Saturday, August 31, 2019

Something Different

This post is not about my books or writing or Tourette Syndrome. This post is about healing. The reason I haven't posted anything recently is because I was dealing with very serious health issues. I'd like to share this short synopsis on how I beat Stage 3 ovarian cancer in 9 months in the hope that it may help others. I am not advocating anything. Just sharing ...



My Story



Let me start by saying that this is what worked for me. I am NOT advocating that anyone stop traditional approaches to the treatment of cancer. I used both chemo and holistic therapies. I was lucky. I wish the same for anyone else who decides to add these two therapies to their cancer treatment.

In late December, 2018, I was officially diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. It was after my surgeon did emergency surgery to relieve a bowel obstruction caused by an very large tumor that was squeezing shut a portion of my bowel. I woke up to an ostomy and the scary news of the cancer. The surgeon said she couldn’t remove the tumor because it was too brittle and the abdomen too murky. I saw several doctors for different issues for months before the surgery. Not one of them detected the cancer…so it continued to grow.

I started Chemo in early February, after my surgery scars were fairly well healed. My CA 125 count (a blood marker for the existence of cancer) at the time of my operation was around 2300. Normal is <35. Right around the time of my first chemo treatment, a friend recommended Ozone Therapy. I checked it out on the internet and liked what I read (See below for website.), so I did another search to find a doctor in my area that knew about and used Ozone Therapy. I was so lucky to find a wonderful, caring holistic doctor who help me immensely. He gave me a site where I could purchase an ozone machine, (See below) and a site where I could purchase an oxygen tank. The site he gave me is no longer in existence so I looked up a site where you could purchase a medical grade oxygen tank. (See below) You may even be able to purchase one in a store locally. He also wrote out a prescription to get the tank filled. He then came over to my house and showed my how to set the machine up and use it. Different cancers have different protocols. That’s why I suggest you find someone who is familiar with the therapy.

A few weeks later another friend recommended the Budwig Protocol. (See below) I looked that up and thought, why not? It can’t hurt. In fact, I had heard about the protocol maybe 20-25 years ago. It’s been around for a long time. It’s a specific combination of cottage cheese and flax oil. It’s cheap and easy.

Both of these protocols saturate the body with oxygen. The Ozone Therapy is more specific to the area that is diseased. The Budwig Protocol is systemic, being absorbed through the gut and distributed to all parts of the body. Anyway, that’s how I understand it. Apparently cancer cells can’t exist in an oxygen saturated environment.

I also took supplements, vitamins, and minerals, all geared to increase my body's health and strength. I have no proof, but I think they helped minimize the chemo's effects.

I watched in awe as my CA 125 count went from 2300 before the first chemo treatment to 650 after the first treatment. After the second treatment the CA 125 count was 68 and after the third treatment it was 13.—well in the range of normal. Subsequent CAT and PET scans showed no signs of cancer. But the protocol was for six treatment, so I got the six. I ended up with peripheral neuropathy in my feet, but even that is healing as the months go on.

My final chemo treatment was May 20, 2019. My second operation to reverse the ostomy, resect the colon, and do a complete hysterectomy (among other things) was on June 10, 2019. The 5 ½ hour surgery was a great success. My last CA 125 in August was a 5. I have been doing the holistic therapies faithfully and will continue to do them for the rest of my life, which I hope will be a long one. BTW, I’ll be 75 on September 25, 2019, and I feel better than I have in years.

All signs, even the microscopic samples the surgeon took during my last operation, say no cancer was detected. I can’t say definitively that the holistic treatments help cure me, but in my heart and mind I believe that the two worlds, western and holistic medicines, combined to give me a quick, relatively painless cure. The fact that I was surrounded by loving family and friends during the whole ordeal was a huge blessing. I think a positive attitude helps and I am lucky to be an optimist by nature. Oh, and there were a lot of people praying for me!

Whatever you or your loved one decides, I hope this information helps. Use it wisely and with discretion. I am not offering medical advice. Just sharing what worked for me. Wishing blessing on all of you who read this.



