Wow, well let’s see. First and foremost, graduating from bootcamp at Parris Island. That was back in 1984 when there was no touchy-feely, consideration-of-others, snowflake, whiners. All my drill instructors had served in Vietnam, so that made the experience tougher than what it would be nowadays. Fast forward 24 years and my second hardest accomplishment was earning my doctorate degree. At that time, I was married, had two elementary grade children, and was in command of an Army unit. Hence, my time management skills were seriously put to the test.

Back in the autumn of 2016, I was in the midst of another depressive episode with low self esteem. I weighed 270 pounds and had Type II Diabetes. I was stuck in a soul-stealing job with no light at the end of the tunnel. But even throughout all of this, I was clinging onto one thing; positive thinking.

At the begining of November 2016, something in my mind just said, "OK, enough of this!" Over the years I had learned a number of little things, here and there, that would help improve my mental outlook, but I had never stuck with any single one for very long. Finally, I decided to implement ALL of those little things at the same time, and I finally started to feel better about myself. By February of 2017, I felt like a whole new person.

At the end of March 2017, I had just gotten a blood test done to get a prescription renewed for my Diabetes medication. I hate needles, and getting blood drawn was always an ordeal, because, even if they find the vein, they have trouble getting blood out of me. It didn't matter how much water I drank prior, blood never wanted to leave my veins.

Afterwards, I came across some information about how some people had managed to "reverse" their Diabetes and get off the prescription medications. I looked into the matter and did my own research, and started a weightloss program designed to help regain my body's insulin sensitivity.

To make a longer story shorter, I got down to 215 pounds, and regained my insulin sensitivity. I am no longer on the diabetes meds, and my glucose readings are better than they have ever been, even while I was still on the meds.

Passing the written exam for a pilot's license was no easy feat. It's a grueling 6 hour test.

Being legally (partially) blind, a lot of things are "hard". Most recently I replaced a light fixture and outlet with built in circuit breaker in my sister's kitchen. Before that I took out a cherry tree for her, which I understand died about 20 years ago then grew back from the root below the graft, so the cherries didn't taste good and it shaded the other cherry tree that produced good tasting cherries. Also took out hte stump, not just the upper part of the tree.

Made a pretty good recovery from a stroke

I got out of an abusive relationship and finally moved into my own apartment by myself. No roommate, no boyfriend. It has been absolute joy.

I quit alcohol and cigarettes. Both were hard to give up, but for different reasons with different strategies.

I had a baby for a gay couple 8/19/2014

Earning my 100ton Boat Captain's license.

Learning how to play the Bagpipes !

Both worth it !

I lost 85 pounds. Along the way, I realized a great many things about energy usage and storage, and was able to develop a model of rerouting external energy costs so large numbers of people can be less exposed to toxins, be healthier personally, keep more money, not have to support oil wars, etc. A portion of my model was published in the New York Times and all of it will appear in my upcoming novel SCAPEGOATS (Golden Fleece Press March 2018).

Also, I completely re-did the way my office handled audits and brought it into the electronic age and introduced mathematical modeling and modern statistics to the process. $30 mil in 13 years. But that was more fun than it was hard.