to elevate voices and champion causes, connecting audiences to stories that inspire change.

JACK McGUIRE

President & Co-Founder of AwareNow Media

Jack McGuire’s career spans the Navy, hospitality, and producing the Hollywood Film Festival. Now, he co-leads AwareNow Media with Allié, focusing on powerful storytelling for worthy causes. His commitment to service fuels AwareNow’s mission to connect and inspire audiences.

The views and opinions expressed in AwareNow are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official

Any content provided by our columnists or interviewees is of their opinion and not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, political group, organization, company, or individual. Stories shared are not intended to vilify anyone or anything. Their intent is to make you think.

* Please note that you may find a spelling or punctuation error here or there, as our Editor-In-Chief has MS and lost vision in her right eye. That said, she still has perfect vision in her left and rocks it as best as she can.

AMANDA FAIREY

Photo Courtesy: Obey Giant Art

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AMANDA FAIREY

COMMANDA’S PATH A CONVERSATION ON LIVING AND LEADING WITH MS

Amanda Fairey is a force—a co-owner of Obey Giant Art and Studio Number One, she has played an integral role in the success of these creative powerhouses. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in late 2013, Amanda has faced the challenges of this complex disease with remarkable resilience and determination. Known as ‘Commanda’, she has continued to thrive both personally and professionally, never allowing MS to deﬁne her or limit her ambitions. In this conversation, Amanda shares her journey, revealing the strength, courage, and unwavering spirit that have shaped her life and career.

ALLIÉ: So, let's start this way. Amanda, as a co-owner of Obey Giant Art and Studio Number One, you've been instrumental in shaping these creative ventures. The question is, how has your journey with MS in ﬂuenced your approach to leadership and creativity in your professional life?

AMANDA: Well, I think the goal, always, even before MS, was to work smarter, not harder. Even more so with the diagnosis of MS, as it gradually became more intense—along with, honestly, family life and children becoming more demanding—I started to gather a team. I started to gather amazing people who could come in, learn from the things I knew, and build upon that. That’s where Dan Flores, Victoria Yarnish, and my sister Maria Hudson came in, along with all of the amazing creatives that work alongside Shepard. It's been a growth journey and a process of learning how to let go of control. You know, especially with a company, your "baby," you don’t want to lose control. I’ve been fortunate to have great people around me who understand the concept of presenting ideas they feel strongly about. In the past, some people would ask for full autonomy, and I feel like the wonderful people we have now understand the importance of presenting ideas and allowing us to digest them. Then, Shepard and I can come back and say, "That's awesome, let's do that." So, that's been the big shift—learning to use the amazing village and community you have around you.

ALLIÉ: Yeah, absolutely. I hear you—the autonomy to say, "What is my bandwidth here?" and to be realistic about it. So, let's talk about balance. Balancing a demanding career and a full-time family with the realities of living with MS is not easy. How do you navigate the physical demands, and what strategies have you found most effective to sustain your energy?

AMANDA: By no means have I perfected this. I rely on sheer adrenaline a lot of the time. Occasionally, I can escape —escape with Shepard or even our kids. I really appreciate long weekends, and my team appreciates them too. It’s important to take those moments, not ﬁll them up with things, and actually rest, decompress, read the paper, hang out with friends and family. Rejuvenation doesn’t have to come from big things; it can come from small things. Maybe I’ll lay in bed until one, and Shepard will bring me coffee, and if I’m hungry, he’ll bring snacks.

Photo Courtesy: Obey Giant Art

“I’m more focused on where I want to invest my energy. I want to invest in myself, in our children, and in supporting others who are newly diagnosed with MS.”

ALLIÉ: That’s a great reminder—it doesn’t have to be a big game plan. It can be the small steps along the way.

AMANDA: It has to be small because there’s no time for big. You’re lucky if you get a big thing here and there. Take naps when you can. I try to stay as active as possible, and what I’ve realized is, even without doing anything speci ﬁc, I am pretty active. That darn Apple Watch shows you how much you’ve done. It tells me, "You didn’t need that extra 30 minutes of craziness at the gym because you’ve already done a lot today." Sometimes that extra workout is just a mental break for me.

ALLIÉ: You and I both know that facing a major health condition like MS requires not just physical strength. It requires mental and emotional resilience. I love the nickname ‘Commanda’ that I’ve heard used for you. Can you share how you’ve cultivated this inner strength over the years and how it has inﬂuenced your personal life?

AMANDA: I think I cultivated it out of necessity, and it's partly just my personality. When I see something wrong, I want to fix it, though sometimes I try to fix things too fast. That’s when my husband or my team steps in and says, "You don’t need to change it right this second. Let’s look at some other ways to make the change." I tend to look at things several steps ahead, and while that helps me sometimes, it can also hurt me. Whether it's my health or our business, I’m always looking ahead. Shepard is more of a risk-taker, and I’m often the one pulling back, saying, "Hold on, what about all these other things?" Now, with the great team we have, it’s easier to present all the options and pitfalls. 25 years ago, I didn’t know as much—I was 21 and working with people eight to 20 years older than me. I was a quick study, though, and being personable helped. I finagled my way into rooms I might not have otherwise been allowed into, and I learned a lot from different people. That’s where the ‘Commanda’ comes from—I know a lot, maybe too much! I’m so happy that we have such a strong team now. I’m not stepping away completely; I’m starting to pull back a bit and focus on myself, especially now that my children are getting older.

ALLIÉ: That’s such a powerful journey. MS can profoundly impact how we see ourselves and our capabilities. How has your perception of your own strength and identity evolved since your diagnosis?

AMANDA: Some things that I thought were important have shifted. Now, at 47, I’m more focused on where I want to invest my energy. I want to invest in myself, in our children, and in supporting others who are newly diagnosed with MS. There’s a lot that people don’t know, and if I had known certain things at the time of my diagnosis, I might be in a different position today. I want to help provide that knowledge to others because there’s so much people can do, even if they’re healthy, to stave off the potential for MS. I’m still ﬁguring out how to help on that level, and that’s where my trajectory is shifting. I still care about social justice and pushing forward Shepard's creative message, and I also want to help others with MS.

AMANDA

Photo Courtesy: Obey Giant Art

COMMANDA’S PATH

Exclusive Interview with Amanda Fairey https://awarenow.us/podcast/commandas-path TAP/SCAN TO LISTEN

“Ask for help. You’ll be surprised by how many people will give it to you.”

ALLIÉ: Beyond your professional and public roles, how has living with MS deepened your appreciation for everyday moments and the relationships that sustain you?

AMANDA: I appreciate a lot of things. Recently, I was in New York, and my knee wasn’t hurting as much as usual. I have a knee issue due to drop foot, a secondary problem from MS. It wasn’t bothering me, so I walked really far. It took me 45 minutes to walk a distance that normally takes 15. Walking slowly in New York was an amazing experience. You notice so much—the rodents running around in broad daylight, the kindness of people helping you across the street. People say New Yorkers are mean, and that’s not true at all. Everyone cares. It was a beautiful experience.

ALLIÉ: That’s incredible. One more question for today: For those who feel tired and, at times, broken due to a diagnosis—whether it’s MS or something else—what advice do you have for moving forward?

AMANDA: Take a nap. Don’t sleep too long—disco naps are good. Ask for help. You’ll be surprised by how many people will give it to you. And take the small wins. They usually add up to something big. ∎

Follow Amanda on Instagram: @amandafairey Also follow @obeygiant and @studionumberone

Together, we will ﬂy.

JACK MCGUIRE CO-FOUNDER OF AWARENOW

TOGETHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

We will no longer ask for permission to change the world. This has been our rallying cry, and now more than ever, this mission must center on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s not a trend or a series of boxes to check; it is the bedrock of a thriving society. In a time when differences are often used to divide, we aim to show how those differences can become our greatest strength.

At AwareNow, our platform is dedicated to confronting systemic barriers, celebrateingthe beauty of diversity, and amplifying voices that remind us that equity and inclusion are not ideals—they are necessities. To thrive as a world, we must embrace the boldness of standing together, the bravery of asking uncomfortable questions, and the wisdom of listening to one another.

Thriving is not simply about success; it’s about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It’s about creating spaces where everyone belongs, where every voice is heard, and where every story matters. As you turn these pages, you’ll meet change makers and leaders who are rede ﬁning what it means to thrive—because they know that when one of us rises, we all rise.

In the face of adversity, in the ﬁght for equity, and in the pursuit of justice, we ﬁnd strength. Together, we will not only survive. Together, we will thrive.

Together, we will ﬂy. ∎

FEATURE STORY BY JACK MCGUIRE

Photo Courtesy: Koby Stevens

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KOBY STEVENS

THE PERFECT STORM A JOURNEY THROUGH TRAUMA

AND TRANSFORMATION

Koby Stevens, a former Aussie Rules Football star, faced an unexpected and life-altering challenge when a traumatic brain injury brought his professional career to an abrupt halt. What followed was a turbulent journey of recovery, battling the mental and emotional storms that came with the injury, and redeﬁning his purpose. Now, with his documentary ‘Thrive’, Koby is channeling his experiences into a powerful narrative that sheds light on resilience, mental health, and the ﬁght to weather life’s most unforgiving storms.

ALLIÉ: You’ve endured the perfect storm when it comes to your traumatic brain injury. Can you describe the storm you’ve been through since your traumatic brain injury? How did it reshape not only your career but your sense of self?

Photo Courtesy: Koby Stevens

“We humans often have a facade. It’s a part of us we present to the world, thinking it’s what we need to feel accepted and part of something.”

KOBY: (continued) When that's taken away, plus the physical and emotional symptoms of an injury like that, I think that's what you call the perfect storm. Emotionally, trying to navigate that and this identity that you've taken on, that you don't personally want, is incredibly hard.

We humans often have a facade. It’s a part of us we present to the world, thinking it's what we need to feel accepted and part of something. Underneath, there's another part of us we don't show, where we deal with insecurities, anger, and embarrassment.

For me, that was it. This incredible insecurity and anger about this injury and title I didn’t want, yet it was out there in the world. From a physical, emotional, identity, and purpose standpoint, it was the perfect combination of events. When all of these come together, it can lead to a very emotionally challenging time.

ALLIÉ: Let’s talk about mental health. It is often be a very invisible struggle. What were the moments where you felt the most unseen or misunderstood, and how did you ﬁnd a way forward?

KOBY: I think when I was thrust into this position, given that title, it was a very public thing. I’m someone who wanted to deal with that alone and in private. Having that in the public eye, where everyone saw me as this tough footballer who never showed vulnerability, was really hard.

I had played much of my career with pain and injuries and pushed through. People respected me for that. Then I had this injury you can’t see, and I had to retire from a career that gave me everything.

At the worst of it, I was ﬁlled with anxiety—wondering if this was who I am now. Is this what people see me as? Am I going to lose my mind in 25 years, with my kids looking after me?

One of my coaches killed himself. It was a very public story here in Australia. He crashed his car into a tree. He had a family, kids—he was a public ﬁgure, a coach of mine. When they did the brain scan, they found out he had CTE and had been battling depression.

I

just wanted to escape.

KOBY STEVENS FORMER AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL STAR, TBI SURVIVOR & DIRECTOR OF THRIVE

Photo Credit: Bill McCullough

Photo Courtesy: Koby Stevens

Photo Courtesy: Bill McCullough

Photo Courtesy: Koby Stevens KOBY STEVENS

AwareNow Podcast

THE PERFECT STORM

Exclusive Interview with Koby Stevens https://awarenow.us/podcast/the-perfect-storm

ALLIÉ: Show up the way you want—that’s huge. In the documentary, resilience is a key theme. What do you believe is the most critical conversation society needs to have about brain injuries and mental health, and how does Thrive contribute to it?