Ozone Therapy

Ozone Therapy Explained: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/ozone-therapy-cancer-treatment/



Budwig Protocol: http://www.healyourselfathome.com/HOW/NEWSTARTS/1_NUTRITION/EFAs/HOW_TO/budwig_protocol.aspx

The Gift. Fulvic & Humic Concentrate. Suggested by my holistic doctor. https://www.motherearthlabs.com/


Thursday, January 24, 2019

Tourette's Podcast: If One More Person Stares at You

I recently did an interview for the website, Tourette's Podcast. My portion of the interview starts at 31:00 minutes. We talk about my novel, DIFFERENT, and how I came about writing it. It was a privilege to do the interview. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed doing it.






http://tourettespodcast.libsyn.com/s2-episode-14-if-one-more-person-stares-at-you

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Thank You "Unleashing Readers"!




Thank you "Unleashing Reader" for giving me the opportunity to write a blog for you about Understand Kids Who Are Different. Please click on this link to go to their website (or copy and paste). http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1743.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Release Day!







DIFFERENT has been officially released today! It is available not only on the publishers website:

https://absolutelovepublishing.com/product/pre-order-different/

and on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0999577328?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=8GXK70CW3KRYPZMFSKVK,

but also on these other great sites:

Barnes and Noble,
Kobo,
iBooks,
SCRIBD,
Tolino,
24symbols,
OverDrive, and
bibliotheca.

DIFFERENT has been endorsed by The Tourette Association of America and by the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation. Here is what they had to say:

“Being able to see the world through the eyes of someone with Tourette Syndrome is often difficult. Day in and day out we hear from families struggling with Tourette and everything that comes with it: bullying, ostracization, and intolerance. But we also hear stories of strength, bravery, and kindness. I applaud Different for bringing light to this misunderstood neurological condition and personifying the challenges our community overcomes while educating and encouraging compassion. The author does a great job of showing that the term ‘different’ can be used in many ways, and not just as a negative connotation.”
Amanda Talty
President and CEO, Tourette Association of America

“Growing up, I never wanted to be ‘different.’ But then I realized that was just me. I learned early in life that being ‘different’ wasn’t always a bad thing, it was just my new normal. The book Different helps others embrace their own challenges in hopes that everyone can be a better person in the long run. Living with Tourette Syndrome is never easy, but knowing others around you understand where you’re coming from sure makes life a lot easier to manage. Different reminds us all to embrace our challenges and celebrate the ways we are all ‘different.’”
Brad Cohen
Educator, Author, Speaker, and President of the Brad Cohen Tourette Foundation

Very exciting times for me. Hope you all get a chance to read about a young girl who overcomes the challenges of living with Tourette Syndrome and comes to the conclusion that we're all "different" in a way. 

Monday, August 13, 2018

Release Date and Full Cover Reveal



So excited to share! The release date for DIFFERENT is September 13, 2018. It's been a long time in coming. I started writing this book about four years ago, but it was a decade and a half in the making. The subject matter, a child dealing with the challenges of Tourette Syndrome, is very personal to me. I needed distance and time to be far enough away from the emotion of the subject to be objective about it.

My dream is that teachers and families can use the novel as a means of explaining and understanding what Tourette Syndrome is all about while enjoying the story of an atypical child going through typical adolescent angst.

Thank you to all the people in my life who helped make this book a reality. You know who you are. You are in my heart and prayers.

If you are interesting on more information on DIFFERENT, you can find it at https://absolutelovepublishing.com/different/ or on my Facebook page Janet McLaughlin, author.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

DIFFERENT

 



The other day I spent time with two close family members, both suffering with anxiety. Neither could pinpoint the reason they were so stressed. One was new to the feeling; one has dealt with it most of her life. I'm going to refer to the second one as Izzy, the name I gave to the protagonist in my soon-to-be-released Middle Grade novel, DIFFERENT.

Izzy was diagnose with Tourette Syndrome when she was five years old. I watched as she struggled with both physical and vocal tics. They were the outward signs of this neurological condition and she was extremely embarrassed by them. But the hidden issues—the Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, and on occasion the onset of uncontrollable rage—all of which came under the umbrella of TS—were not so visible.

