Epilepsy Talk
Brag a little! What’s been your greatest success? | July 28, 2023
There was a time when I truly wanted to die.
Life was so out of control and I was so desperate, I saw death as the only way out.
Death was my siren song…whispering to me every day.
And truly, I tried to die. (As you can see, that part wasn’t very successful!)
So, I lived. Rethought my life. And my priorities. For a very long time.
And since I had been given a second chance, I figured I’d better get it right this time.
My husband suggested, “Since your biggest joy is in helping others, perhaps that’s what you should make your life’s work.”
How? I mean, I’m a writer. I can’t exactly save the world.
But at least I could write. And it made sense to write about something I knew — intimately.
Epilepsy Talk was almost like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
A small, loving “family” that was born in January, 2009 and continues to grow and flourish.
The people are caring and sharing. They truly give of themselves, honestly and selflessly.
Unlike other environments, there is no dissing or infighting.
Quite the opposite…
Support is our mantra.
We’re there or we’ve been there, in the painful and puzzling world of epilepsy.
We’ve walked a million miles in each other’s shoes.
How many others could or would understand?
You are all so inspiring, brave and courageous.
Not like me, wanting to opt out by killing myself.
You have taught me how to live. And why.
All of you who have joined our “family,” have made Epilepsy Talk a success.
Without you, I wouldn’t exist.
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About the author
Epilepsy Talk 
I navigate life for my 28 year old daughter who suffers from refractory epilepsy due to dysplasia. Your column has sustained me for YEARS! Thanks 🙏
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Comment by Fran — July 28, 2023 @ 11:02 AM
That makes my day!
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 28, 2023 @ 11:14 AM
[…] Jul 28, 2023Kenneth Brag a little! What’s been your greatest success? […]
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Pingback by Your Greatest success – Christian Devotions — July 28, 2023 @ 12:10 PM
The memory is horrible so school was rough. I decided I wanted to have at least one good subject so I concentrated on math. I made a pastime of figuring out problems in my head.
The first two jobs I had were in banks. Both had a math test to take. At the first bank, I finished their 80-question test in 7 1/2 minutes. They looked puzzled so I asked if anyone finished the test that fast. Then they told me it was the first time anyone finished the test period.
My second job started with a 90-question test. Once again I was the first person to finish the test. Only this time, someone came in later and became the second person to finish the test…my nephew who told me I showed him how to do math.
Finally, I became an accountant for the federal government, spent 31 years there and when I retired, I heard from my co-workers that anytime they had a math-related problem, the boss would say, “We need Ed for this.”.
Just to give you an idea how my head works, I just saw the doctor today who gave me a shot but I don’t remember what it was for, but when he asked me for the dates of my surgeries last year, I told him 1/21, 3/24 and 8/1 because that’s 11 squared, 18 squared and 9 squared.
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Comment by Ed Lugge — July 28, 2023 @ 2:34 PM
OMG. Bravo for you. You’re brilliant. Especially compared to me. (I can’t even count to 10 on 10 toes.)
But Im can remember the day I stopped smoking. August 2, 2020.
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — July 28, 2023 @ 3:28 PM
A delight–thanks for sharing your story.
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Comment by William Lipkin — July 28, 2023 @ 2:56 PM
Yeah, so How is it, you meaning I, can not take the credit for any 1 success, since I have had 0 success in life due to seizures & all the JUDGES of this world who keeps knocking me to the ground in 1 way or another ? So yeah I believe in God & Jesus Christ, who without I may not be here right now, and the things that I did over the past 22 years especially & since I was a kid, I knew then & know now those things & those people who never could try to walk a yard in my shoes, much less a mile. Strange how you don’t get respect or phone calls from some people no matter if they believe in God or not, when they know that YOU can not take all the credit to brag on yourself, when you know that without God, & Jesus Christ, you are powerless. JOHN 15:5 says,,, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me & I in them will produce much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. THAT is what I can brag about, because I know that I can not do anything all alone.
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Comment by James D — July 28, 2023 @ 8:29 PM
making a life in a world that won’t accept my illness, like you I sometimes reached that bottom line, one thing that stopped there was that I had a budgie so bad tempered no one liked having her around, if I died she would too, another good feeling was at times I just felt I was thumbing my nose at folks who were nasty but I was living, achieving despite what you might say, I’m better than you!
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Comment by Gail Barry — August 1, 2023 @ 3:34 AM
“Living well is the best revenge.”
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — August 1, 2023 @ 10:39 AM
Hi Phylis,
Thanks for your inspiration and helping so many!
Best, Daniel
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Comment by Daniel Vincent — October 9, 2023 @ 3:43 PM
Back ‘atcha! 🤩
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Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — October 9, 2023 @ 3:44 PM