KOBY: I think one thing that I've really come to recognize over the last couple of years, especially after our last shoot in America, is that concussion is only one part of the conversation. The real conversation is about brain health. It’s about his brain that we have up here that people don't look at as a thing that controls our whole being — the way we perform on a sporting ﬁeld, the way we show up to our family and friends, our emotional states, how calm we are. This thing up inside of our heads is giving us the ability to do that, whether it's in a good way or a bad way.

I want to be able to take the stigma away from mental health and concussion by looking at our brain in a completely different way than it's even been looked at before. I had a scan with Dr. Amen that showed activity in the part of my brain that had trauma. I didn't think I had trauma, but obviously I'd been through a lot of traumatic experiences and that part of my brain was very overactive. I understood these things that I experienced from an emotional state aren't actually just up in the thin air, they're actually in my brain. Having that whole conversation is how do we destigmatize that. I think our ﬁlm is going to do a huge part in that. Also, for me, it's always been about the raw, emotional stories of human beings, because that's what we connect with. I think that's the most important part to our ﬁlm. ∎

Follow Koby on Instagram: @koby____

TAP/SCAN TO LISTEN

RAIN PHOENIX

MUSICIAN (ESCAPE ARTIST LOVERS) & FOUNDER OF LAUNCH LEFT

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Katz

NEW SONG BY ESCAPE ARTIST LOVERS

FALL EASY

Outer Inner secret over thinker

Wonder where we’ll end up

Close up distant future worries got me spinning out and back again

When are we gonna die

When are we gonna live

Are we just a mistake

The universe made

Or the reason there’s love and the reason for hate and grace

Forsake comfort fall in easy madly

Deeply don’t know down from up Shaken sleeping active dreaming shallow breathing from the breath you took

When are we gonna die

When are we gonna live

Are we just a mistake

The universe made Or the reason there’s love there’s no reason to hate

With their signature blend of raw emotion and atmospheric melodies, Escape Artist Lovers unveil ‘Fall Easy’, a hauntingly beautiful track that pulls listeners into an intimate exploration of vulnerability and connection. Layered with dreamy instrumentation and evocative lyrics, this song is a heartfelt reminder of the delicate dance between falling in love and ﬁnding ourselves. Prepare to be captivated by their sonic storytelling.

Keeps the mystery longer with my arms around you

And I’m never stronger than My arms around you

Keep my arms around you

Arms around you

CLICK, TAP OR SCAN TO WATCH NOW

Follow Escape Artist Lovers on Instagram: @escapeartistlovers

BEYOND THE LINES

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY FROM ATHLETE TO ARTIST

ALLIÉ: At 17, you were on the cusp of signing with Sporting Lisbon when vision issues led to a diagnosis of optic neuritis, an early indicator of MS. This unexpected health challenge disrupted your promising soccer career. Can you EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DEMIT OMPHROY

Demit Omphroy is a testament to the artistry of overcoming adversity. From the soccer ﬁeld to the canvas, his journey is a vivid portrayal of resilience, reinvention, and self-expression, all while navigating life with multiple sclerosis. Through vibrant art and an inspiring outlook, Demit continues to shape conversations about strength, identity, and creativity.

CLICK, TAP OR SCAN

“My body felt fine; my legs felt fine. Everything felt fine, but my eye wouldn’t cooperate.”

DEMIT: (continued) When I was in Portugal, I experienced this vision ﬂuttering where I woke up one morning and felt really foggy in my right eye. I thought it was just tiredness. But on the soccer pitch, I realized something was seriously wrong—I couldn’t see out of my eye.

When I saw the doctors in Portugal a day or two later, their initial reaction was, "If this is hereditary, you’re going to go blind." And so it wasn’t initially this feeling of, “Oh, you have optic neuritis; it’s common.” It was more of, “We don’t know what’s wrong with you, and we have to ﬁgure out whether or not you’re going to even have your vision anymore.”

That was such a blow for me at the time because I had really decided that I wasn’t going to do school anymore. I was going to be an athlete; I was going to be a pro soccer player. In my mind, being a pro soccer player meant leaving home and going to Europe to actually pursue the dream. That’s the big leagues, you know? That’s where you really make it.

When I had that initial diagnosis of them not knowing what was going on, I was really scared. I felt like everything I had worked for was ending, and I had no control over it. I had to move back home, which was another tough blow. I had set out to live in Portugal, and after a year, I was just starting to get comfortable. Then everything I had planned for was disrupted.

Getting the diagnosis of optic neuritis was maybe a little reassuring because I knew I wasn’t going to go blind, but it also came with the realization that I had this condition. Every time I did any physical exertion and my body temperature rose, my vision would ﬂutter again. It became really foggy, and I couldn’t see clearly.

Moving back home and coping with this was dif ficult because it was always a reminder that I couldn’t run too hard, couldn’t push myself to full exertion, which is required to be a pro athlete. I couldn’t even jog without triggering symptoms. My body felt fine; my legs felt fine. Everything felt fine—but my eye wouldn’t cooperate.

So, going back to how I dealt with this diagnosis and overcame it—it actually took a lot of time to accept what was happening and understand that the path I had in my head wasn’t necessarily the exact way I was going to achieve my dream of being a professional soccer player.

It gave me more motivation to regroup and think about why this was happening and how I could at least keep the dream alive. For me, it became about getting healthy and establishing a regiment. At 18, I didn’t know I had MS yet—I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 21. So at 18, it was this unknown thing I was dealing with. But the diagnosis ended contract talks and any immediate professional career opportunities, which meant that if I wanted to keep my dream alive, I had to go back to college.

In hindsight, that route served me better. It turned out to be a great experience because it allowed me to get an education, learn about myself, and improve as a soccer player. At the time, though, it was tough. I just kept thinking, “I can’t let this diagnosis take away my dream.”

I held onto that mindset through my four years of college. By my senior year, when I turned 21, I got the diagnosis of MS. I remember thinking, “This is the thing that took away that contract when I was 17. There’s no way I’m going to let this deﬁne how the rest of my life goes. I’m not going to let this disease take away my dream.”

DEMIT: (continued) I decided I would do whatever it took. Whether it was training until my legs gave out or doing everything possible to compete—I was determined. That meant getting on treatment, managing my stress levels, taking care of my body, and being very regimented. I prepared myself to be in the best possible condition to achieve my goals.

It’s easy to talk about it now, but going through it was really hard. At 16, 17, and again at 21, those were tough moments. I felt like there was this ticking clock on how long I’d be able to enjoy an active lifestyle. MS comes with this narrative that as you get older, you lose mobility and physical ability. That narrative didn’t sit well with me.

I used that as fuel to keep going. I’m so grateful I had that mentality because, despite the dif ﬁculty, it allowed me to have some of the best years of my life playing professionally. I became the ﬁrst player in Major League Soccer with MS, which was an interesting and cool accomplishment.

It wasn’t necessarily something I set out to achieve. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could accomplish my dream of being a professional soccer player. I’m really grateful for that.

ALLIÉ: That’s incredible. I didn’t know you were the ﬁrst—it’s amazing. Now, Let’s fast forward a little now. After stepping away from professional soccer, you ventured into the art world, developing a style often compared to Picasso and Matisse. What inspired this transition? How did your experiences as an athlete inﬂuence your artistic expression?

DEMIT: Yeah, the transition to art—it’s been quite a journey. I’ll preface this by saying I tend to go in-depth, so bear with me! When I retired from professional soccer, there was a signiﬁcant gap before I became a full-time artist. Initially, I spent time behind the camera, working on photography and videography. Being behind the camera became another way for me to express myself.

On the soccer ﬁeld, I always felt like I was telling a story through my creativity. That storytelling mindset carried over into photography and videography. I worked on creating stories and expressing myself in ways that felt true to me.

Storytelling helped me feel understood, especially as someone living with a disease that isn’t always visible. MS can feel isolating at times because people can’t always see what you’re dealing with—it’s more internal and mental. Photography and videography allowed me to communicate my experiences and connect with others on a deeper level.

Around 2020, I had a realization about what I felt was my true form of expression. Painting had always been a part of my life—my mom was an artist, and my dad was a soccer player, so I’ve always been a mix of both worlds. But up until then, I hadn’t pursued painting seriously.

Stepping into painting full-time was really scary. It felt like a leap of faith. I’d been working as a photographer and videographer, staying connected to sports and the soccer world, but there was always this itch to share my experiences through painting.

During the pandemic, everything turned upside down, and I thought, “If there’s ever a time to pursue what I truly love, it’s now.” I started small—working in a little studio, sketching in a notepad with crayons. I had just gone through a breakup with my girlfriend of nine years, and I was feeling low. Painting became my outlet to process everything I was going through.

At ﬁrst, it was just for me—therapy through art. But as I kept creating, my friends started noticing. They told me my work was cool and asked if I’d ever thought about selling it. I didn’t believe them at ﬁrst. The idea of selling my art felt so far-fetched.

DEMIT: (continued) Eventually, I realized that by creating from my heart and focusing on my passion, opportunities started coming my way. Within months, I was collaborating with the Picasso family and working on pieces for major companies.

That leap of faith was one of the toughest decisions I’ve made, but also one of the most rewarding. Whether you’re transitioning careers, running a race, or making a health decision, sometimes you have to follow your heart and trust the process, even when it’s scary.

ALLIÉ: That leap of faith—it’s so true. You can’t just tiptoe into it; you have to be all in. Let’s talk about your art. Your artwork is vibrant and playful, exploring themes of life, death, and family. How has living with MS in ﬂuenced the themes and emotions you convey in your art?

DEMIT: That’s a great question. Honestly, MS hasn’t fully made its way into my artwork yet. For a long time, I kept MS in the back of my mind, almost in denial of it.

But over the past year, I’ve started to understand how critical health is to my creative process. MS has taught me that I can’t burn the candle at both ends and still expect to produce meaningful work. Creating art requires clarity of mind and a level of vulnerability that’s hard to access if I’m not taking care of myself.

Taking care of my health—both physically and mentally—has become essential to my art. I’ve learned that if I don’t prioritize my well-being, I can’t fully express myself or create work I’m proud of.

I’ve also realized that my relationship with MS is evolving. Hearing stories from others who live with MS has been comforting and has reminded me that I’m not alone. This sense of connection inspires me to take care of myself so I can keep creating and sharing my story.

In many ways, managing MS feels similar to being an athlete. As an athlete, you train, eat right, and prepare your body to perform. With MS, I’ve had to develop a similar regiment, focusing on things like treatment, stress management, and healthy habits.

This past year, I made the decision to start drug therapy for MS. It was a proactive step to give myself the best chance at living a long and symptom-free life. I realized that taking care of my health is not just about me—it’s about being there for my family, friends, and the people who believe in my art.

For me, art is about expression—sharing pieces of myself with others. And as I’ve gotten better at taking care of my health, I’ve noticed that my art has become more intentional and meaningful. It’s a process of growth, and I’m learning to appreciate that journey.

ALLIÉ: That’s such an important realization, and it’s clear that health and creativity are deeply intertwined for you. When you share your story about MS, how do you hope it impacts public perceptions of the disease? What message do you want to convey to others facing similar challenges?

DEMIT: I think the main message I want to share is about mentality. It’s not always easy to change your mindset, especially when you’re dealing with something as challenging as MS. But for me, the biggest takeaway has been understanding that there’s more than one way to achieve your goals.

When I was younger, I thought there was only one path to becoming a pro soccer player. When that path didn’t work out, I thought the dream was over. What I didn’t realize was that life had other plans for me, and I could still achieve my dream in a different way.

