In pursuit of who, what, how, and why: Meet @pb50

TERESA: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?

@pb50: I suspect I sought out Mayo Clinic Connect for the same reason many do — out of fear and panic during a health crisis. For me that was when I learned the nodule my doctor and I had watched grow slowly for four years was found to be malignant. 

TERESA: What motivates you to take part in Mayo Clinic Connect?

@pb50: The community is a tremendous source of knowledge and emotional support between people who share a common experience. 

TERESA: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?

@pb50: I recall exactly the emotion I was dealing with during diagnosis and treatment. So, if I can help someone take a breath and approach the next steps with acquired knowledge and comfort from the community, I will. Perhaps I have helped someone gain confidence they can use to face health adversity successfully. 

TERESA: What support groups do you participate in?

@pb50: I take part in many of the support groups on Mayo Clinic Connect. You’ll usually find me in these groups and more.

• Aging Well
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Brain & Nervous System
• Lung Cancer

TERESA: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?

@pb50: I have been surprised at the kindness, civility and the desire to impart personal experiences. So many online communities have some degree of hostility for one reason or another, and gratefully none of that negative energy is here. Maybe the occasional outburst borne out of frustration, but even that is rare. 

TERESA: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?

@pb50: I am a learner and I am constantly pursuing who, what, how, and why. I am retired now, so compared to long hours working, I don’t struggle much with balance any longer. I am active in my church, focusing right now on food insecurity in our community. I also talk frequently with my children and my grands who are spread out from the west coast to the east coast. 

TERESA: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.

@pb50: Reading, spending time with my family, learning more about some of my ongoing concerns as I age, such as cognitive decline.I’m looking into whether the cognitive decline is age-based or some form of evolving impairment. So right now I am reading research and learning how I can best arm myself for the fight with diet, exercise, and trying to form new neural pathways in my brain by using practice tests for pattern recognition, logic and reasoning.

TERESA: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?

@pb50: LOL. I am a former Marine. My motto is “If you aren’t the lead dog, the view never changes.”

TERESA: What food can you simply not resist? 

@pb50: Ugh. Sweets are my kryptonite. 

TERESA: What do you love about where you live or vacation? 

@pb50: After years of moving every couple of years for my job, I am loving being close to some of my family! 

TERESA: Puppies or kittens? 

@pb50: Kittens.

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