Silver Linings
The Essential Guide to Building Courage, Self-Respect and Wellness
by
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...Of course, I could think of nothing but getting the results and so resolved to put aside my emotion and move into problem-solving mode. I called the Genetic Clinic in Vancouver and left a ‘detailed voice message’ about what had happened in my genetic counsellors’ mailbox. In that message, I also explained my mental state and asked if another doctor could receive and share my results with me if I could arrange it at my end. She called me back and although hesitant to change the rigorous process, agreed to do what she could on her end to get the results to another doctor, if I could indeed find one. I don’t remember exactly what she said during this brief conversation but it left me with the impression or intuition, that my results were positive for the gene. My rational voice saying: “don’t be silly, you’re just reading things into the conversation that are not really there.” My doomsday voice was nattering along incessantly, whispering its poison. I went to the walk-in clinic in town and waited anxiously for a doctor, pleading my case over and over in my head. Was I going to be convincing enough? Would I possibly get someone that would refuse my request given the circumstances? When I did finally get in Dr. Stephen Collyer was, to my great relief, cordial, empathetic and immediately accommodating. He called the genetics counsellor immediately to have the test results delivered to the clinic. Keep the faith doc. Meanwhile, my friend and I waited and supposed many things. I originally did not even consider bringing a friend or support person along to get my results because I was convinced that the results would be negative and it seemed too selfish, negative and silly, too dramatic to ‘waste’ someone’s time with this trivial thing. It was my friend who approached me to ask if I’d like someone to come to the clinic with me. We could talk to pass the time and celebrate the negative’ result` was my rationalization for my change of mind. So we waited. Dr. Collyer was about my age, dark-haired, focused with intense blue eyes, his thin runner’s body moved easily and energetically around the office. He seemed a purposeful man. When he came back into the exam room he quickly sat on the stool directly across from me. He made no small talk and shuffled no papers although he held many. He looked me right in the eyes for a few seconds then down to the paper to read exactly the words upon it, his tone was confident and voice clear in the bare little exam room. The next 16 words changed my life forever....
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About the Book
When a Dark Cloud Hangs Over You, How Do You Live a Life That Shines? When Leaha Mattinson tested gene positive for Huntington’s disease—an incurable genetic illness that attacks the mind and body—she was devastated. Suddenly, her life as a busy working mother of two was turned upside down, and the future was terrifying. But Leaha knew she had a choice to make: either exist in a perpetual state of fear or take charge of her own destiny and make the most of every day. Drawing from her experience as a life and executive coach, as well as her background in fitness, Leaha developed a plan to keep her brain and body in peak condition, halt the onset of HD, and live each day to the fullest, no matter what. So far her efforts have paid off, and she is enjoying vibrant health. In Silver Linings she shares her amazing journey in a way that showcases her courage, wisdom, and quirky sense of humor. Every human being will experience life-changing trials that provoke anxiety and worry. Leaha’s story, written in a coffee shop over a series of icy nights in Canada, resonates with all readers and reminds us of the universal challenge to persevere without letting our circumstances define us. Silver Linings will encourage anyone facing illness or any other type of hardship to live consciously and joyfully…however daunting the future seems.
About the Author
Leaha Mattinson is a change management specialist, life coach, speaker, and author who “walks her talk” in a truly extraordinary way. In 2008 she learned she would someday inherit Huntington’s disease, a genetic, neurological, terminal illness that affects the brain and progressively shuts down the mind and body. It was a devastating diagnosis—yet Leaha realized that to be true to the message she shares with clients, she must live her life consciously with enthusiasm, grace, and gratitude. She developed her own wellness protocol to halt the onset of the disease by focusing on nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep, mindfulness, and a pervasive sense of reverence for life. But the most crucial attribute of Leaha’s success is her mindset: She embraces passion, happiness, and possibility, and turns all negativity into positive life experiences. She attributes her work ethic and values to the example set by her beloved parents and a childhood growing up on a farm where she was immersed in the rhythms of nature. Her mission is to share these valuable insights with others. As a life and executive coach, she guides her clients toward self-improvement by helping them learn how to think, resolve underlying fears, interrupt bad habits, and break through barriers in order to achieve their goals. She is also a speaker, addressing topics such as stress management, finding courage, discovering purpose, living in uncertainty, and facing terminal illness. Leaha is a radio personality, hosting the show Master Your Life on Internet radio, which reaches a global audience. It is aimed at people who are passionate about wellness, personal growth, and self-improvement—those who are eager to bring real change to the way they live and find meaning in a world that’s often brutally stressful and disconnected. Silver Linings: The Essential Guide to Building Courage, Self Respect and Wellness is Leaha’s first book. To learn more about Leaha, visit her website at www.leahamattinson.com.