(UPDATED March 2021 - See picture and PDF below)

In a year of social distancing, many of us put therapy on hold, waiting for things to get back to “normal.”

Honestly, people had every reason to feel hesitant with “Zoom” therapy by distance and many believed it to be a second-best option to the traditional model of in-person, face-to-face meetings, the way it’s always been done.

Well, this young man has every reason (and then some!) NOT to work on Zoom. As a Hasidic Jew, he does not use the internet regularly, and he does not have a smartphone nor does he have internet access at home.

And notwithstanding all that, every excuse and reason NOT to… he took a chance.

He took a chance, that chance took him - farther than he ever imagined…

Here is just some of the story (in truth this deserves pages and pages.)

A short reflection, before telling you more about him, for his is more than he appears.
he is a humble hero, and an exemplary teacher. Let me explain.

“Start with why” -Simon Sinek

If you know me, you know I'm "obsessed" with #transcendingstuttering.

Read this and you might BEGIN to understand my "why" (and see original post below)

Human obstacles are identity blind and provided equal opportunity to us all.

Human growth is universal and when we push against the constraints of our lives we can build magical muscles for majestic life.

For those of us in the position to guide and witness the transformative journeys - which entails inglorious witness to all the trials and ordeals (some self-endured and others imposed by well-meaning people and professionals), being present to empathize with the frustration and dejection, hanging-in with some opening of possibility and hope, and always holding space to listen more deeply than speaking, and somehow that gives oxygen to the inner sparks of these diamonds in the rough...

For those of us in that position, we bear the responsibility to be ushers and torch bearers for those still waiting for their breakthrough.

And we dream to enable other guides to join us in the calling of service for people who stutter.

And in doing so, we ALL #transcendstuttering!

Do you recognize that face?

His name is Malachi. Remember him...

His face is the face of a human being living his life with integrity, passion and fulfillment.

His face shines with the joy of getting engaged to a wonderful girl... But the back-story is TOO good not to tell.

From 4yo he has had a stutter.
From 12yo he assumed he was unable to communicate freely, unable to achieve success, unlikely to get married to a good spouse and destined for unfulfilling life of unspoken words.

Til 18yo he had all kinds of experiences;
teased (by adults), mocked by strangers, advised by pseudo-professional to "crawl on floor 15min/day" to re-connect his right and left brain...

We met when he was at rock bottom and he self-described his self-worth as below zero!

Today, he describes life as 100+.
He lives with happiness and pride, he is a confident communicator and thrilled groom-to-be with a fiance who is everything he dreamed of... No less.

He reports that his stuttering "iceberg" was 15% physical struggle with getting his words out, and 85% intrapersonal agony with thoughts and feelings wrecking his days and nights - even when he wasn't talking!!!

Today he stutters fluently and beautifully (mild-moderate). He self-reports that the 85% of internal torment is 100% resolved. As for the 15% surface issue of fluency, he isn't bothered at all. He seamlessly switches gears when he feels resistance and sometimes moves through stutter moments without care or concern.

This is not a before and after testimonial.
This is a testament to the human spirit.
This is a testament to how much can change in less than a year.

We haven't spoken in 6 months.
He came to see me to invite me to his very intimate engagement party.
And he wanted to do that face to face.

He is more than 50 pages into his forthcoming memoir...
Remember his name. Malachi.
(Malachi - roughly translates to "our angel")

While stuttering is mostly known for the audible physical interruptions of speech flow, it's important to get to know the invisible side of stuttering. And the indomitable spirit of humans #TranscendingStuttering