Monthly Archives: February 2024

#CPChatNow Recap- 2/21/2024

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Last week in #CPChatNow was hopping as always. Member discussed nostalgia, video games, and what they love about themselves. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap. All aboard!

First, members discussed things that bring them nostalgia.

chris tweeted nick toons and swiss miss hot chocolate make her nostalgic
veronica tweets cinnamon toast and tv shows such as scarecrow and mrs. king bring nostalgia.

Next, Stephen tweeted about how he was looking forward to the summer and the upcoming college football game.

stephen tweeted he can't wait for the summer along with a picture of ea sport's college football 25

Finally, members expanded on the Valentine’s Day spirit and tweeted what they liked about themselves.

chris tweeted she loves her ability to care for others including her empathy and love for others. zach tweets empathy is an admirable quality
I tweeted i love my ability to adapt and keep my cool. zach tweets adaptability is important because life never goes as planned and you need to be able to adapt and having a disability prepares you to do that

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question. I would like to go back to our nostalgia conversation. What is your favorite childhood memory? Mine is going to a Green Bay Packers game. Please share your memories in the comments.

-Devin

#CPChatNow Recap- 02-14-2024

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Thanks to Valentine’s Day, the live cerebral palsy X (formerly Twitter) chat #CPChatNow remained on the quieter side Wednesday, February 14th, 2024. Still, the chat went on. If you happened to miss the discussion, do not fret! I, chat co-host Zachary Fenell, am here with your weekly recap.

Those who missed the chat included my co-host Devin Axtman.

Devin stops by #CPChatNow to note he is at Valentine's Day dinner.

Although, Devin did stop by to inform us he was eating Valentine’s Day dinner at an Italian restaurant. While Devin and surely others focused on being present for their Valentine’s Day plans, Veronica and I enjoyed a Valentine’s Day related conversation.

Zachary and Veronica discuss self-love.

I initiated the discussion by posing the question, “I believe love starts with self-love. What do you love about yourself?” Veronica commented “Zach, asking the hard questions tonight,” before responding, “I love my smile and my writing.”

Meanwhile I shared, “I love the sense of purpose I have in life. That purpose (make a positive difference in the life of others) helps direct my actions and decisions I make.” What about you though? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What do you love about yourself?” Leave your reply in the “Comments” section.

Veronica and I continued to discuss self-love after Veronica linked to an ABC 7 KRCR story on the topic.

Zachary gives his thoughts on an article about self-love Veronica shared.

Once I read the piece, I noted, “A lot mentioned in that article was also discussed in the book I recently read How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera.” Adding in a separate reply, “Another point made in the article that I think a lot of people struggle with is worrying their self-love will be mistaken as arrogance.”

Checkout the story for yourself, “Redding therapist talks importance of practicing self-love on Valentine’s Day.” Then reassure yourself that self-love is not arrogance and answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What do you love about yourself?”

Answer for the week's extend-the-conversation question, what do you love about yourself?

Answer below! Afterwards, mark your calendar to join us every Wednesday on X, starting at 8pm ET. Until then, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

#CPChatNow Recap- 02-07-2024

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Various subjects came and went during the live X (formerly Twitter) cerebral palsy (CP) chat #CPChatNow Wednesday, February 7th, 2024. To fill you in on some highlights, I am chat co-host Zachary Fenell. Welcome to your weekly recap!

Like usual, the chat began with participants enjoying small talk with each other. That friendly chatter eventually led to discussion about how fast time moves.

#CPChatNow participants talk about how fast time moves.

Veronica provided a real life example demonstrating how the years can sneak by. She mentioned seeing Come Back Buddy the previous weekend and remarking to her husband, “It was 4 or 5 years since we heard them the first time.” Then Veronica realized, “The pandemic was 4 years ago. It’s been 6 years since we first heard the band!”

In response to Veronica, I noted “Next year will be my 20-year high school reunion.” Jokingly adding, “Time needs to slow its roll.”

My co-host Devin Axtman replied, saying “I had no desire to go to my high school reunion.” The reunion talk would continue.

Zachary talks about adding a 10-year reunion epilogue to his first memoir Off Balanced.

Personally, I looked forward to my 10-year high school reunion because I saw the occasion as an opportunity to show my peers a more authentic me. An authenticity I suffocated growing up by trying to hide my CP so I could blend in and be like everyone else. My emotional journey going from embarrassed about being different to embracing my CP I detail in my first memoir Off Balanced. As I mentioned in the chat, my 10-year high school reunion experience inspired me to add an epilogue to the book, which you could checkout on Amazon.

Enough shameless self-promoting on my end though! Let us get back to the conversation from February 7th, 2024. Since we focused our attention to time, a natural subject which arose involved keeping in touch with old friends.

Veronica and Zachary talk about keeping in touch with friends.

Reflecting on my friendships from high school and college, I explained those friends no longer live in the area creating an issue for keeping in touch. Meanwhile Veronica said, “I keep in touch with my childhood friends with Facebook and try to meet up with them when I get back home.” She continued, “I also tell everyone our door is open if anyone wants to get away from the snow.”

What advice would you give for maintaining friendships? Answer for the extend-the-conversation question, “What advice do you have for keeping in touch with friends?”

Answer below in the “Comments” section. Afterwards, mark your calendar to join us each and every Wednesday on X, starting at 8pm ET.

Until then, remember. Don’t blend in. Blend out!

-Zachary

Answer for the extend-the-conversation question, "What advice do you have for keeping in touch with friends?"

#CPChatNow Recap- 1/31/2024

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This past week in #CPChatNow was a happening as always! Members discussed their accomplishments for the month, grad school, and building self-confidence. This is #CPChatNow co-host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, members discussed things they had been doing this month. 

zach asked what the most brave things members had done stating he went on an escalator, veronica tweeted she went on a walk and cluedup game, hannah tweeted she hates escalators

Veronica expanded more on the CluedUpp game she played. It sounds fun!

zach asked veronica about the clued upp game. she said you walk around the city with a map and clues on an app

Next, Chris talked about how she had started grad school and it was an adjustment from undergrad.

chris tweets grad school is overwhelming at first and adjusting to the work is intense because they have her thinking like a social worker week 1

Finally, Zach asked how members built their self-confidence.

zach asked how members build self confidence and stated he practiced positive self talk during reverse crunches

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What adventures would you like to go on?

Thanks for reading and join us each Wednesday at 8 eastern on X at #CPChatNow.

-Devin