When you’re in pain, it can be harder to find joy in life. In this episode, we meet Paula Golladay, a double amputee who is a competitive runner and part of a supportive community. Her superpower: She uses humor as a way to appreciate life: “I can walk on hot coals, you can't,” says Paula, laughing. “I can walk on glass, you can't. My socks never ever, ever smell. I can wear one pair of socks for an entire year.”

Some highlights in this episode:

1:28: Paula got into athletics in mid-life

2:06: Becoming a double amputee, Paula shifted from cycling to running

2:17: Paula turned to running on a whim

3:35: Paula competed in 68 virtual races during the pandemic

3:50: Paula finally got her runner’s blades

4:06: Running is liberating for Paula

5:39: Paula describes what she does when she feels pain and working through discomfort

6:13: “If we are in pain, something is not right and we need to stop or modify what we are doing, because that's contributing to the pain,” says Kathleen

7:09: Paula gets motivation from her running training group

8:15: Have an inner script and a routine to encourage yourself to exercise

9:16: Paula’s advice to people struggling to find new passion in life

9:55: Paula finds the right balance of having quiet time and being around people

10:52: Paula is a “proud amputee”

11:23: Paula finds humor in describing the benefits of being a double amputee

11:47: Paula’s advice: Believe in yourself and find joy in your life

Contact Our Host

Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at the Global Healthy Living Foundation:lferguson@ghlf.org

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to ThrivingWhileAching@ghlf.org

Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

When you’re in pain, it can be harder to find joy in life. In this episode, we meet Paula Golladay, a double amputee who is a competitive runner and part of a supportive community. Her superpower: She uses humor as a way to appreciate life: “I can walk on hot coals, you can't,” says Paula, laughing. “I can walk on glass, you can't. My socks never ever, ever smell. I can wear one pair of socks for an entire year.”
Some highlights in this episode:
1:28: Paula got into athletics in mid-life
2:06: Becoming a double amputee, Paula shifted from cycling to running
2:17: Paula turned to running on a whim
3:35: Paula competed in 68 virtual races during the pandemic
3:50: Paula finally got her runner’s blades
4:06: Running is liberating for Paula
5:39: Paula describes what she does when she feels pain and working through discomfort
6:13: “If we are in pain, something is not right and we need to stop or modify what we are doing, because that's contributing to the pain,” says Kathleen
7:09: Paula gets motivation from her running training group
8:15: Have an inner script and a routine to encourage yourself to exercise
9:16: Paula’s advice to people struggling to find new passion in life
9:55: Paula finds the right balance of having quiet time and being around people
10:52: Paula is a “proud amputee”
11:23: Paula finds humor in describing the benefits of being a double amputee
11:47: Paula’s advice: Believe in yourself and find joy in your life
Contact Our Host
Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at the Global Healthy Living Foundation: <a href="mailto:lferguson@ghlf.org">lferguson@ghlf.org</a>
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to <a href="mailto:ThrivingWhileAching@ghlf.org">ThrivingWhileAching@ghlf.org</a>
Catch up on all our episodes on <a href="https://creakyjoints.org/thriving-while-aching/">our website</a> or on your favorite podcast channel.

A podcast that inspires and teaches you how to live a fuller life while safely managing pain. Our host, Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at Global Healthy Living Foundation, leads discussions with a variety of people who all have one thing in common: they’re living proof of aging gracefully.

A podcast that inspires and teaches you how to live a fuller life while safely managing pain. Our host, Dr. Laurie Ferguson, Director of Education at Global Healthy Living Foundation, leads discussions with a variety of people who all have one thing in common: they&rsquo;re living proof of aging gracefully.

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