Monthly Archives: May 2020

#CPChatNow Recap- 05-20-2020

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Wednesday, May 20th, 2020 saw participants in the weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow discuss many different topics. To tell you all about the various discussions, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!

Admittedly the night started off on the quiet side. Knowing sometimes people like to lurk, I asked lurkers to say hi. That led to a good laugh.

Zachary and Heather joke about creepy GIFs.

Following up my tweet asking lurkers to say hi, I explained I originally wanted to ask lurkers to tweet out a creepy GIF, but I did not want to affiliate lurking with being creepy. Responding to me, Heather tweeted a GIF which received a seal of approval via a couple likes.

With any ice needing breaking, broke the conversation began flowing. Chat regular Seth mentioned some disability related movies.

#CPChatNow discuss the films 37 Seconds and Margarita with a Straw.

In-particular Seth referenced seeing two interesting films recently, 37 Seconds and Margarita with a Straw. My co-host Devin Axtman said he enjoyed Margarita with a Straw. He described the film as “a very nuanced story.”

Meanwhile I said I did not know about the films. Seth educated me, explaining both essentially tell the same story. A young woman with CP discovering her sexuality. Adding, between the two, he liked Margarita with a Straw better.

Elsewhere in the chat, I echoed a question first asked earlier in the day by Chris.

#CPChatNow participants discuss their stiffness varying.

Chris had asked if others find their stiffness varies. Grace resoundingly responded affirmatively. When asked, Grace named activity, weather, and date as possible triggers for increased stiffness. Thanks to muscle relaxants though, Grace said the issue proves less constant.

How about you? Let us keep the dialogue going. Answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question “How do you manage when you feel extra stiff?” Comment to answer!

Continuing forward with the May 20th, 2020 recap, participants also discussed shaving.

The #CPChatNow community discusses shaving and cerebral palsy.

The shaving subject came to the forefront when I asked if anyone had stories about trouble shaving. Personally I use to cut my ears while shaving, a happening I credited to poor depth perception. Nonetheless, over time I just got better.

Additionally, Tonia shared a shaving story. She recalled shaving a razor-sized chunk of skin off her shin when 11 years old. She still has a scar to this day.

Finally, before bringing this recap to a close I wish to incorporate an update from long-time chat regular Hannah Pike.

Zachary shares an update about one of our OG members, Hannah Pike.

Hannah messaged me during the chat and gave me permission to share with the community an update about her. Beyond what remains captured in the above screen shot, Hannah wanted to express she still truly loves the chat. However, given her health she finds staying on Twitter for long periods difficult. Please continue to keep Hannah in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, do not forget to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. This week’s question asks, “How do you manage when you feel extra stiff?” Answer below!

Then join us each and every Wednesday on Twitter. The fun starts at 8pm ET. Until then, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks, "How do you manage when you feel extra stiff?"
Leave your answer below.
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#CPChatNow Recap- 5/13/2020

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The #CPChatNow recap returns as we recap the happenings of last week’s chat. To quote the late WWE Hall of Famer, Gorilla Monsoon, it was A Happening! Members discussed the latest in their life at home and positives that were happening during quarantine. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed a hot topic these days, wearing masks and the annoyances that brought:

zach tweeted his face mask is fogging up and it slides off his face, i tweeted i have worn one, but it is hot

Next, talk turned to how things have gone when members have ventured out and what the experience has been of others observing social distancing (or not):

i tweeted i had been to a park, grocery store, and fast food restaurant. blemi tweeted she had only been to grocery store, the vehicle registry, and her parent's place and that she missed people. zach tweeted he misses human interaction.
zach asked about social distancing in different settings stating he has only been walking down streets and in a park. blemi tweets that she wears a mask because people don't observe the 6 foot rule, i tweeted we stayed away from people at the park but others didn't, the grocery store wasn't that packed, and the fast food restaurant was in and out

Finally, let’s end this recap with some positivity! Zach asked members to share some positivity:

zach asked members to share positive news. blemi tweeted about seeing rob's family, chris tweeted she passed her mock class and did the paperwork for her teaching job

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What positive things have happened to you during the quarantine? Please share your answers in the comments and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on #CPChatNow.

extend the conversation graphic. multicolored #cpchatnow logo in the upper right hand corner. the question: what positive things have happened to you during this quarantine? the word positivity above a field of daisies and a blue sky

Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern on Twitter at #CPChatNow!

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 04-29-2020

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On Wednesday, April 29th, 2020 participants in our weekly cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow discussed mental health and much more. Here with the details, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Get ready to enjoy your weekly recap.

The aforementioned discussion about mental health started from a conversation between our “Positivity Princess” Linds and myself over working from home.

Zachary and Linds discuss working from home.

Checking in with Linds, I asked her how she was liking working from home. She admitted to feeling shaky about it at first, but now she loves it! One particular reason Linds had initially felt shaky dealt with her not knowing it was okay to voice her concerns.

Such self-doubt can wreck havoc on anyone’s mental health. Borrowing a fellow #CPChatNow co-founder’s mindset (John W. Quinn), we redirected the conversation to focus on solutions. Not problems!

Linds shares what she tells herself to overcome self-doubt.

Solution focused, I asked Linds if she has a phrase or mantra that helps her refocus when self-doubt begins to sabotage her. She answered yes, “I love me.”

Additionally, I shared what I say to myself when negative emotion starts to overwhelm me.

Zachary and Devin share what they tell themselves when they begin feeling overwhelmed.

Personally, I will start feeling overwhelmed. To calm myself down I internally repeat “One thing at a time.” My co-host Devin Axtman chimed in and said he tells himself the same. What about you? Answer as the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “When you find yourself feeling negative, what phrase or mantra do you use to pull yourself through?” Leave your answer in the “Comments” section.

Perhaps rather than repeating a phrase or mantra, you crank up some music. Recently I read about Joey Odum, a blues musician with cerebral palsy.

#CPChatNow participants discuss doing a watch party for Joey Odum's upcoming Facebook stream.
Veronica would be in for a watch party.

Joey Odum plans to play a live Facebook stream this Saturday, May 9th at 3pm ET/2pm CT. Veronica, Devin, and I all expressed interest in doing a watch party for the stream. Please consider joining us! After the stream starts, I will begin the watch party at the CPChatNow Facebook page. So, Saturday afternoon, stay tuned to the page.

In the meantime remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “When you find yourself feeling negative, what phrase or mantra do you use to pull yourself through?” Comment below with your reply.

Until next time remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

This week's extend-the-conversation question asks, "When you find yourself feeling negative, what phrase or mantra do you use to pull yourself through?"
Comment below to answer.