AwareNow Podcast BEYOND THE LINES

Exclusive Interview with Demit Omphroy https://awarenow.us/podcast/beyond-the-lines

DEMIT: (continued) I’ve spoken to a lot of MS patients—some my age, some twice my age, and some even older. Everyone’s journey is different, but the common thread is that we all have to ﬁnd our own path forward.

For some, that path might look like completing an 8K, even if it’s just walking to the mailbox or going down the street. It’s about redeﬁning success on your own terms and ﬁnding ways to accomplish what matters to you.

The most important thing I’ve learned is that we write the script of our lives. Our circumstances don’t get to decide whether we’re happy or fulﬁlled—we do.

ALLIÉ: That’s such a powerful message. Thank you for sharing that.

DEMIT: Absolutely. It’s something I wish I could have told my younger self—to keep ﬁnding the path, no matter how slow the progress might feel. There’s always a way forward.

I’ve also learned to embrace being a student of life. Even as I get older, I’m constantly learning—about myself, about others, and about the world around me. That curiosity has been such a valuable part of my journey.

For me, it all comes back to self-love and resilience. Learning to love myself and take care of my mind and body has been the foundation for everything—whether it’s my career, my art, or my journey with MS. ∎

TO LISTEN Follow Demit on Instagram: @demit Learn more of his story online: www.demitomphroy.com

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CATHY MCKINNON ADVOCATE, AUTHOR, COACH & MOTHER

Photo Credit: Nancy Vela

PERSONAL STORY BY CATHY MCKINNON

FEAR FROM BOUNDARIES TO BRAVERY

Fear. It stops us in our tracks…

We want to be heard, to be loved, to be understood, to be accepted. So, we let things slide. We lower our standards and our boundaries with ourselves, friends, families, and business partners.

We don’t want to rufﬂe feathers, create noise, seem difﬁcult… so we give in.

We stop ﬁghting for ourselves, our standards, our visions to keep things peaceful. But when we give up on ourselves, for the sake of keeping others happy, we are internalizing a resentment that is a ticking time bomb.

A pot ready to boil over…

It will wear you down until you no longer recognize yourself. Anger, bitterness, hurt, hate…

When you take radical self-responsibility and declare its time to be the version of you that you were put on this earth for, things shift.

Standing with boundaries, integrity, resilience and beauty…

This is your life, the one chance you get to stand in your gifts and share your message with the world!

It is your obligation to show up and play all out while you can.

Honor yourself, your life, and your legacy.

Be bold.

Stand strong in your mission.

Lead with your heart.

Craft your legacy. ∎

CATHY MCKINNON Advocate, Author, Coach & Mother

Cathy illuminates’ lives with her gifts- helping women heal, expand their businesses, and facilitate connections. Cathy runs strategy and operations for businesses, nonproﬁts and personal brands allowing women to walk with conﬁdence, growth and healing so they can more effectively lead themselves, their families and their organizations. She challenges us all to not just think big but DO big!

Never

KEVIN PEARCE FORMER PRO SNOWBOARDER, TBI SURVIVOR & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Pearce

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN PEARCE

THE THRIVING EDGE FROM INJURY TO INSPIRATION

Kevin Pearce’s journey is one of extraordinary talent, devastating setbacks, and a profound transformation. Once at the pinnacle of professional snowboarding, his life took an unexpected turn after a traumatic brain injury. Now, through his advocacy work and upcoming documentary, Thrive, Kevin shares an inspiring story of resilience, mental health awareness, and the power of ﬁnding purpose beyond adversity.

ALLIÉ: So let's begin this way. Kevin, you were at the top of your game, living every snowboarder's dream when everything changed in an instant. I wonder if we could start with you taking us back to that moment and sharing how it felt to reconcile your identity as an elite athlete with the new reality that you faced after your injury.

KEVIN: All right, well, let's start here. So, in 2008, I was able to start winning the biggest snowboard contests in the world and being one of the best competitive snowboarders, up there with the likes of Shaun White, Torstein Horgmo,

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Pearce

KEVIN PEARCE

“It’s not about what happens to you, but how you deal with it”

KEVIN: (continued) I went to Japan, and my nickname was the American Dream. I would drop into these indoor big air jumps they made out of snow, and there'd be 60,000 people watching. They’d announce, “Next up, the American Dream, Kevin Pearce.” It was incredible. In those moments, when the heat was on and all the attention was on me, I would do things I’d never done before. I did this multiple times.

Since it all happened, I’ve learned about the ﬂow state or being in the zone. It’s this place where athletes make the impossible possible. George Mumford wrote a book called The Mindful Athlete about this, and it describes how he taught Michael Jordan to get into the zone. I was fully in the zone at that time, doing tricks like 1260s that I had never done before. I would drop in and do it perfectly. Being in the zone is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. I was at the top of professional snowboarding.

And then, as you said, in an instant, it was completely over. But how it unfolded from there was so weird and wild because the brain is so complex. It wasn’t like I just woke up one day and realized, “Oh my God, I can’t go to the Olympics. I can’t be a professional snowboarder.” Instead, I thought, I believed, and I imagined that I’d get back to some sort of snowboarding for years.

It wasn’t just days or months; it was years of this false imagination that I’d get back to the thing I loved so much and was so good at. Now, sitting here nearly 15 years later, I do snowboard and still love it, but not in the competitive way I used to. It was a long, drawn-out process—really, 10 years of healing this brain I injured so badly.

ALLIÉ: I love that—10 years of healing. Just because it’s broken doesn’t mean it stays broken.

KEVIN: Exactly. I’ve done so much in those 10 years—creating neuroplasticity, building new pathways, and making new connections because I broke everything so badly. Before diving into the ways I did that, I’ll say this: I had a really bad concussion a week and a half before the fall on December 31st.

Second concussion syndrome made the head injury so bad. The fall itself wasn’t terrible. It’s on ﬁlm—you can watch it. But if you see it, you’ll think, “Oh, that wasn’t so bad.” As an action sports athlete, we take falls and get back up. My brain was already concussed though, and the second concussion syndrome didn’t work out for me.

This journey has been a process of making all the right choices—taking the right supplements, eating the right foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, and more. Sleep is probably the most important thing for an injured brain. Letting it rest is critical.

There are so many things to manage, and it’s overwhelming. Add a brain injury to that, and you can imagine how overwhelmed I was. But now, I sit here in a place of total and complete happiness. I wouldn’t change this for anything. I have a beautiful wife, two of the cutest kids you could ever imagine, and a third boy on the way. My life is just exploding in a way I can’t quite understand—how something so bad could turn out so good. But that’s life. Bad things happen to all of us.

It’s not about what happens to you, but how you deal with it and keep moving forward. It’s not about having a traumatic brain injury or a missing leg or whatever it might be. We’re not here for that long—maybe 40 or 50 more years, hopefully. That’s a blink of an eye. So why complain about what’s happened? Instead, say, “This happened to me, and I’m going to deal with it and live my life.” Everybody has something to deal with. If you don’t, what kind of life have you lived? Adversity is part of life. Taking that approach has been effective for me. Of course, in the early stages of brain injury, you don’t have that perspective. You’re so badly damaged that all you have is your family. For me, it was my family’s love and support.

PEARCE FORMER PRO SNOWBOARDER, TBI SURVIVOR & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Pearce

KEVIN

KEVIN: (continued) In the documentary about me, the number one thing is my brother, David, who has Down syndrome. He stepped up, along with my mom, dad, and my other brother, Adam. There was this massive amount of love and support. As a father now, all I want to do for my kids is what my parents did and continue to do for me.

ALLIÉ: That’s beautiful. It takes a village, right? This isn’t something we do alone. Recovery, especially from a traumatic brain injury, isn’t just physical—it’s an emotional and mental journey too. For those who’ve been there or are there right now, what were some of the hardest moments you encountered? And how did you ﬁnd your way forward?

KEVIN: For me, sitting here now, I almost try to block out those dark times because they were so bad. But when you ask that, the ﬁrst thing I think of is feeling hopeless—feeling like I was nobody. From the outside, I was this professional snowboarder with an awesome career. But on the inside, I was at the deepest, darkest places of depression and sadness. Not being able to snowboard, not having a job, a license, or even the ability to swallow—it was so much. Time felt like it slowed down. Everything went wrong, from the smallest things, like spilling water, to the biggest—losing sponsors, income, and even a place to live. It was all negative.

It’s hard to say how I got through it. That negativity feels so far away now, but it was overwhelming then. I was ready to give up. My double vision was so severe, and it felt like there was no way forward. But now, I sit here with perfect single vision, looking at you.

ALLIÉ: It’s so amazing to see where you are now. For those in that dark place, your story shows them that it’s possible to move forward.

KEVIN: When you’re in it, it feels like it will never end. For anyone listening who is in that place right now, I want to say: never give up hope. I know it’s easy to lose hope, especially when everything feels so bad all the time. Every second of every day, you’re reminded of your brain injury. It’s not just one bad thing—it’s everything. I used to believe I’d be reminded of my injury forever. But that’s not true anymore. My life isn’t controlled by my brain injury now. It’s hard to see it at the time, but I’ve grown so much from those experiences. At the time, it was nothing but darkness. But now, I see the lessons and the strength that came from it.

ALLIÉ: Let’s talk about Thrive, the documentary you’re creating. The title suggests growth and ﬂourishing. What does thriving mean to you now? And how has your deﬁnition of success evolved?

KEVIN: Success has completely changed for me. It used to mean winning the Olympics, achieving those big milestones in snowboarding. I was always 100% all-in, pushing for perfection. Now, thriving means something different. Raising a family and being in a place of true happiness feels like real thriving. It’s an honest, deep happiness —a kind I didn’t fully know before.

ALLIÉ: That’s beautiful. So let’s talk about the fact that after your injury, you pivoted from snowboarding to becoming a voice for brain injury awareness and mental health. How has this new purpose shaped your life? And what is the message you hope to leave with those who watch your ﬁlm?

KEVIN: This totally new purpose, from being a pro snowboarder to becoming a public speaker, is like night and day— black and white. I don’t get the same joy from what I’m doing now as I did from snowboarding, but it feels good when I do events and gatherings and see people take something away from my story. They leave saying, “That touched me,” or “That helped me.” That’s different from snowboarding, which was really all about me—me getting better, me doing bigger tricks. This new work and the documentary, Thrive, show that you can thrive. You can ﬁnd a purpose in life, even after a brain injury or other challenges.

ALLIÉ: One last question for you today, Kevin. In many interviews, including this one, you’ve spoken about the critical role your family and community played in your recovery. How did their support help you rebuild your life? And what advice would you give to families and individuals facing similar challenges?

Slow down, take a breath, and just listen.

PEARCE FORMER PRO SNOWBOARDER, TBI SURVIVOR & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Photo Courtesy: Kevin Pearce

KEVIN

Exclusive Interview with Kevin Pearce https://awarenow.us/podcast/the-thriving-edge

KEVIN: The support from my family was above and beyond. My mom and dad were there from day one and stayed the whole time. My brother Adam also stepped up, living at Craig Hospital in Denver with me for three and a half months. He turned rehab into a game because he knew how competitive I was. It wasn’t just one day of rehab—it was every day, all day. He’d make it fun, and I’d get competitive. Even though I was brain-injured and couldn’t play the games well, I still wanted to beat my older brother. That positivity helped me through such a negative time. That support continued when I went back to Vermont, living with my parents and restarting life. Imagine being one of the best in the world at something, then becoming like a child again, relearning everything. That’s what happened. I was lucky to be young, but at 22, I thought I had the world ﬁgured out. Starting over was humbling.

