NKCarr's Blog

Kayaked today on Lake Jeanette for the first time since I broke my elbow and banged up my knee in August. Heavenly!

The joy Erin experiences from a couple of hours at our local minor league ballpark offers fresh perspective regarding what matters. Life, belonging, community, time with friends, family and others of goodwill. The patience of parents as they help their children navigate there flights of gently sloping yet still intimidating concrete stairs. I reflect upon the wisdom of an early mentor, who told me that the greatest challenge is not the disability itself, but the disability of isolation that far too often ensues. I’m thankful that previous generations of parents of adults with intellectual disabilities, self advocates and other allies created and nurtured organizations like the ARC of Greensboro. We build on their legacy and our community is better for it. #Differentgifts

Comfort food addiction? Carb and sugar cravings? Bring it on.

Behavioral change is challenging, to say the least. Fell off the healthy eating wagon today; will get back on tomorrow.

Yogurt, grapes, chicken and granola comprised my food intake today. I’m remembering why I hate dieting. Perhaps I should simply continue avoiding family photos.

Does adding blueberries make vanilla ice cream a healthy snack?

Switched to swimming today. Ugh. Stiff, slow and painful, especially on left side still recovering from elbow break and knee crash last fall. Eked my way to 1,500 yards. Blessedly hot whirlpool only redeeming aspect of the entire experience. Ditched my usual Lance crackers out of the vending machine for chicken salad and grapes.

Day One: After 20 year’s of benign neglect, my body is complaining, loudly and often. Apparently, unremitting stress, hunching over a computer 12 hours a day and meals scavenged from vending machines are not conducive to health or longevity. So, time for a change. A walk in the woods, copious amounts of water and more healthy food choices marked my path today. Let the journey begin. 3 miles; 8198 steps; 2 floors.

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One of the things I love most about America is our ability to pull together in times of crisis. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, stories of selflessness, kindness and generosity remind us that ordinary people often do the extraordinary, despite risks to their own well-being. Indeed, it is the unsung heroes of our daily lives that restore my faith in humanity when the evidence to the contrary seems particularly damning. Irma also illustrates why good governance and public policy matter. Voluntarism alone won’t rebuild broken lives and communities, nor will corporate or private philanthropy. Government will, aided by the actions and resources of others.

Here’s to all the public school patriots who will welcome, love and teach all kids this fall. Our democracy is counting on you to restore their hope and faith in our founding principles and shared values after a summer of harsh lessons on the enduring power of hate. Our world is counting on you to continue America’s great gift of educating all children well regardless of race, creed, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration or documentation status, or knowledge of English. Let the grand experiment in free public schooling for all continue, recognizing that only an educated citizenry is truly free. Welcome back to school, patriots!