Life's New Normal: Managing Fear So It Doesn't Steal Your Joy

The Complexity of Toilet Paper

What happens when life suddenly and permanently redefines your "normal"? That's the powerful question at the heart of our conversation with acclaimed author Lori Schur, whose son's Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age eight changed everything about their family's daily reality.
"Before the diagnosis, normal was being able to predict what my day was going to be," Lori explains, describing the shift from typical parenting concerns to a world of constant blood sugar monitoring, medical management, and navigating a complex new reality. While her story centers on diabetes, her insights apply universally to anyone facing unexpected life changes – whether health-related, professional, or personal.
The most profound moment comes when Lori shares her transformative realization: "I had to learn how to manage the fear so that it did not take away my joy." This delicate balance – acknowledging legitimate fears while preventing them from dominating our experience – becomes essential when life throws us curveballs. Lori discovered that children naturally excel at living in the moment, while adults often get caught worrying about potential future problems.
Lori's novel "What Happened to Normal" explores this journey through fiction, allowing her to incorporate experiences beyond her own family's story. Her advice for adapting to major life changes resonates deeply: share your story to reduce isolation, find community with others facing similar challenges, and arm yourself with knowledge to combat fear. Most importantly, accept rather than resist your new reality – because fighting against change only robs you of experiencing the present moment fully.
Whether you're managing a chronic condition, supporting someone who is, or navigating any significant life transition, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and emotional reassurance. We can't always control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond to it.

Learn more about Lori through her links below.

LinkedIn: Lori Schur - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-schur-200689153/

Instagram: aschurnovel - https://www.instagram.com/aschurnovel/

Facebook: A Schur Novel - https://www.facebook.com/schurthingevents

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/aschurnovel

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1. Welcome to The Complexity of Toilet Paper (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Lori Shore: Author & Mom (00:01:29)

3. What Happened to Normal: The Book (00:06:59)

4. When Life Won't Let You Return to Normal (00:14:13)

5. Living in the Moment with Type 1 Diabetes (00:22:53)

6. Managing Fear Without Losing Joy (00:31:53)

7. Roll Up: Questions in the Stall (00:38:11)

8. Tips for Adapting to a New Normal (00:45:20)