For advice, I’d say this: listen to your mom. Moms just want to help. Being a parent now, I see that all parents want is the best for their children. But when you have a brain injury, your brain lies to you. Mine told me I’d get back to snowboarding for years—10 years, in fact. That’s why listening is so critical. Brain injuries are hard because they make you think you know everything. I thought I knew everything before my injury, and after, I was even more stubborn. That’s the opposite of what needs to happen. Slow down, take a step back, take a breath, and just listen.

ALLIÉ: That’s such powerful advice. Let’s circle back to your ﬁlm. Why did you make Thrive?

KEVIN: This ﬁlm is going to give people so much life. At the end of the day, for me, it’s about happiness. We’re here for 80 or 90 years if we’re lucky. Why not make that time happy, fun, and successful? There’s so much negativity in the world—so many downers, so much anger. But we’re all going to die. People don’t want to think about it, but it’s true. So why not make the most of the time we have? With this movie, we’re showing what life can be like after a brain injury. You can be even more successful. You can do even greater things. I’ve been on some of the best snowboarding trips of my life since my injury. The ﬁlm also shows the healing that’s happened over 14 years. Brain scans from then and now are unrecognizable. It’s incredible.

Koby Stevens, with his Aussie Rules football career, is also part of this ﬁlm. Those athletes are on another level. As a pro snowboarder, I see them and think, “I’d never go near those guys!” The intensity, the head injuries—it’s unbelievable. The connections I’ve made, the friendships, the experiences—all of it has been unreal. At times, it’s felt like I’ve been back in that ﬂow state, where everything is just perfect.

ALLIÉ: That’s beautiful. So when can we expect this ﬁlm to come out? Because we need to see it.

KEVIN: Stay tuned. ∎

TO LISTEN Follow Kevin on Instagram: @kevinpearce

TAP/SCAN

Don’t be fooled by appearances…

DREAM EXPERT & BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

THERESA CHEUNG

‘

THE STUFF OF DREAMS’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY THERESA CHEUNG

THROUGH THE GLASS A

SURREAL JOURNEY OF INSTINCT, SURVIVAL & UNCERTAINTY

Theresa Cheung, dream expert and best-selling author shares, “Your dreams are the language of your soul.” In this AwareNow Magazine exclusive column, ‘The Stuff of Dreams’, every month Theresa decodes a dream submitted by one of our readers.

< text here. >

THE DREAM

In a dream, I was in a large city with a big group of people. They were all familiar, but I couldn’t recall any of their names. Strange events were happening, and we decided we should take shelter. We entered a building with glass windows all around, like a showroom but also resembling a mall. I had a feeling I needed to move further away from the front of the building just as two or three cars crashed through the windows. The entire city was covered in ice and had lost power. I noticed my arm had a few cuts from the shattered glass, and I knew we needed to move further back. Everyone else, except for two people, told me it was okay and that the danger had passed. Despite their reassurance, I moved into another room, also full of glass, further away. Moments later, more cars crashed through, narrowly missing me and the two I was with. Unfortunately, more of the group that had stayed behind was caught in the chaos.

- Cameron J.

THE DREAM DECODED

Dear Cameron,

This dream is deliciously complex, suggesting a highly creative mind, but also delightfully simple, suggesting a desire to focus on what truly matters, at the same time. Let's dive in with the opening scenes:

"In a dream, I was in a large city with a big group of people. They were all familiar, but I couldn’t recall any of their names. Strange events were happening, and we decided we should take shelter. We entered a building with glass windows all around, like a showroom but also resembling a mall.”

Cities in dreams are symbols of social interaction and the transactional nature of our lives. Cities can be exciting on the surface but after a while they can lose their allure with the constant focus on externals or appearance and busy todo’s. That is why you struggle to recall any speciﬁc details. Your daily routines are fading into a meaningless blur and will continue to do so until you make changes in your life. You are aware that an inner shift needs to happen and that is why you decide to take shelter. Unfortunately, the place you seek refuge in is not a safe one. It is again focusing on appearance but not substance. It is following the crowd. That's why your dream resorts to a shocking crash scenario to make its point.

AwareNow Podcast THROUGH THE GLASS

Written

and

Narrated

by Theresa Cheung https://awarenow.us/podcast/through-the-glass

“I had a feeling I needed to move further away from the front of the building just as two or three cars crashed through the windows. The entire city was covered in ice and had lost power. I noticed my arm had a few cuts from the shattered glass, and I knew we needed to move further back.”

Your intuition is spot on and wants you to make a move - change direction - as several cars come crashing through the glass supposed to protect you. Vehicles in dreams represent your direction in life so your dreaming mind is urging you to really stop and think what direction you want your life to head in. The people in your dream tell you that everything is okay but thankfully again you trust your own inner compass and move to another room. Your dream says it better than I can. The symbolism is clear.

“Everyone else, except for two people, told me it was okay and that the danger had passed. Despite their reassurance, I moved into another room, also full of glass, further away. Moments later, more cars crashed through, narrowly missing me and the two I was with. Unfortunately, more of the group that had stayed behind was caught in the chaos.”

Yes, you move to another room - and that is progress - but it is still not a place where you will ﬁnd what you are seeking as it is full of glass. The good news is that the others have not sensed that they need to look for a deeper inside out meaning in life so they are left behind in the chaos. There is still hope for you though as the cars miss you, but can you be certain that you are safe from others that might crash into you?

Your dreaming mind wants you to treat this amazingly detailed but wonderfully illuminating dream as the wake up call that it is. Think right now about the direction your life is heading in. Don't be fooled by appearances anymore. Trust the wisdom of your heart and the power of your intuition. It will always point you in the right direction if you can learn to follow your own gut instincts and not the expectations or directions of others, however well meaning. ∎

THERESA CHEUNG

Dream Expert & Best-Selling Author www.theresacheung.com/about-theresa

THERESA CHEUNG is a best-selling author and dream decoding expert who has been researching and writing about spirituality, astrology, dreams, and the paranormal for the past twenty-ﬁve years. With a Master's degree from King's College Cambridge University in Theology and English, and several international best-selling books, including two Sunday Times "top 10 bestsellers", Theresa has over 40 published books and cards on topics of the science of cognition to intuition. Her Dream Dictionary from A to Z (Harper Collins) regularly sits at number 1 on its category's Amazon list, and is regarded as a classic in its ﬁeld.

www.IamAwareNow.com

TAP/SCAN TO LISTEN

‘SCARRED

NOT BROKEN’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY LORI BUTIERRIES

RIGHT NOW WHEN TOMORROW ISN’T PROMISED

Right Now is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the fragile strength of the human spirit. Set in the intimate and quiet confines of a nursery, the play captures the raw and unfiltered emotions of two parents grappling with their infant son’s devastating diagnosis. Through their dialogue, we witness the weight of their grief, the conflict between hope and acceptance, and the profound depth of their love for their child. This is a story about the present—the moments that make life meaningful despite the looming shadow of an uncertain future. It challenges the audience to reflect on the power of love, not as a cure or a solution, but as a gift that can endure even the heaviest of burdens. Right Now invites us to sit in the stillness of these moments and feel the heartbreak, resilience, and beauty of being truly present.

[The stage is dimly lit. The mother stands apart from the crib, lost in thought. Silence fills the room, heavy and raw. After a moment, she speaks quietly, almost to herself, her voice trembling.]

Mother: He's too young... (Pauses, choking up) He's just a baby.

[She takes a deep breath, struggling to steady herself.]

Mother: When the doctor said, "There's no cure," everything... (she falters) went still. It was like the world stopped. (Pauses, eyes distant) My husband was right beside me, but the pain... it felt so private. Like something I couldn't share. Like he was miles away. (A bitter laugh escapes) "Lucky to make it to his second birthday." Lucky? (Her voice breaks) what kind of luck is that? To have your whole life measured in months ... to be frozen in time- forever young.

[She turns, looking at her son in his crib, her expression softening.]

Mother: And there he is... sleeping peacefully... like he doesn't have a terminal and degenerative disease. Untouched by any of this. (Whispering) I wish he could stay that way.

[She wraps her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together.]

Mother: If I could... I'd trade places with him. I'd do anything. But instead, all I can do is watch... (Her voice barely audible) watch him slip further away.

[The father enters quietly, sensing her pain. He stands nearby, watching her, and she feels his presence. Their eyes meet, and silence settles between them, tender and fragile.]

Father: (Gently) You're not alone. We'll hold on to him- together.

Mother: (Voice trembling) But how? How do you hold on when you know you have to let go?

[They look at each other, feeling the weight of their shared grief.]

Father: (Guiding her to sit) There must be something... some trial, a treatment somewhere-maybe overseas-

Mother: (Shaking her head, soft but resolute) We can't afford to chase what-ifs across the world. (Her voice cracks) He needs so much right now. A g-tube, daily respiratory treatments, medical equipment... He needs us here, grounded.

Father: (Frustrated) So... we just give up?

Mother: (Taken aback) I'm not saying give up. I'm saying that we need to do what we can within our means and ability to help our son as we continue to try to process his diagnosis while also improving his quality of life.

Father: (Angry) How can you just accept this?

Mother: (Rising, her voice fierce) Accept this? (Presses a hand to her chest) Every part of me is screaming at me to do something, to fight against this untouchable threat. But I can do nothing but make sure that every day our son has left is safe... and as happy as possible.

[They fall silent, the weight of her words settling.]

Mother: (Taking a deep breath, crossing to the crib) Look at him. So small. So perfect. So... content.

[The father joins her by the crib, standing beside her as they gaze at their son.]

Father: (Quietly) He doesn't know about any of this. All he knows is that we're here and that he's loved.

Mother: (Softly, wiping away a tear) I pray that's enough. There might not be a miracle in his future, not the kind we wanted, but... he won't be alone. He has us.

BILL MCCULLOUGH DIRECTOR & PRODUCER

PERSONAL STORY BY BILL MCCULLOUGH

THE HEART OF THRIVE

A CINEMATIC JOURNEY OF HEALING, HOPE, AND HUMANITY

Throughout my 25 years of creating documentaries, I’ve never encountered a project as impactful and profound as Thrive. This film isn’t just a testament to the art of storytelling; it’s a powerful celebration of the human spirit, an ode to resilience, and a beacon of hope for those who find themselves navigating life’s most difficult challenges.

Cinematically, Thrive will astonish audiences with its stunning visuals and masterfully crafted narrative structure. Every frame has been meticulously shaped to immerse viewers in the raw, visceral emotions of its characters. From the intimate close-ups that reveal the tenuous vulnerabilities of our subjects to the grand, expansive scenes that symbolize the endless possibilities of hope and healing, this film is a visual feast that connects as much with the heart as with the eye.

What makes Thrive truly extraordinary, however, is not just its cinematic beauty but the depth and authenticity of the stories it tells. At its core, this documentary shines a light on individuals who have faced life-altering trauma, embraced their vulnerabilities, and found ways to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. These are stories of tenacity, of courage, and of the unyielding human desire to not just survive but to live fully—to thrive.

We’re not just making a ﬁlm; we’re making an impact.

BILL MCCULLOUGH

DIRECTOR & PRODUCER

ALEX SEARLE FOUNDER OF HUMBLE MIND

‘THE HUMBLE MIND’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY ALEX SEARLE

AUTHENTIC CONNECTION

LESS IS MORE WITH MODERN NETWORKING

I’m often asked for advice on how to connect meaningfully, whether it’s in the context of networking, sales, a presentation or job interview. For sure, being authentic is always best. But exactly how is not clear.

You can think about the words you'd use, or how vigorously to shake their hand, or what your 'oh interesting' face looks like, or which kinds of questions to ask. But what I've learned is that real authenticity is subtraction.

