When you’re in pain, it can be harder to find joy in life. In this episode, we meet Paula Golladay, a double amputee who is a competitive runner and part of a supportive community. Her superpower: She uses humor as a way to appreciate life: “I can walk on hot coals, you can't,” says Paula, laughing. “I can walk on glass, you can't. My socks never ever, ever smell. I can wear one pair of socks for an entire year.”

Some highlights in this episode:

1:28: Paula got into athletics in mid-life

2:06: Becoming a double amputee, Paula shifted from cycling to running

2:17: Paula turned to running on a whim

3:35: Paula competed in 68 virtual races during the pandemic

3:50: Paula finally got her runner’s blades

4:06: Running is liberating for Paula

5:39: Paula describes what she does when she feels pain and working through discomfort

6:13: “If we are in pain, something is not right and we need to stop or modify what we are doing, because that's contributing to the pain,” says Kathleen

7:09: Paula gets motivation from her running training group

8:15: Have an inner script and a routine to encourage yourself to exercise

9:16: Paula’s advice to people struggling to find new passion in life

9:55: Paula finds the right balance of having quiet time and being around people

10:52: Paula is a “proud amputee”

11:23: Paula finds humor in describing the benefits of being a double amputee

11:47: Paula’s advice: Believe in yourself and find joy in your life

Contact Our Host

Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at the Global Healthy Living Foundation: lferguson@ghlf.org

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