Category: Uplifting Stories
Go With the Flow: Rachel’s Story of Strength and Spirit
“Water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient.Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember, you are half water.If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”— Margaret Atwood I’ve had the privilege of seeing some of the world’s greatest swimmers in action — Michael Phelps… read more
Adapting to Change: How GoodLife’s Neighborhood Network Evolves with the People It Serves
A Smarter Way to Support Aging in Place Change is a natural part of life. As we grow older, our needs, routines, and priorities shift. For many aging adults, those changes bring new challenges — maintaining independence, staying socially connected, and ensuring safety at home. GoodLife’s Neighborhood Network was designed with those realities in mind. The Neighborhood Network is a… read more
What Makes a Neighborhood Network Different? Support Built In, Not Bolted On
For many aging adults, the desire to remain at home is strong. Home represents independence, community, and familiarity. Yet as health and support needs grow, many families are faced with a difficult choice: whether to bring in piecemeal services, rely heavily on family caregivers, or consider costly long-term care facilities. GoodLife’s Neighborhood Network offers a different approach. By designing communities… read more
Cheyenne in One Sentence
Do you remember The King and I? Have you ever wondered about King Mongkut’s peculiar affection for the words “et cetera, et cetera, et cetera”? For whatever reason, the old ruler of Siam was obsessed with ending his every sentence with this particular phrase. Was it just an eccentricity, or was the wise king onto something? I think the man… read more
“We All Love Terry”
Gosh, time really flies by. It seems like yesterday when Terry asked me “Can I hold her?” My daughter was just a few days old but I didn’t hesitate. I had known Terry for about a year which was long enough for me to recognize that behind his gruff, tough-guy demeanor lived a gentle, caring soul. He carefully took my… read more
One Long Journey
One of GoodLife’s most dedicated and loyal employees never leaves the office on Delaware street, has 29 siblings, is exactly 5 feet tall, and has been with the organization for over twenty-two years. Yes, it’s been that long since our beloved Jayhawk statue first arrived at its permanent location in Lawrence. It all started in 2003 when the Lawrence Convention… read more
Amanda’s Lesson
Many years ago, an Englishman named John Spilsbury came up with a curious invention. He decided to draw a map of the world and cut it into many pieces. Then the scrambled pieces had to be put together. It was going to be an educational game: a fun challenge of one’s knowledge of geography. It was made of wood and,… read more
The Heart of Midnight Farm: Touchdowns, Art, and Unbreakable Bonds
The wide receiver clearly had a plan. He made eye contact with the quarterback and sprung into action. With a quick stutter step, he juked his defender and taking advantage of the broken coverage sprinted towards the end zone. The quarterback threw a perfect deep spiral that sailed confidently through the air before landing safely right into the young receiver’s… read more
The Lucky Apartment
“Hey Ivo, are you coming? The game is about to start. We need you at the “lucky” apartment.” Austin’s default expression is a friendly smile but, in this case, even over the phone I can easily sense a very different emotion. He sounds worried and there is a reason for that. He has been my good friend and neighbor for… read more
The Surprising Power of Human Connection for Adults with Disabilities: Matt’s Heartwarming Story
Like many adults with I/DD, Matt thrives on human connection. Matt’s friendship with Kourie is proof that genuine, personal, and consistent human connection is a fuel that makes us better people. A heartwarming reminder of why personal connection allows so many adults with disabilities to thrive. Matt and Kourie’s Friendship During a recent trip to Midnight Farm, I found Matt… read more