Being authentically yourself doesn't require you to be, think or do anything extra. In fact, it's about dropping all pretences and tactics entirely. Less is more. Strip it all away, and the other person should simply be presented with the real, natural and loose version of you, nothing more. You can only ever 'be' yourself anyway.

Life is too short and dull for the world to be kept from your unique conglomeration of atoms. It's about shifting from thinking to feeling. Going from self-attention to presence. That's what being authentic means: being truly you. Not someone else you think they need to see. This way, whether or not you hit it off, everyone wins.

So, in keeping with the spirit of doing less, here are 3 ways to be better at being yourself when connecting with others:

Let your curiosity give you clues.

What you notice about the person (their hair, how they stand, their accent, a particular word or phrase they use) is a guide for how to approach them. Be curious, and then convert what you notice into questions, which is what will keep the conversation interesting. This also keeps the interaction on a personal level, instead of getting swept away into professional details too quickly.

Show that you're listening.

Nothing kills an interaction faster than feeling like the other person isn't really listening. If you're choosing to listen, then show it. Open your eyes, ﬁx contact on theirs and allow your openness to their responses to impress you about what they're saying. If you have to force it, that's a signal you should pay attention to.

Stay connected to your breath, but not overly so.

It's important to be in your body and notice the sensations you're feeling. But it should not be so much that you're really only paying attention to yourself, instead of being in the moment with another person. Notice your breathing and your body, and then let it go.

The beauty of networking for the ﬁrst time is that you don't have any expectation to live up to yet, so you might as well let your natural curiosity and energy ﬂow like the extraordinary river it is. It will do the work for you, every time. ∎

www.awarenessties.us/alex-searle

ALEX SEARLE is a father of three, an avid road-tripper, and a passionate enthusiast of music, guitar playing, vintage books, nature adventures, yoga, and Indian cuisine. A proliﬁc entrepreneur, podcaster, writer, startup advisor, and community builder, Alex has spent over 12 years collaborating with ambitious startups, global brands, and diverse entrepreneurs and organizations worldwide. Over the course of his career, he has founded four businesses, crafted six- and seven-ﬁgure content campaigns in industries such as software, travel, and energy, advised boards and executive committees on international digital strategies, and developed milliondollar pitch decks for blockchain and healthtech startups. His expertise lies in building stronger businesses and communities through authentic connection, peer-to-peer skills development, and human-centric storytelling.

I’m hoping that in the next 10 years, it becomes the biggest space for disabled people…

ERIN FIELD FOUNDER OF THE 10% COMMUNITY

‘BREAKING

BARRIERS’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY JESSICA FREW

THE 10% BUILDING BRIDGES IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY

While nonverbal, Jessica Frew uses technology to converse about causes to break barriers and build bridges. A model, actress, host and disability advocate, she is committed to challenging perceptions about disability a conversation at a time. Today, she is joined by the founder of The 10% Community, Erin Field.

JESSICA: I have an amazing guest, Erin Field, who had an injury that led to her becoming disabled. She is a pre-law student and the founder of The 10% Community. She is here today to share her incredible story. Erin, please tell us the story about your injury from the beginning to now.

So, I was injured in 2017, about seven years ago now. I was visiting my brother and meeting up with my boyfriend, Jack, who’s now my ﬁancé. We were there for the weekend, and we were up on the roof. There was a hammock up there, attached on one side to a chimney. When we sat down, the chimney collapsed on top of me, breaking my neck and severing my spinal cord at the C5 level. I am now a C5 quadriplegic.

JESSICA: Wow, that is horrible. I can't imagine.

ERIN: It was really scary, deﬁnitely. I was really scared at the time.

“When I first became disabled, I really struggled to find anyone similar or anyone to reach out to with questions.”

JESSICA: Can you describe what you felt like when the doctors told you that you were never going to walk again? How is your life now different from your life pre-injury? How did you overcome your emotions and feelings and adapt to being newly disabled?

ERIN: I think that at the time, when they ﬁrst told me, my mindset was probably like everyone else’s when they ﬁrst get hurt. You just think, "OK, that’s what they’re saying, but I’m going to go to rehab, work hard, and walk again. I’m going to be that miracle case." I’ve heard from a lot of other people that they think the same way. You just don’t believe it could happen to you.

So, that’s how I went into it. Then, once I ﬁnally got home from rehab, I started to realize, "Oh, I don’t think I’m going to walk again." That’s when I began to process it. What helped me adapt the most was keeping myself busy.

Six months after I got hurt, I went back to college, ﬁnished, and graduated. I did a lot of rehab at the time and spent a lot of time with my friends and family, which really helped. Also, fully immersing myself in the disability community and meeting other disabled people made a big difference.

JESSICA: That is amazing. You turned something negative into something positive so quickly. It took me 17 years to do that, and I was born disabled.

ERIN: Yeah, and it’s deﬁnitely still a struggle sometimes, which I know you understand. But I feel like it gets easier every year. I just try to stay positive.

JESSICA: Yeah, me too.

ERIN: It’s hard, though.

JESSICA: Yeah, I did a mental cleanse to try to pull the negativity out of me.

ERIN: Yeah, it’s hard, I think.

JESSICA: You’re the founder of The 10% Community. Please tell us more about it and the mission behind it.

ERIN: The 10% Community is going to be an app that you can download. It’ll be a mix between Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit forums, where people can create groups. We hope it will be a great way for people with disabilities— especially those with similar experiences—to connect. We’re planning to include a resource section, products, and other features based on community needs. When I first became disabled, I really struggled to find anyone similar or anyone to reach out to with questions. We want the app to be something the community can rely on and build together.

Exclusive Interview with Erin Field

https://awarenow.us/podcast/breaking-barriers/erin-ﬁeld

JESSICA: That’s amazing. Where do you see The 10% Community in the next 10 years?

ERIN: I’m hoping that in the next 10 years, it becomes the biggest space for disabled people, especially newly disabled individuals, to turn to for guidance. It should point them in the right direction, help answer their questions, connect them with others with similar disabilities, and provide access to products and support. I also hope it will eventually have a nonprofit side, where people can apply for grants for things they need, helping them financially.

JESSICA: You’re truly an inspiration to everyone. Thank you. What is your advice for someone who is newly injured and feels hopeless?

ERIN: My advice would be to surround yourself with friends and family. That really helped me. If you don’t have a lot of people around you, try reaching out to others on social media or connecting with people who have similar disabilities. It also helps to set goals—some small, some long-term. Working toward those goals keeps you from dwelling on the negative and gives you hope for the future. That’s what really helped me. ∎ AwareNow Podcast THE 10%

Follow Erin on Instagram: @erin.ﬁeldd

Also follow The 10% Community: @thetenpercentapp

Learn more about The 10% Community: www.thetenpercent.io

JESSICA FREW

Model, Actress, Host & Disability Advocate www.awarenessties.us/jessica-frew

JESSICA FREW is a nonverbal actress and model living with cerebral palsy. She communicates using a Tobii eye gaze computer, a tool she also relies on to pre-program her lines for performances. Jessica is a passionate advocate for inclusion in the entertainment industry. She entered the ﬁeld with a clear mission: to create opportunities for disabled, nonverbal actors and to demonstrate their ability to perform on par with their verbal counterparts. Jessica is committed to breaking barriers and challenging perceptions, inspiring producers to recognize the talent and potential of actors who use communication devices. Her ultimate dream is to pave the way for others like her, proving that powerful storytelling transcends traditional norms. www.IamAwareNow.com

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DR. TIFFANY SAUCER DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AT ACHIEVABLE HEALTH

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DR. TIFFANY SAUCER

THE CARE REVOLUTION A FIGHT FOR EQUALITY IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Dr. Tiffany Saucer is revolutionizing mental health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). As the Director of Behavioral Health at Achievable Health, she has spearheaded the creation of tailored mental health services that address longstanding gaps in support for vulnerable populations. Inspired by her personal experiences growing up in South-Central Los Angeles with her beloved aunt, Dr. Saucer’s work dismantles systemic inequalities and paves the way for a more inclusive, compassionate healthcare system.

ALLIÉ: Growing up close with your aunt, who has cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, clearly had a profound inﬂuence on your journey. Dr. Saucer, can you share how those early experiences shaped your vision and passion for the work you do today, especially in advocating for marginalized communities?

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER DIRECTOR OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

“This isn’t easy work. Each family’s needs are unique, so there’s no one-size- ﬁts-all solution.”

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER: (continued) in the 1990s. The civil unrest following Rodney King’s tragedy left scars that remain unhealed. Many parts of the community haven’t been rebuilt. That backdrop shapes my family’s story.

My aunt has cerebral palsy and a profound intellectual disability. She operates developmentally at about a three- to ﬁve-year-old level and has a seizure disorder. I vividly remember coming home from school to an air of tension in my grandmother’s house because my family was responding to one of my aunt’s violent seizures. It was a traumatic experience as a child, knowing something wasn’t right and feeling the weight of it in my body.

These memories gave me deep empathy for my grandmother, who had to make the tough decision that someone always needed to be with my aunt. Sending her to school or integrating her into public systems wasn’t feasible. How could my grandmother feel safe, knowing her child couldn’t tell her how the day went or when something was wrong? Those experiences were formative, shaping the lens through which I view my work today.

ALLIÉ: What a powerful memory. That couldn’t help but shape your journey. You’ve also described a pivotal moment when your grandmother had to leave her job to care for your aunt, highlighting systemic gaps in support. How did witnessing your family’s struggle inform your understanding of the barriers faced by families like yours, and how do you address these barriers at Achievable Health?

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER: I wish I could say this doesn’t still happen, but it does. Just last night, I spoke with a mother who had to leave the workforce to care for her adult child, who is now bigger and stronger than her, making redirection increasingly difﬁcult. They’re at a crossroads, deciding whether to keep their child at home or consider a group home setting, but ﬁnancial barriers make it hard.

When you quit your job to care for a loved one, you become heavily reliant on government support, which is subject to changes with each administration. Families like these already sacri ﬁce so much. My mission is to amplify their stories, to shout from the mountaintops: What about these families who’ve already given so much?

This isn’t easy work. Each family’s needs are unique, so there’s no one-size- ﬁts-all solution. But these conversations need to happen—on micro and macro levels—to raise awareness and strategize for better outcomes.

ALLIÉ: Achievable Health has become a model for integrating mental health care with primary services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. What unique challenges have you faced in expanding these services, and how have those experiences shaped your approach as a leader and clinician?

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER: That’s a great question. I earned a doctorate in social work, but there was no formal training on how to work with individuals who have both intellectual disabilities and mental health needs. I wasn’t classically trained in how to support someone with autism who also has depression or anxiety, for instance.

At Achievable Health, I’m working to ﬁll that gap. We’ve partnered with universities to provide practicums for students, giving them hands-on experience with this population. Even if these students don’t specialize in this ﬁeld, at least they’ll know where to start when they encounter clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

AwareNow Podcast

THE CARE REVOLUTION

Exclusive Interview with Dr. Tiffany Saucer https://awarenow.us/podcast/a-care-revolution

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER: (continued) Building rapport with this population takes time and patience. For example, it might take 10 to 15 sessions before a client with autism feels comfortable enough to share. But that time investment is necessary. By embedding this understanding into training opportunities, we’re equipping future clinicians to approach these cases with conﬁdence and compassion.

ALLIÉ: What keeps you inspired and hopeful in this uphill battle to transform how mental health professionals are educated and engage with this population?

DR. TIFFANY SAUCER: It’s the little moments that keep me going. For instance, hearing about a patient who ﬁnally had their blood drawn after months of difﬁculty—thanks to a team effort involving physicians, medical assistants, family members, and creative strategies—reminds me why this work matters.