My heart ached for this child as I watched her grow. My first impulse, as a novelist, was to write a book about this devastating disorder and how it affects the child and the family. But I was too close. It hurt too much. I needed distance. I waited more than a decade before I felt emotional capable of putting words on paper. It took several years after that to complete the novel.

My hope is that DIFFERENT will help families, teachers, and the public in general to understand what life is like living with TS. That the disorder is so much more than its physical manifestations. That there is a real person that feels deep pain with every unfriendly/judgmental glance that his or her movements and sounds elicit.

Izzy's handling of her disorder has taught me empathy. Her presence in my life has brought me great joy. My greatest wish is that I've done justice to her and all those afflicted with TS and it's associated disorders. I am humbled by their bravery.

For more information about the novel DIFFERENT or to pre-order,  visit https://absolutelovepublishing.com/shop/. https://absolutelovepublishing.com/shop/


Wednesday, January 10, 2018

 First published with EasternPennPoints, The Official Blog of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of SCBWI


How I Found the Courage to Write a Novel (And It Does Take Courage!)



Today, we’re so happy to host author Janet McLaughlin! Janet is the author of the Soul Sight Mysteries series, including Haunted Echo and Fireworks, and a longtime SCBWI member. She’s here today to lend you some inspiration and courage as you kick off a new writing year!



JML Author Photo 2.17.17.jpg

About fifteen years ago, I met a brilliant, German-born biochemist. At the time, I was editing and publishing three local magazines with my husband. I suppose the biochemist thought that if I could edit a magazine I could edit his book. When he told me it was about getting and staying healthy, I was intrigued. I said yes.

If a foreign-born biochemist asks you to edit a book, be forewarned — it’s going to take a long time. Not only is the terminology going to be challenging, so is the syntax. Sentences are structured differently in different languages. So, throughout the book, I was changing “Throw Mama from the train a kiss” to “Throw a kiss to Mama as you leave on the train,” figuratively speaking.

That experience, which took almost nine months to complete, gave me the courage to explore the possibility of writing my own book. But what kind of book did I want to write? To decide, I took an inventory of my strengths and weaknesses as a writer.

My strengths: I’d been an avid reader all my life, so I intrinsically understood the structure of a novel. I had a logical mind and loved mysteries. I’d been drawn to the paranormal all my adult life, as well. And, in my capacity as editor of our magazines, I had met and interviewed several psychics, or intuitives as they prefer to be called. I knew I wanted to write for children. I had direction.

My weaknesses: I’d never written anything longer than an essay or article. Did I have the talent to write a novel? Did I have the discipline to finish one? The answers to both were self-evident; I’d never know unless I tried.

Before I began, I searched the internet for help and advice. That’s when I stumbled upon the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. What a find! I’m not sure what would have happened to my writing career had I not had the help of the many people I met there, but I doubt my publisher, Absolute Love Publishing, would be waiting for me to finish the third book in my Soul Sight Mysteries series.

The journey hasn’t been an easy one, though. I could paper my walls with the rejections I got. The early ones were especially well deserved. In those days, despite what I was learning from the SCBWI conferences I was attending, I still sent my manuscripts out too early. But that’s okay. Every rejection was a lesson. Every rewrite was a mini-college course in writing.

I have had the privilege of being a member of two SCBWI critique groups over the past 15 years. The first group consisted of women who were mostly at my level — struggling newbies sharing the tidbits of knowledge we gleaned from our own experiences. It lasted years, but there was one woman who was the soul of the group. She passed away suddenly and the group, bereft of spirit, gradually fell apart.

After that, I joined an SCBWI online group. I hadn’t realized at the time that it consisted of women writing historical novels. It wasn’t the right fit for me, but I did meet a kindred soul, and we stayed in touch and critiqued each other’s work online. When we discovered we lived only an hour apart, we met mid-way for lunch and talked for hours. She belonged to a critique group that was breaking up and asked me if I wanted to join a new one that was forming. I’m so glad I said yes. This association with five talented, exceptional writers who don’t mind traveling an hour each way has helped me grow in my craft and has blessed me exponentially.

My online-friend-turned-critique-partner is Augusta Scattergood, author of the fabulous book Glory Be. She was still a struggling writer when I first met her. Knowing Augusta as well as I do, I know she’d say today that she’s still a struggling writer.

