Names such as Ross, Monica, and Joey remained missing but nonetheless the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow contained a Friends-like vibe Wednesday, November 7th, 2018. I am co-host Zachary Fenell, here to explain what that means. Do you want to guess the best way to achieve this objective? If you said a weekly recap, then give yourself a congratulatory pat on the back!

Friends offered a memorable opening with the cast dancing while The Rembrandts’ song “I’ll Be There For You” plays. Lyrics in-part include “It’s like you are always stuck in second gear when it hasn’t been your day, week, or even year. But, I’ll be there for you.” For multiple #CPChatNow community members, 2018 has been tough. The unfortunate trend continued into the November 7th, 2018 chat.

Early in the chat my co-host Devin Axtman admitted to feeling very tired. Long-time regular Hannah Pike seconded the exhaustion. Although not her day, month, or even year Hannah stood there alongside everyone, tweeting out a pick me up.

The knowledge “So far you’ve survived 100% of your worst days. You’re doing great” helped Hannah get through the day. So she tweeted the quote to help lift spirits. Do you repeat a certain phrase or mantra to empower you past the tough days? Answer for the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What phrase or mantra helps get you through your bad days?” 

Leave your phrase or mantra in the “Comments” section. Another way to get through challenging times involves laughter. During the chat November 7th we shared a few laughs together.

The laughter arose when new lingo emerged as a topic. Long-time #CPChatNow participant Jen mentioned the new lingo, for example “woke” and “what’s the tea.” Responding I credited #CPChatNow for single-handedly keeping me in the know. Simultaneously I tweeted a GIF featuring an old man shaking his finger accompanied by the caption “When I was your age, television was called books.”

Replying Jen recalled the lingo from her days, technically our days since only a few years separate us. One in-particular caught youngling Shira’s attention. She said others still use “Talk to the hand” around her. I quipped talk to the hand is a classic because the face don’t want to listen!

Elsewhere in the chat the looming winter surfaced as a common subject.

I posed the question, “What do you find the best and worst part of winter?” Devin called the cold the worst part and Christmas the best part. I agreed about the holidays, saying people slow down and spend time with loved ones. A bit pessimistic though, I wondered how long that would last commenting “Just look at what Thanksgiving has become!”

Offering some hope Shira shared an optimistic outlook. She believes the holidays will naturally cycle back around to a familial focus. Her optimism lessened my pessimism. Once again an instance where #CPChatNow participants remain there for each other!

Keep the positivity going. Remember to answer the week’s extend-the-conversation question, “What phrase or mantra helps to get you through your bad days?” Reply below in the “Comments.”

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

-Zachary