Author: drpercuoco

During these difficult times of the pandemic, we’ve all got some sort of cross to bear.  It can certainly be overwhelming. Recently, I spent a couple of hours chatting with good friend John Caron. John owns both West End Johnnies and Fenway Johnnies. We discussed the pandemics’ impact on his businesses and then we reminisced about “the good old days”. It was nice for just an hour or so to remember what makes us who we are and celebrate life no matter how difficult it can be. Life is Good!

Another day in quarantine. What to do? I decided to have a chat with my friend Matt. I began treating him when he was 6-years-old (now 32) to help him get rid of a syndrome of childhood migraine headaches. This has been a bittersweet year for Matt. He recently became engaged to the love of his life yet suffered the loss of his brother. Couple this with the corona virus and you’ve got a conversation worthy of another day in quarantine.

In times of difficulty, it makes sense to change your perspective and connect with what truly matters. Materialism is important but human connection will always be the foundation of purpose. The most important things in life cannot be purchased but rather experienced. Love, laughter, appreciation and connection outweigh the material things in life. Imagine achieving all the material things you could possibly dream of but with one caveat; there are no other humans on the planet. You are all alone. Yikes!

Love and connection are the root of the human condition. Slow your mind and focus on what’s important and feel, truly feel, what it’s like to be alive.

Quarantine is a scenario that none of us ever wanted to live through. Unfortunately, here we are. Through all of this, I have found that there is more that connects us than divides us. Today’s conversation is a reflection of what’s in the hearts and minds of me and my guest. It’s a raw conversation of how we’ve used perspective to find joy and hope in an otherwise difficult situation. Keep your heart light, your mind open and you will surely invite sunlight back into your life. Stay strong.

The impact that we have on each other is more powerful than you think.  Twenty years ago, I met an amazing young girl named Mae Lee.  She was quiet, impressionable and thirsty for wisdom. I’ve spent these last 2 decades teaching her what I’ve learned about life through my experiences. The shoe is now on the other foot.

Mae Lee, now 31, has gained valuable life experience and is excited to share what she’s learned. She speaks from the heart in hopes that she may help another young person navigate their way through the gauntlet of life’s difficult emotional experiences. She emphasizes the power of awareness, authenticity and environment in shaping a future full of peace, happiness and purpose.  You won’t want to miss this!

If you’ve lived past your 20’s, then you have some of the all-important life experience.  Sharing your experiences with someone else, who might feel forgotten by life, is a chance to make a difference.  There are so many that struggle to make sense of things around them but with your help and experience perhaps you just may affect their perspective and bring hope back to an otherwise bleak situation. Putting your arm around someone while expressing the strengths that you see in them just may be what it takes to make their journey seem valid.  We all need help.  People need tribes like bees need hives.  There’s power in being part of the solution rather than a part of the problem.

In order to fashion a successful life, you must be aware of the decisions you’re making and the impact that these decisions are having in your life. Every so often you’ll find yourself at the crossroads. It’s in these moments where awareness of who you are and what you want become paramount. Life is a lot like the ocean tides; it ebbs and flows constantly. When things are not going your way, reassess and be aware of the decisions that you’ve been making. The more skilled you become at this, the more effective you’ll be at navigating through the dark moments. The light from a lighthouse is invisible during the day but it rips through the night as a beacon which owes its brilliance to the darkness from which it emanates. You cannot have one without the other. Be aware of your choices and assess if they’re bringing you closer or further from what you want in life.  Mistakes are inevitable but with a great sense of awareness, these mistakes will serve you in the future and remain with you as wisdom.

It’s been said that life does not happen to us but rather for us.  If you embrace this statement, then it’s probable that you’ll be in control of your life. If not, life can seem hopeless.  Life is not trying to screw you. It just happens and you are its’ guest.  You get to make the events of life mean anything you want. This is the understanding behind the statement life happens for us. Life will provide countless events for which your brain has to formulate a meaning. When things are going well, it’s easy to celebrate. When heavy emotional or physical pain hit (like a kidney stone), that’s when the real growth happens.  You are destined to experience the low points of life.  In these moments, with the right mindset, you can develop the wisdom necessary to navigate life’s treacherous landscape and experience consistent happiness. In the difficult moments, remind yourself that you can handle anything and that this too shall pass!