Which brings me to my point: When is enough, enough? How long do you continue to struggle, sending out queries, anxiously waiting for answers, knowing in your heart that even if you get an answer it will be a “thanks, but no thanks”? When is one more rejection one too many?

The answer to these questions may be in the asking of new ones. Why are you writing? Is it a chore or a joy? Yes, you’d like to see your name in print on the cover of a beautiful book jacket — I get that. But if it doesn’t happen or hasn’t happened yet, do you quit? Or do you keep on writing, getting better and better with each rewrite, each workshop, each critique (and if you can afford it, each professional edit)?

My advice is to never give up the creative activity of writing, whether you’re the only one who reads your work or it goes out to millions. The real joy is in the creating. If you have children or grandchildren who love to read, well, there’s no better audience than that. And if you’re fortunate enough to find an agent or publisher who “gets” your work, then you can dream about the other children who read your work and get a few hours of freedom from the world of technology. Better still, you might even have a positive impact on a child’s life. Is there any better reason for staying the course? I don’t think so. Do you?

Wednesday, November 29, 2017




Thank you Kirby Larson for the invitation to write for your blog, Friend Friday! This appeared on November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. As I wrote it, I realized that I have a lot to be thankful for!


Friend Friday



Thank you Kirby for the opportunity to share my thoughts, books, and—well—life with your wonderful followers. We writers don’t always get a chance to talk about our craft, and when we do it’s like exhaling a breath we’ve been holding onto for a while. It’s a relief and a pleasure.

I started my writing career as a publisher/editor of small local magazines. As rewarding as that was, there seemed to be something missing. Twenty years later, I found what I was looking for—writing fiction. Not just any kind of fiction. Mysteries and the paranormal was what I really wanted to write. And it had to be for kids, not adults.  Because, not only are kids cool, but all the psychics (or intuitives as they prefer to be called) that I’d interviewed over the years had major issues dealing with their gifts when they were kids. They pretty much wanted them to go away. They just wanted to be normal. And so, the Zoey Christopher mystery series was born.

Zoey is a typical teenager with one exception—she often has visions. Sometimes visions from the past, and sometimes visions of disastrous events before they happen. As much as she’d like to ignore these visions, she feels obliged to do whatever she can to change things for the better.

In Haunted Echo, the first book of the series, Zoey is on vacation on a Caribbean Island with her best friend, Becca, when she encounters a ghost—a former slave who lived in the mid 1800s. Tempe, the young slave-ghost asks Zoey to help her. Zoey’s visions of past events help Tempe understand what happened to her and why she seems stuck in the earthly realm. I based this fictional story on some of the experiences of an intuitive friend that I’d interviewed.



In Fireworks, the newly released second book of the series, Zoey’s visions tell her that her best friend is in trouble. But when she calls, Becca is fine. It isn’t until Becca disappears that Zoey realizes that she’s been kidnapped and it’s up to her to save Becca—with the help of Dan, the new guy who has the gift of seeing auras. Dan’s character is based on a young teen I’d interviewed who had this gift. He hated being different and tried his best to keep this a secret from his peers, making him somewhat of a loner. Dan would probably have suffered the same fate if he hadn’t met Zoey. Ah, yes. Young love prevails. I’m not sure I could write a novel that doesn’t have at least a hint of romance in it!



When I write I keep two objectives in mind. The first is to entertain. Kids today have too many outlets (i.e. social media) to give any book their attention unless they find it entertaining. I’ve found through school visits and feedback from my readers that ghosts and visions keep their interest. Secondly, if just one gifted child’s life is made easier because of my series, all the time and effort put into writing them would be more than rewarding.

Writing is a joy for me, as it is for my many writer friends, especially the ones in my critique group. I am so grateful for them and for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). If any aspiring writers of children’s literature is reading this blog, I can’t express strongly enough the benefits of joining this society and of finding a group of writers that you can share your work with. The rewards are in the sharing, not only with your readers, but with your writing peers. Best of luck to all of you.