Hearing from a practicum student who was initially nervous but is now con ﬁdent and building strong rapport with clients also gives me hope. I dream of training cohorts of clinicians who leave with the skills and empathy needed to support this population. While we’re not there yet, I believe we’re on the right path. ∎

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I should be doing chores…

LORI BUTIERRIES

AUTHOR, NAVY VETERAN & MOTHER OF 2 WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

‘SCARRED NOT BROKEN’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY LORI BUTIERRIES

I SHOULD NEEDED REST TO BE READY

I should be doing chores, it’s Saturday, the to-do list is long— I should be up, be moving, but the mess around me waits, untouched, and I am not inclined to pick it up.

I should be motivated to care, to do right by my family’s needs— but one child is off with the grandparents, the other has a nurse by his side, and so I let my mind drift, checked out for the day.

I should be maximizing this time, wringing every second from the hours, yet here I lie, tangled in blankets, still, feeling not one ounce of guilt. I am so tired.

I should shove aside all those shoulds, let go of the weight they press on me— and just do what I need, rest to be ready for what tomorrow brings. ∎

LORI BUTIERRIES

Author, Navy Veteran & Mother of 2 with Special Needs www.awarenessties.us/lori-butierries

LORI BUTIERRIES is a full-time caregiver to two children with special needs, one child being terminally ill and physically disabled. Lori uses her life experiences and the medical knowledge she gained while serving as a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy to help others facing similar hardships. Lori focuses primarily on advocating for and educating others about the special needs, mental health, and veterans communities. Her long-term goal is to reduce the stigma associated with disability by talking about it with people of all ages, thus minimizing the fear and the mystery attributed to the unknown in this regard.

‘GLOBAL GOOD’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY TANITH HARDING

INSPIRING A BETTER TOMORROW ANNOUNCING THE 2024 GLOBAL YOUTH AWARD WINNERS

The Global Youth Awards supports and showcases youth aged 11–25 who are leading inspirational projects for social and environmental impact around the world. Presented by The Legacy Project, the awards are held annually in London in November and live-streamed globally to reach the 83 countries from which we have now received nominations.

The Global Youth Awards provide support, experiences, personal development, and a global network of opportunities for all. This includes an invitation to become a Global Change Ambassador after the awards, granting access to a network for collaborations, events, mentoring, and training. Here are the 2024 Global Youth Award Winners:

Empowering Leadership

Mohammed Sohail Zulﬁqar (19, India)

Mohammed founded The Footpath School at 17 years old as part of a larger vision to create meaningful change in his community after witnessing the horrors of a religious riot in his locality. The experience stayed with him, especially when he realized that many of those at the forefront were homeless and vulnerable to manipulation by political and religious groups. Alcohol, drugs, and money also played a role in their recruitment. That’s when he started Kudous, to promote interfaith harmony through gatherings and storytelling. However, his efforts were not initially welcomed by the adults in these communities, so he shifted the focus of Kudous to issues like cleanliness, sanitation, and garbage disposal. The Footpath School (thefootpathschool.org) serves over 150 students and has helped over 300 students, supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. Its focus is on teaching religious tolerance and introducing children to their friends' religions, fostering mutual understanding and respect.

Empowering Innovation

Samantha Fung (16, Canada)

At just 10 years old, Samantha Fung began volunteering with neurodivergent students in her school, inspired by her father’s encouragement. She spent an hour daily engaging in activities like Lego, art projects, and trips. When the pandemic disrupted her volunteering, Samantha experienced her own struggles with isolation and frustration from online learning. This led her to wonder how much harder it must have been for special needs children. That thought sparked the creation of Music for Every Child, which has grown into a charity dedicated to youth mobilization, helping children with special needs, and raising awareness. Over 3.5 years, Samantha has engaged more than 250 youth volunteers and raised over $300,000 to fund weekly music therapy sessions in 30 schools across ﬁve cities. The program thrives, according to Samantha, because kids recruit other kids, creating a ripple effect of leadership.

Empowering Change

Heritage Sanmi-Lawal (23, UK)

At 15, while volunteering, Heritage discovered the severity of gender inequality in her community, leading her to establish her organization at 21. With unwavering dedication to community development and gender justice, she has created a lasting impact over seven years. Through her NGO, Her Dream Initiative (@herdream.initiative), Heritage has engaged over 4,000 women and girls across 21 countries through podcasts, interviews, articles, advocacy campaigns, and outreach efforts. In November 2022, she launched the Domestic Violence Responders Directory to combat domestic violence in Nigeria. By 2023, she had also launched the Sexual Violence Survivor Guide to educate girls on reporting sexual violence and curbing rape culture globally. Heritage addresses the impact of climate change on women’s rights, including education, maternal health, and gender-based violence.

Educational Leadership

Claudia Robinson (24, Australia)

Claudia is a dedicated lawyer committed to social justice, human rights, and gender equality. She works and volunteers at community legal centers in Australia, providing free legal advice and representation to marginalized communities, including those affected by domestic violence, homelessness, and ﬁnancial hardship. Claudia serves as Vice-Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights Subcommittee, an Executive Management Committee member of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, and Deputy Chair for the Human Rights Act(s) Committee. She contributed to a key advocacy project on tenancy reform in NSW, which resulted in legislation preventing no-grounds evictions. Through her work, Claudia strives to amplify the voices of the unheard and advance fairness and justice.

Educational Innovation

Niurka Leiva Panizo (17, Peru)

From an early age, Niurka Leiva showed a strong commitment to STEM education and social change in Peru. At 15, she founded Nixderstelar, a project that combines Incan heritage with modern aerospace science. Through this initiative, she has impacted over 6,000 people, training youth and promoting the participation of women in scienti fic careers. Her organization, Gemini-1, the first youth aerospace initiative in Peru, has increased interest in STEM by 80%, with 70% female participation. Additionally, Niurka created Gea Ocllo, a robot that recycles waste and puri fies water, which has been implemented in over 20 communities. Her work has reduced teenage pregnancy by 30% and increased parental awareness of education by 60%. Niurka is breaking barriers in education and creating opportunities for future generations.

Educational Change

Maya Nanan (21, Trinidad and Tobago)

Maya is the founder of the Autism Siblings and Friends Network (ASFN). At the age of 12, inspired by her brother Rahul’s autism diagnosis, she started this organization. ASFN has made a signi ﬁcant impact in Trinidad and Tobago by creating inclusive opportunities for individuals with autism and challenging the stigma surrounding the condition. With grant support from the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust in 2022, ASFN established Rahul’s Clubhouse (rahulsclubhouse.com), an autism-friendly space offering various educational and social programs. Activities include speech therapy, developmental therapy, art and crafts, yoga, hydroponics, and sensory-oriented events. Maya is the ﬁrst person from Trinidad and the Caribbean to be named the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2023/24.

Creative Leadership

Aarohi Bansal (15, Australia)

With a foundation in empathy and advocacy, Aarohi Bansal has devoted her efforts to community enrichment and empowerment. As school captain, she has led initiatives promoting inclusivity and leadership. Recognized with awards such as the NSW Woman of the Year (Ones to Watch) and Next Gen’s Young Leader of the Year, Aarohi has co-founded the War on Waste project, creating a thought-provoking short ﬁlm to further environmental advocacy. She has also volunteered with the Special Olympics, supporting athletes of all abilities, and contributed to the UN Global Youth Advocate Magazine. Aarohi’s work highlights the power of youth voices in driving meaningful change.

Creative Innovation

Mercy Muwanguzi (20, Uganda)

Mercy Muwanguzi developed the UV-Light Rover, an autonomous robot equipped with UV light to disinfect spaces like classrooms and hospital rooms. Designed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the robot addresses the need for safer, more efﬁcient disinfection in resource-limited settings. By reaching hard-to-clean areas and reducing human exposure to contaminated surfaces, the UV-Light Rover contributes to healthier communities and creates potential employment opportunities for Ugandan youth.

Creative Change

Chapman Shum (14, UK/Hong Kong)

Despite being born blind and facing challenges such as autism, speech dif ﬁculties, and hearing loss, Chapman Shum has used his remarkable musical talent to inspire others. By the age of 13, he had achieved Grade 8 in piano with distinction and earned his ABRSM ARSM diploma, likely making him the youngest blind pianist to do so. Chapman uses his platform to raise awareness for SEN (Special Educational Needs) pupils and support charitable causes. His performances on BBC programs and his advocacy work have reached millions, earning him accolades such as the 2024 nasen Young Advocate of the Year. ∎

TANITH HARDING

Director of International Development, The Legacy Project, RoundTable Global www.awarenessties.us/tanith-harding

Tanith is leading change management through commitment to the RoundTable Global Four Global Goals of: Educational Reform, Environmental Rejuvenation, Empowerment for All & Creativity. She delivers innovative and transformational leadership and development programmes in over 30 different countries and is also lead on the international development of philanthropic programmes and projects. This includes working with a growing team of extraordinary Global Change Ambassadors and putting together the Global Youth Awards which celebrate the amazing things our young people are doing to change the world. www.IamAwareNow.com

PAUL S. ROGERS TRANSFORMATION EXPERT, AWARENESS HELLRAISER & PUBLIC SPEAKER

‘RELEASE THE GENIE’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY PAUL S. ROGERS

DON’T JUST SURVIVE CHOOSE TO THRIVE

Release The Genie Fact: The Genie knows how much the doggie in the window is.

Adversity is a shared human experience, weaving through every culture, background, and individual story. Whether it’s ﬁnancial hardship, personal loss, health challenges, or societal setbacks, every individual encounters moments that test their resolve. Many dread hardship. It’s remarkable how some people not only withstand the storm, but emerge stronger, more resilient, and wiser. This begs the question: what are the key factors and traits that enable people to rise above difﬁculties and emerge stronger?

The thing about adversity is that it is something completely external to you and something you cannot control. Here lies the demon. Adversity’s double punch is that it leaves you feeling both helpless and isolated.

Getting knocked down is not your fault. However, staying down is a choice and can easily become a default position. One of my favourite movie dialogs is Rocky’s “Sunshine and Rainbows” speech to his son. “It is not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward.”

I have discovered that having “no choice” becomes a real strength. When your back is against the wall, then use that wall to push off. It is not about being an inspiration; it is simply about survival and putting one foot in front of the other. Focus on something you have control over: the next step, the next minute, the next hour and so on. The bigger picture changes automatically with every step taken. If things are not ok, then it just means you haven’t arrived to where you belong yet.

We hear the word “resilience” thrown around a lot. Resilience is not an inborn trait; it’s a skill that can be cultivated over time. Psychologist Dr. Angela Duckworth, known for her research on grit, emphasizes that perseverance and passion for long-term goals contribute to resilience. People who develop a resilient approach to adversity believe that, while setbacks are temporary, their capacity to overcome them endures.

“We mature with the damage. Not with the years.” -Mathews William

Finding a meaning and purpose in hard times is very dif ﬁcult. Take comfort in that this is a natural state of affairs. You have been spun around so hard that you lose all your bearings. This is a time to look at your life and see if there is any area you are not happy with. The ﬁrst step to take back control is the thought of doing something that you can control. This can be getting that gym membership, reading that book, staying informed and educated, chatting with your network, anything.

In my own journey, I have found huge inspiration and comfort in Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” He argues that a strong sense of purpose can sustain a person through unimaginable suffering.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” -Viktor Frankl

For some, purpose might come from helping others, pursuing a long-held dream, or maintaining faith. For others, it might be as simple as staying committed to family or a cause greater than themselves. This sense of direction helps individuals stay grounded and motivated, even when the path is unclear.

