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Suburban PTSD

 I just woke up with some kind of dream about when I was 12 years old. Now I’m going to give you a small story about PTSD, TBI (traumatic brain injury) and me. October 12, 1980 something I was 12. The day is frozen in detail in my sometimes very exacting photographic memory.   I will pick up the day at 2 pm.  I got into the car with my mom and older brother. It was a white 1981 Chevrolet Malibu. Four doors, white, dark red plush  exterior.  My mother was wearing a pair of orange stretchy pants, a white shirt with a matching orange vest that day. My brother had on  light blue jeans and a “Stray Cats” t shirt and sneakers. We drove to the “Busy Bee” indoor flea market in Massapequa, the town where we lived in. Up and down the aisles we walked, my mother was interested in looking at rope gold chain necklaces. She bought me a sweater. I was thrilled by this garment. It was a beige cable sweater with bands of teal and muted pink stripes. Betwixt each  color...
Recent posts

What Was Her Why? Nicolle

Nicolle, age 53,  intended to spend the rest of her working years with WW. She had spent 18 years with the company,  which came to an abrupt end on 05/14/2020. In 2001 Nicolle lost 55 pounds on the program. The following year she joined the WW team as a guide. She went on to be a chat coach for 6 years (two as a priority agent) and personal coach.  She took on these roles at their inception in 2014. She loved her job! She truly enjoyed helping her members  during their journey, and witnessing their transformation firsthand.  One of Nicolle’s strengths (as well as something she enjoyed greatly) was working with members in customer service who were ready to stop the program when they were frustrated,  at the point of giving up. After some time speaking with Nicolle, these members felt renewed and energized, ready to keep going. She has that way with people, and while she was helping them, she was getting something very special back. That was her why! ...

Better Together, a Myth?

  My name is Erica Stein. My name is rather common, but I am definitely anything but ordinary. I live in NYC with tiny dogs that dabble in acting, modeling, and being really cute. Until recently, I was living my most fulfilled life as a guide and a chat coach for WW.  *formerly known as Weight Watchers*  The company formerly known as... always made me think of The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. On May 14th 2020 at 4 pm I had an audio only Zoom call that was an important business update at WW. The business update was short, and not too sweet: A script was read to myself and countless others that informed us we were terminated effective immediately. The call abruptly clicked off, while I was still processing that yes, this actually happened. During this pandemic I fielded calls from those in the front lines, face to face with Covid-19, who needed someone to talk to about their eating choices at the end of a very stressful day. I felt valuable, in some unexpec...