 Original post can be found at: http://www.kirbylarson.com/friend-friday-125/

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Books and Cupcakes

Thank you Word Spelunking for this fun interview.



http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/2017/07/interview-and-giveaway-janet-mclaughlin.html

Sunday, July 16, 2017

FIREWORKS Cover Reveal

 



A hot new boy in town with a powerful gift and a best friend in danger will have Zoey and readers seeing "fireworks!" Book available soon! http://absolutelovepublishing.com/fireworks/

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Why I Use My Craft to Create Goodness

Do you remember the thrill of reading your first book? I do. It was one from The Bobbsey Twins series. I can still remember the feel of it. The smell of it. Reading that book set something free inside of me. Even at that very young age, I knew. The knowledge of the world was available to me. All I had to do was find the right books.

That same feeling came over me in my early twenties when a chance comment set me in search of information on Edgar Cayce, the Sleeping Prophet. I knew instinctively that this was a path I needed to explore. In the following decades, I moved from Cayce to Jane Roberts, to Wayne Dyer, to Deepak Chopra, to Lee Carroll, and others. I personally interviewed several psychics, or intuitives as most prefer to be called. Their stories were inspirational and sometimes chilling.

After years of research, I had a cache of knowledge that I wanted to share. I also was aware that, starting around the early 1990s, the children who were being incarnated into our world changed. They were savvier, more skeptical, and less malleable. Many were coming in with abilities that frightened them or made them feel “different.” In fact, those were the most common themes I found with the intuitives that I interviewed—fear and isolation.

I wanted to use the knowledge I’d accumulated over the years to help these special kids to feel more comfortable about who they are. To see that they aren’t alone. That’s when I decided to write a novel about a gifted teen who felt isolated in her world because she was different. A girl who eventually learned to share her secret with close friends and to use her gifts to help others. That was the birth of The Soul Sight Mysteries series.

Finding Absolute Love Publishing was the Universe’s gift to me. Working with like-minded women who “get” what I am trying to do; who don’t try to change the essence of my story but instead work to enhance it; whose underlying message—“to create and publish projects promoting goodness in the world”—is so in sync with mine. Together, I believe, we are creating an opportunity for the children who read my books to not only have hours of enjoyment losing themselves in the world of Zoey Christopher but also to learn that helping others is rewarding in and of itself. And, maybe, even realize that being different isn’t so bad after all.

This post first appeared on the Absolute Love Publishing Company Website.  http://absolutelovepublishing.com/why-i-use-my-craft-to-create-goodness-by-janet-mclaughlin/

Thursday, December 1, 2016

HAUNTED ECHO

Yes, it's been a while since I posted. So much has happened in the past year, both tragic and exciting. Being an optimist, I will focus on the exciting. Absolute Love Publishing Company has just published my book, HAUNTED ECHO.  It's available through Amazon and from the publishers. To learn more about the story you can go to http://absolutelovepublishing.com/haunted-echo/. Or you can check out this author interview I did with https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2016/11/29/author-interview-120-janet-mclaughlin-ya/.


Monday, November 2, 2015

Pain and Guilt



Mom sitting with my Dad last year while he was in rehab.


My 92-year-old mother fell last week and broke her pelvic bone. She's in rehab now and, at times, in a lot of pain. And I sit there, helpless, unable to make it go away. Oh, I pester the nurses and aides, asking them to give her some pain meds, shift her position, do something. They probably can't wait for me to go home.

Every night I pray for my mother to pass peacefully in her sleep. And every morning I wake up feeling guilty for that prayer. Then I go to the rehab center, see her face reflecting pain (and anger), and that prayer creeps back into my consciousness, as does the guilt.

Mom wants to die. She's said it time and time again since my father passed last year and her health started to decline. A bad fall last December and six weeks of rehab left her using a walker. I'm pretty sure she'll need a wheelchair after this one. She hates having to rely on the help of others, especially when it comes to personal care. So I see her pain, her humiliation, and true desire to leave this world and I pray, knowing in my heart that she will be in a better place.

Here's what's really bothering me. There's a part of me that selfishly wants her to die, because it would be easier for me, too. No more worrying about her. No more having to watch her in pain, both physical and emotional. No more guilt for not living close by and seeing my wonderful sister-in-law have to take on the day-to-day care giving. So I pray for forgiveness.

And the cycle continues.


