cover story
Be kind to those around you since they
are all fighting their own battles that
you will never know the half of. We are
all the things we tell ourselves we are,
and all the things we tell ourselves we
are not. We become the facades and
masks that we choose to put on. We
are all running towards something and
away from something else. Don't worry
about the distance or what you are
missing, worry about just beginning.
The last thing my Dad said to my
mom was, “You are smarter than you
think you are.” There is a Winnie the
Pooh quote that expands that to read,
“If ever there is a tomorrow when
we're not together, there is something
you must always remember: You are
braver than you believe, stronger than
you seem, smarter than you think, and
loved more than you'll ever know. But
the most important thing is, even if
we're apart...I'll always be with you.”
– A.A. Milne
The final steps of any important
task involve coming to terms and
acceptance. Lots of things in life
seem cliché, but that's because they
are universal rites of passage. They
provide us with shared relatable steps
to our journey through this crazy
life. We are born, we learn, we grow,
and then we die. Don't compare your
middle to anyone else's. The phases
of our journeys are different. We are all
at different places. I sprained my ankle
a month ago and just started physical
therapy. My therapist, Mark, keeps
telling me, “Baby steps.” He is right.
We look at where we want to go and
where we are and we berate ourselves.
We need to change our minds and
thereby, change our worlds. It is a daily
struggle, but I am up to the challenge.
Inspired by Dina and Damon, I coined
the slogan “Can You HAC it?” which
was printed on silicone bracelets. My
bracelet slogan shouldn't have been
a question, it should be a statement! I
can HAC it! If I can, so can you!
.
t
i
C
A
!
I can H
u
o
y
n
a
c
o
s
If I can,
20
.
.
.
u
o
y
k
n
a
h
t
l
a
i
c
Aspe
ool
Presch
n,
s in the Miss Shanno
r
e
h
c
a
s
is
The te , especially
M
m
da and
progra ey, Miss Lin
l and
fu
ls
r
e
e
K
d
Miss
o won ns they
a are s
Meliss The life lesso ter are
h
t.
patien ght my daug her
ith
au
have t t will stay w is
y
ha
y famil
ones t
and m
e
,
s
h
t
y
r
a
alw
ful fo
d
r grate
foreve undation an
fo
ey
h
g
t
n
t
o
a
r
t
h
t
s
chool
s
l in her.
f
il
o
t
s
e
lov
ed us in
lp
e
h
have
MissMel
issa&Mi
ssLinda
y
e
s
l
e
K
s
Mis
Miss Dev
most am on is the
az
instructo ing swim
r. I
be more couldn't
the peac proud, and
e of mind
comes fr
that
om my a
bility
trust Juli
et aroun to
d the
water is
priceless
. Swim
team, he
re we co
me!
MissDevon
Jean
rst
as the fi
ership, w ave
b
m
e
M
Jean, in et at HAC. She g She
m
up.
person I
ned me
to
r and sig
me a tou portant person
im
n if I
e
n
a
p
o
ll
s
ti
y
s
a
h
is
g wit
or is alw
in
o
erns,
d
in
c
r
n
a
e
r
o
t
H
c
me.
there
tions or
nge of
s
s
e
y
e
ll
a
u
e on
a
q
lw
y
h
m
n
he c
have a
rooting
He is a
e
I had t
as been
pretty
a year. , he made m lb
h
a
r
e
o
h
fo
s
ls
a
d
n
an
Damo
e! She is
h a 27 at
ve. Yes
n
it
o
fi
y
w
h
a
e
d
ig
h
id
since
r!
with a the hill outs lders, but th
e teache
p
ou
awesom
truck u ag on my sh hill battle.
up
rb
leathe my real life
ed
r
o
r
ir
m
Damon
Dina’s FIT
c
one of th lass was
e toughe
challeng
st
es, b
of accom ut the feeling
plishme
nt th
can even
hang is a at I
thrill.
TJ&Jordan
Dina
when I walk
Each morning
greeted by
into HAC, I am
ey always
Th
.
an
rd
Jo
TJ and
smile and
nt
sa
have a plea
ern. Juliet goes
words of conc
l, so we could
oo
ch
to HAC Pres
but
the side door,
easily duck in
long way
e
th
ke
ta
e
m
she makes
ng.
or every morni
to the front do
n
ca
we
so
e does
I am so glad sh
me.
lco
we
sk
de
nt
get our fro
Lindsay
erful.
dy Balance is wond
Lindsay’s Mind Bo
ing manner
go
syea
d
an
ice
Her soothing vo
to
about my attempts
made me feel good
n.
tio
ec
ody conn
tap into my Mind/B
Ron
ople
en pe
e wh ay to say
c
i
n
o
It is s of their w gives
t
n
go ou o you. Ro and has
t
e
hello a high fiv ome
t
rs
e
e
i
l
h
u
t
J
augh s!
t
n
e
ev
ove
er m
fanci