AwareNow Podcast DON’T JUST SURVIVE

Written and Narrated by Paul Rogers https://awarenow.us/podcast/dont-just-survive

“Thriving through adversity is rarely a solo endeavour.”

I have also found volunteer work hugely beneﬁcial. It is carrying out work not for money but something far more precious; gratitude and belonging. Most non proﬁt organisations rely entirely on volunteers, so there are always plenty of opportunities to get involved. This is also a great way to defeat adversity’s second weapon of making a person feel isolated and lost.

Thriving through adversity is rarely a solo endeavour. The importance of a strong support system cannot be overstated. Whether it’s a network of close friends, family, or even a support group that shares similar experiences, having people to lean on provides emotional stability and practical assistance.

Shared experiences of overcoming hardship strengthens bonds and creates a sense of solidarity. Find “your people.” Communities that come together for mutual aid tend to recover more quickly than those that do not.

Helping others in times of shared hardship has been shown to strengthen resilience, as it fosters a sense of purpose and connection. This shared experience of overcoming challenges cultivates hope, making individuals more likely to thrive in the face of future adversity.

Whilst adversity is rarely welcome, it is often the forge in which the strongest, most resourceful, and compassionate aspects of humanity are formed. By understanding these underlying factors, individuals can cultivate their own resilience, ﬁnd their place and turn potential setbacks into profound steps forward. ∎

PAUL S. ROGERS

Transformation Expert, Awareness Hellraiser & Public Speaker www.awarenessties.us/paul-rogers

PAUL S. ROGERS is a keynote public speaking coach, transformation expert, awareness hellraiser, life coach, Trauma TBI, CPTSD mentor, train crash and cancer survivor, public speaking coach, Podcast host “Release the Genie” & best-selling author. His journey has taken him from corporate leader to kitesurfer to teacher on a ﬁrst nations reserve to today. Paul’s goal is to inspire others to ﬁnd their true purpose and passion.

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ERIN MACAULEY INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR #SAMEHERE GLOBAL

FEATURE STORY BY ERIN MACAULEY

THE AFTERMATH A JOURNEY BEYOND ABUSE

After my last article published in AwareNow which detailed my experience with domestic violence, I thought I would dive into the aftermath - what happens after the assault. It’s a side you don’t see many people talking about and I think it’s something survivors need to share to show people if they are experiencing the same things, they aren’t alone.

Let’s start with the new diagnosis. I am now the proud owner of a new diagnosis - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For the ﬁrst couple of weeks to a month after things happened, I was having nightmares about being locked in places. My anxiety increased and I wouldn’t leave my house when I knew my offender was not working (he works out of the city two weeks on and two weeks off), as I was so scared he might have come to my town to try and ﬁnd me. While that may seem irrational to some, it was a very real fear for me so I didn’t go anywhere at all. I was a prisoner in my own bedroom.

Now we are about six weeks out from the incident, the nightmares seem to have stopped but I am getting incredibly bad panic attacks. I stayed at my best friends house for the ﬁrst time since everything happened a few nights ago and the minute I shut the door to the room I was sleeping in, my heart rate jumped up to 142 beats per minute (60-100 is the normal range). This led to me needing more anti anxiety medication at night time to try and calm me down and I cannot sleep anywhere with a closed door.

Panic attacks are so scary. They come out of nowhere and you really feel like you’re going to die. Your heart is beating super fast, you’re getting full body adrenaline rushes, and inside your body just feels weird. You go hot and cold, shake and can feel your heart just racing. My panic attacks only happen at night time, which is strange. Maybe because I am used to the increased day time anxiety now. I am so anxious when going to bed that I try and put it off for as long as I can as I dread knowing what is to come. I’m constantly checking my pulse to see what my heart rate is which is not the most helpful habit to get into, but if it’s within the 60-100bpm phase then I’m okay. If it’s over that, it’s a panic attack coming on and I get scared.

I had recently gotten myself off extra anxiety medications as I didn’t need them anymore and I was doing ﬁne with that. Then bang, these panic attacks hit me like a tonne of bricks and I had to go back on the anxiety medication I had just stopped taking six weeks prior. I am disappointed in myself for going back on this medication. But at the same time I need to give myself some grace as I am only taking it until I can get these panic attacks under control or completely gone.

For a woman that has suffered domestic violence, they are seven times more likely to develop PTSD than those who have never experienced it. It’s also been found they are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation. When someone has been in an emotionally abusive relationship they are more likely to feel ashamed, feel powerless and helpless, question the event and what actually happened (due to the offender gaslighting the victim) and feel manipulated, controlled and used.

THE AFTERMATH

Written and Narrated by Erin

Macauley

https://awarenow.us/podcast/the-aftermath

“I know it is going to take a long time for me to get over this and be able to trust people again. But I’ve survived worse than this so I know I will get through it.”

One message I got from my abuser following his act of domestic violence said ‘I was doing so well before I met you. Now I’m so depressed so thanks for showing me life is shit’. This is gaslighting and making the victim question what happened and the role they played. In my case, I didn’t do anything to deserve the verbal and emotional abuse I received, so to be blamed for him now feeling depressed was laughable to me. I also got messages saying he missed me, then immediately after calling me crazy. Again this is toxic behaviour and gaslighting.

I know that I will be okay. I know it is going to take a long time for me to get over this and be able to trust people again. But I’ve survived worse than this so I know I will get through it. But it just amazes me how one person’s actions can completely destroy your mental health, self esteem and self worth and make you question absolutely everything.

To any woman who is going through what I am now, I want you to know I hear you. I see you. And you will get through this. Take all the time you need to heal and recover. And never ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough or worthy of love, because you are. ∎

ERIN MACAULEY

International Director of Advocacy for #SameHere Global www.awarenessties.us/erin-macauley

ERIN MACAULEY is passionate about all things mental health and is a compassionate voice for those who are struggling with mental illness. Driven to help those most in need, through her vulnerable and open blogging about her own personal struggles, she lifts up others up and gives them hope.

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DR. TODD BROWN FOUNDER OF THE INSPIRE PROJECT & CO-FOUNDER OF OPERATION OUTBREAK

‘

THE INSPIRE PROJECT’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY DR. TODD BROWN PANDEMIC FASCISM

PART 1: COVID ACCELERATED THE SLIDE TO AUTHORITARIANISM IN THE U.S.

The potentially causational relationship between pandemics and fascism may be a complex one but not out of the realm of possibility. In times of social crisis, norms and values can shift, allowing dangerous ideologies to bubble to the surface. COVID provides an example of how public attitudes can quickly shift, changing empathy into indifference or even hostility toward vulnerable populations. This shift is reminiscent of the post 1918 inﬂuenza pandemic era, where public health anxieties were weaponized, feeding into the advances of eugenicist ideals framing certain populations as inherently “weaker” and even disposable. Understanding this trajectory reveals how pandemics can lay the groundwork for fascist tendencies, promoting collective responsibility is not only unnecessary but even undesirable.

The 1918 pandemic was incredibly deadly, with millions dying worldwide. Because of this, social systems struggled to make sense of the ruin. Rather than fostering unity, these conditions created a foundation for the accelerated spread of eugenicist ideas. Foremost was the idea that emphasized the survival of the ﬁttest. This viewpoint helped to create a line of thinking of society as a hierarchy of human worth, arguing that individuals with speci ﬁc traits such as various disabilities, racial backgrounds, or other vulnerabilities were inferior and, in some cases, unworthy of survival. These ideas seeped into policy, shaping societal attitudes toward public health and human value.

Only a few years into the pandemic, the U.S., in particular, witnessed a shift from an initial public mentality of protecting the vulnerable to the idea that the lives of the elderly, disabled, and impoverished were regarded as less valuable. The vulnerable became framed as burdensome and not worthy of our collective resources. People grew angry with the idea that they were responsible for the well-being of others. Social unity eroded as people began categorizing the vulnerable as expendable, laying a foundation for future fascist ideologies that devalued the weak and promoted the idea of a superior society.

In the early days of COVID, the collective effort to ﬂatten the curve underscored a sense of shared responsibility. Masking, social distancing, and stay-at-home orders were widely promoted as necessary measures to protect the most vulnerable among the elderly, immunocompromised, and others at high risk. There was a strong push to care for one another as part of a collective society, emphasizing the duty each person had to safeguard public health.

As the pandemic stretched on, societal fatigue set in, and public commitment to these measures began to ebb. People grew exhausted, frustrated, and economically strained. The psychological shift can be seen where collective responsibility is transformed into individual convenience. The initial willingness to make sacri ﬁces, like wearing masks or avoiding large gatherings, became an afterthought because people became eager to return to normal. What had started as a collective public crisis bringing people together gradually became an annoyance, leading people to view public health interventions as personal burdens instead of communal obligations to help others.

“…empathy can erode and be replaced by frustration and self-interest.”

This fatigue and frustration fed into the narrative that those still at high risk were simply an unfortunate but inevitable casualty of the virus. Vulnerable individuals began to be perceived as burdensome or even disposable, an attitude that echoed eugenicist thinking. In this logic, the strong survive and ﬂourish, while the weak and vulnerable are left to fend for themselves. This is a narrative that underpins fascist ideology, which values strength, purity, and conformity over diversity and compassion.

From very early on in the pandemic, the political right quickly adopted a stance that disregarded the importance of protecting the vulnerable. Some right-wing leaders openly minimized the impact of COVID on elderly and immunocompromised people, framing these populations as acceptable losses in the pursuit of economic stability and personal freedom. Yes, the weak and the old will die, suggesting that their deaths were part of the natural order. This framing sets ﬁre to the idea of collective responsibility, viewing vulnerable lives as expendable for the sake of returning to a more comfortable way of life for the majority.

This mentality was eventually echoed by many on the left. After campaigning heavily on criticisms of how the right handled the pandemic, the left began shifting its stance as vaccines were introduced. The left, once keen on public health measures, increasingly adopted a fatalistic view when vaccines did not produce the herd immunity many had hoped for. Leaders who had initially called for strong public health measures began to accept the same framing put forth by the right, that vulnerable people would suffer, but, oh well, life must go on. This shift culminated in 2022 and 2023, as leaders claimed that the pandemic was “over,” despite COVID continuing to disable and kill thousands.

When Dr. Anthony Fauci stated in early 2024 that “you’ll ﬁnd that the vulnerable will fall by the wayside,” it seemed to summarize a society’s mindset that had been building. Those who remained at risk were beyond the concern of the public. Fauci’s comment, regardless of context, was used to reinforce a sense of superiority among Americans who saw themselves as strong, healthy, and immune to the pandemic’s long-term effects. This arrogance, combined with a lack of empathy for the vulnerable, mirrors a fascist ideology, which often relies on the perception that some lives are worth more than others.

Psychologically, the transition from seeing vulnerable populations as deserving of protection to viewing them as burdens follows a pattern of moral exhaustion and desensitization. In the beginning stages of a crisis, people are often motivated by empathy and a sense of duty. Yet over time, as sacriﬁces become habitual and the crisis persists, empathy can erode and be replaced by frustration and self-interest. Individuals feel overwhelmed by the continuous demands on their compassion, leading them to detach and, ultimately, to view the vulnerable as separate, even antagonistic to their own well-being.

The perception of public health measures as an individual choice rather than a communal necessity deepened this divide. As wearing a mask or avoiding large gatherings came to be seen as personal decisions, the responsibility to protect others shifted from a societal norm to an individual preference. This erosion of collective responsibility facilitated a growing acceptance of inequality: if public health is merely a personal concern, then those who cannot protect themselves are, in this view, failing to take the necessary precautions and not ‘my problem’.