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Newbies, Writing Associations, and Critique Groups. Oh My!







“I've got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen.” 
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women



Many people think writing is a lonely endeavor. You sit in a (hopefully) quiet space, all by yourself, staring at the computer, it's blank page daring you to "Go ahead. Fill me up. Make it good!" What's a writer to do?

If you're new at this game, that feeling of being all on your own can be so intimidating that you might quit before you've given yourself a real chance. So, I'm going to let you in on an open secret. You are not alone. There are many options available to you if you know where to look.

First, search the internet for writers' associations, both local and national. Many national ones have state or regional affiliates. I write for kids, and can highly recommend the Society for Children Book Writers and Illustrators. (SCBWI) It's an international organization that is well regarded in the publishing industry. There are also organizations for mystery, romance, historical, even memoir writers. Find one that fits your category and become a member.

Second, join a critique group in your genre. That take a little more effort, but if you've enrolled in an association, you can most likely find what you're looking for there. And if you can't find one, then start one. Hey, I never said it was easy.

Third, make friends with your characters. They're your creations. They're a part of you, but they also have a life of their own. And that life is fascinating. Your characters take you places you might never go on your own. I love my peeps.

Writing is not a lonely profession. It's one filled with people, both the ones you meet at conferences, et al, and the ones you bring to life in your books.  Go ahead. Give it a try. Fill up those pages. And don't worry about making it good. That comes with time, practice, and the help of that association and critique group. Even if you never get published, you've accomplished something most people only dream about. Honestly, I can't think of a more exciting profession.






 “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” 
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft







Saturday, October 17, 2015

You Only Have To Be Right Once

You Only Have To Be Right Once

 


 

Disappointment. It can be crippling. Whether it's in love, work, or missed opportunity, when something you looked forward to or planned for, doesn't work out, you—okay, I—let it stop me cold. But over the years, I've been able to shorten that period of numbness. Now it lasts for a day, sometimes two. I've learned to put it behind me and forge ahead.

Take yesterday, for example. I'd made an appointment to pitch my new novel to an agent at a writer's conference, but she'd had an emergency and didn't show up. She was the whole reason for my being there in the first place. My stomach dropped. I'd just driven 2 1/2 hours, checked into a motel, and spent more money than I should have. BUT...

The presenter of the conference and the motel people said yes to refunding my money. The agent offered a more direct route to querying her. And, I was able to drive home and sleep in my own bed that night. I'd lost some time, yes, but that's okay. One can do a lot of thinking, plotting out scenes, developing story lines on a long drive. And I'm a believer in fate. Everything happens for a reason. And if I don't see that reason clearly right away, it will make itself know eventually.

It's taken my a long time to learn that lesson. I wish I could pull a "Peggy Sue Got Married" and go back in time. Know then what I know now. That would be so cool. Oooops. I think I just gave away the plot of my next novel. So happy I had that long ride home! 



Saturday, October 10, 2015

The Breathings of the Heart.




William Wordsworth once wrote "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." I've heard the saying "Write what you know" but the "breathings of the heart"? That's so much more than just knowing. It took a decade, but I finally gave myself permission to write about a subject that pierced my heart when I first heard about it.

There was a book inside me that  needed to be told, and I was uniquely qualified to tell it. But I didn't want to. For years it was too painful a subject for me to personally tackle. Too close. Too personal. But enough time has passed since that awful day my granddaughter was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, and the angst has settled down to a numbing sorrow.

My granddaughter is in college now. She's a beautiful child/woman who still has to cope with tics and obsessions and the embarrassment of both. She's shy about talking about it. I can't blame her. Anything that focuses on the symptoms makes them worse. But she knew that I needed to write this novel about living with this neurological disorder and she gave her tacit approval by not saying no.

So, for the past year I've been writing DIFFERENT, a novel about a twelve-year-old child with Tourette Syndrome. Not only has writing this book been cathartic for me, I'm hoping it will help parents, teachers, and the every day citizen to understand the disorder a little better. It's not about cursing. It's about living with embarrassing, uncontrollable urges. It's about not judging. It's about forgiveness and love. It's about being different.

DIFFERENT isn't available yet. It's looking for a home. I'll be sure to let you know when it finds one.