This shift isn’t conﬁned to public health. It can be observed in attitudes toward marginalized populations more broadly, such as the homeless, immigrants, and the LBGTQ+. Increasingly, societal fatigue manifests as a kind of moral apathy, where people would rather just make the problem go away by locking away or deporting those in need than engaging in complex, empathetic solutions. The not my problem attitude allows individuals and governments to disengage from compassion and solidarity, instead prioritizing their own convenience and comfort.

The devaluation of the vulnerable separates society into two groups. Essentially, the public falls into either the strong or the weak, and ultimately, the deserving and the undeserving. This division undermines the idea of a shared human bond that obliges us to protect one another. Disposability, in which certain lives are framed as burdens or impediments to normalcy, can easily slide into a more generalized misanthropy, a belief that some people simply do not belong in society. This line of thinking is characteristic of fascism, which relies on the idea that society should be puri ﬁed of those who are seen as weak or different.

When the vulnerable are cast aside, it not only erodes societal empathy but also reinforces an authoritarian mindset, where the strong should take priority over the weak. This attitude can lead to policies that strip marginalized groups of their rights, treating them as obstacles to an ideal society rather than as people. Whether it’s the disabled, the elderly, the homeless, or the immigrant, this mindset justiﬁes a chilling level of detachment and cruelty toward anyone who does not conform to a narrow deﬁnition of societal worth.

Pandemics test the resilience of societal empathy and the durability of collective responsibility. The COVID pandemic has illustrated how quickly public attitudes can shift, moving from solidarity to apathy, from collective care to individual convenience. This trajectory is not inevitable, but it serves as a warning. When societies become fatigued by compassion, and tire of thinking others are worthy of protection, they begin to open the door to ideologies that celebrate strength and punish weakness.

As history has shown, from the post 1918 eugenics movement to the modern erosion of public health commitment, pandemics can indeed be mechanisms for fascist thinking. To resist this slide, societies must recognize the value of all people, resisting the temptation to frame certain lives as expendable. The path forward must emphasize collective responsibility, or we risk normalizing a world where only the strong survive and the weak are left to “fall by the wayside.” ∎

DR. TODD BROWN

Awareness Ties Columnist www.awarenessties.us/todd-brown

Brown is a winner of multiple education awards, including the U.S. Congressional Teacher of the Year Award, U.S. Henry Ford Innovator Award, Education Foundation Innovator of the Year, and Air Force Association STEM Teacher of the Year. Dr. Brown is the creator and founder of the Inspire Project and cocreator of Operation Outbreak, which was named the Reimagine Education Award for Best Hybrid Program in the world. He is also an Education Ambassador for the United Nations and an Educational Ambassador of the Center for Disease Control (CDC). www.IamAwareNow.com

We both felt trapped, but in very different ways.

INGRID SILVIAN MOTHER OF DEBORAH

‘BEYOND STIGMA’ EXCLUSIVE COLUMN BY NATIONAL SHATTERING SILENCE COALITION

TO KEEP MY DAUGHTER SAFE

A MOTHER'S JOURNEY THROUGH BIPOLAR DISORDER AND ANOSOGNOSIA

Deborah was the youngest of my three daughters. She was unique with her sense of humor, and her artistic talents of drawing and poetry during high school. This all ended shortly after graduation with her first ‘nervous breakdown’, as she referred to it. Her first hospitalization was in 1982, in Pennsylvania, where we lived.

I read the book, I'm Not Sick, I Don't Need Help, by Xavier Amador, Ph.D., with hopes that it could guide me in helping Deborah, who suffers from bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Dr. Amador describes his relationship with his brother who suffered from psychosis. He explains that the biggest obstacle in getting our loved ones help is their lack of insight into being ill. Referred to as anosognosia, this is a common feature of psychosis. My daughter resisting treatment of her bipolar disorder has been a significant barrier to keeping her safe. Dr. Amador’s method worked in getting Deborah to take her antipsychotic medication. But in Deborah’s case, the medications didn’t work.

I have been down this road with her for decades, with fifty involuntary hospitalizations in three states. This cruel disorder was relentless in the cyclical course it took. The swings of her mania were as bad as the downs of her paralyzing depression. As her primary caregiver, I had to concentrate mostly on keeping her alive, safe from harming herself and others, and safe from victimization during periods of crisis. At such times, her medications could never be found. Nor could she account for them.

One day, Deborah called me and abruptly said, "Mom, can you bring me something to eat? I'm hungry."

I tried calming her down. "Debbie, can't you drive down to the store and get yourself something to eat?"

"No, I can't. My car won't start," she said flatly. I realized at this point that she was too afraid to go anywhere at all. Another crisis loomed.

I drove to her apartment and she let me in, staring at me with the all-too-familiar look of suspicion and panic. "I am freezing cold, mom," she declared as she saw me looking at her wrapped in a winter coat in the middle of July. Her window blinds were all closed and her air conditioner was turned off. I knew the signs of the crisis well.

"Debbie, how about if we go for a little ride together down to the crisis center, and we'll just take my car," I tried convincing her. "Oh no, I'm not going anywhere, and you are staying right here with me, mother," her eyes following my every move.

I knew that a 911 call was imminent, but Deborah guarded her phone to prevent me from getting anywhere near it. We both felt trapped, but in very different ways. Finally, her phone rang. She let it ring, while I kept urging her to pick it up. When she finally did, I knew this would be my only chance for a dash to the door. So, I headed outside. She dropped the phone and ran after me, catching up just as I was able to get inside the car and lock the doors. Deborah tried to force the car door open, as she yelled and screamed throughout the parking lot like an abandoned and hysterical child.

This couldn't be my daughter, I thought. She needed help right now, and the faster the better. I had to leave her there and drive to the corner store, where I called 911 (this was before the age of smartphones). The 911 operator understood and promised, "We'll have someone there in a few minutes, are you okay?" I answered, "Yes, please hurry."

INGRID SILVIAN

MOTHER OF DEBORAH

“I pray for there to be light at the end of the tunnel and for a cure to this insidious disorder.”

My heart pounded, but I drove back slowly and far enough away for Deborah not to see me. I waited about ﬁve minutes when a cruiser entered the parking lot of her apartment. I waited a few minutes more, and then saw three police ofﬁcers entering her apartment. Shortly after that, they all, including Deborah, walked out. They got into the cruiser and drove off.

Those are the days of a caregiver's worst nightmares. But at that point, Deborah was out of harm's way and tomorrow would be another day. As for me, hope was all I had left to cling to; hope for the day when Deborah would ﬁnally learn how to stay out of hospitals, and still be able to build a life for herself.

On June 20, 2002, there was an episode that resulted in Deborah's admission to a nursing home in Columbus, Ohio. She was admitted to a locked unit there after she was unable to manage living in her apartment. That meant the Department on Aging had to coordinate this transfer with a new social worker taking over the care and details. Deborah stayed there for ﬁfteen months and was put on Haldol. It caused side effects much more visible and more severe than prior medications, and Deborah was very unhappy there. Most residents were older, and she had a roommate whom she didn't get along with. With the help of the social worker, who promised to work on Deborah's discharge, I was able to ﬁnd acceptable housing for her.

In 2002, I found a supportive housing apartment for formerly homeless people that accepted Deborah. This was a new building which had just opened its doors to 100 single adults.

Since then, there have been twenty more involuntary hospitalizations, all initiated by support staff working in the building - where she could always return to. We have a good, trusting relationship, but the discussion of why she goes in and out of hospitals brings no answers as she insists that she has no idea why someone wants to probate her when she did nothing wrong. And I have had to accept it, no questions asked.

I was the only person in her life she could still count on to be there for her. But our time together is reduced to weekly dinners. I no longer can provide care like I used to because of my own medical needs. I am getting on in years and I worry for the future. I am left to wonder who will take my place after I pass. It often keeps me awake at night. Deborah’s two siblings have long since gone their own way, and there is no family left to take over for me.

Severe bipolar disorder changed Deborah into a different person over the years. Whereas I always had hope that each of the ﬁfty involuntary hospitalizations would be the last one, anosognosia was her worst enemy. She fell through the cracks of a mental health system designed to fail. Deborah has been suffering from a no-fault brain disorder rendering her in need of compassion and understanding rather than stigma, ignorance and traumatic hospital admissions that must have felt like jail sentences to her.

Twenty-two years later, Deborah now lives by herself in subsidized housing. An optimist at heart, I pray for there to be light at the end of the tunnel and for a cure to this insidious disorder. ∎

Nonproﬁt Consultant, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist www.nationalshatteringsilencecoalition.org

We are the voices for those living with and dying far too young from serious brain disorders (SBD). Our nonpartisan alliance of family members, individuals suffering from SBDs, professionals in the trenches, and caring people, all united to ensure brain illness, health, and criminal justice systems count those with SBDs, and their families in all federal, state, and local policy reforms. It was our founder, Jeanne Gore, who casted the vision for achieving social, political, and healthcare changes for compassionate and equitable treatment for ourselves and our loved ones. We dedicate this site to her and the lasting effect of her gracious and generous life. We continue to raise awareness and progress with this monumental ﬁght to ensure proper approach and treatment of those with SBDs. Become a member today and help us move the needle and shatter the silence.

www.IamAwareNow.com

FEATURE STORY BY FARIA ALAM, TASFIA RAHMAN PIYAL & SAIMA ALI FARIHA

FADING INK

THE LOST MAGIC OF HANDWRITTEN LETTERS

The other day, while sorting through old ﬁles in the cupboard, I came across a letter my uncle had written to my mom. He had sent it from the USA when he ﬁrst heard about my birth…

Back then, there were no mobile phones, and even landline calls were too expensive. So, he did the next best thing— he wrote a letter, pouring all his joy and excitement onto paper. It made me realize how much we've lost in this age of instant messages and emojis. Back then, every word carried so much meaning. A letter wasn’t just ink on paper; it held the warmth of waiting, the depth of thought, and the emotions that took time to pour out. No digital message, no matter how quick or convenient, can ever match the heart and soul that came with the strokes of a pen.

The history of letter writing is as old as civilization, with roots stretching back thousands of years. According to the ancient historian Hellanicus, the very ﬁrst handwritten letter was sent by Persian Queen Atossa around 500 BC. By the 18th century, often called the "Golden Age of Letter Writing," letters had become an art form. They were tools for self-expression, love, and storytelling, with epistolary novels and heartfelt correspondence capturing the imagination. Even as technology has shifted communication to screens, the magic of a handwritten letter remains irreplaceable.

Slowly, the magical touch of love in handwritten letters faded with time. People began to be introduced to cutting-edge technologies such as fax, electronic mail, text messages, and, ﬁnally, the massive wave of social media, which provided dozens of alternatives to communicate effortlessly with a single click! It may sound captivating as connecting and starting a conversation with someone is much easier, but the warmth of handwritten words was stolen. A message could be sent in seconds with the press of a button, but the affection and care that went into writing a handwritten letter were lost. The world became more frenetic and people no longer felt they had time to sit and write. Schools began emphasizing typing over cursive writing, hastening the demise of this skill. In today's fast-paced digital age, what was once a popular and meaningful tradition feels like an outdated treasure as waiting has been removed.

However, the painstaking process of taking paper one long dark night at a windowsill to write a letter while ink gets smeared all over the palm deﬁnes a different expression of love, and any message noti ﬁcation cannot make up for that. So, did we let the decaying habit of letter writing actually leave our soul? To be honest, not. Apps are being made till date to entice people to type letters to their loved ones. Flower bouquets carry handwritten notes tucked in between petals. Lunch boxes still carry secret notes. Letter writing might have become a lost habit, but the art of transforming emotions into strokes of ink will never be lost from the heart. ∎