When the Rug Gets Yanked Out from Beneath You: An Interview with Joel Metzger

I have known Joel Metzger for perhaps 20 years and was told I needed to meet this resilient thriver and hear his story of rebirth following a traumatic event that forever changed his life. When we wake up each morning, we generally don’t imagine that this day could be our last on the planet. We go about our business, interacting with family, friends and co-workers, “clocking in and clocking out” on the job, assuming that another 24 hours will be granted to us or that they will be predictable. Joel was one of those who likely didn’t question that belief. He is a consistent presence in our community and I had heard over and over throughout the years that he was the ‘Unofficial Mayor of Doylestown,’ since as he walked through town, he seemed to know nearly everyone and greeted them warmly. His sense of humor, intelligence, creativity and love for those in his life are among his gifts that didn’t leave him on that day. He was “the foreman of a cabinet shop that manufactured components for private aircraft. On the side, I was a semi-professional puppeteer, directing my own troupe.” On that auspicious day, he had submitted his resume to puppeteer Jim Henson because he wanted to make a shift in his career. Little did he know that he would need to shift gears at an intersection that would also bring about a multitude of decisions he needed to make about navigating the roads that lay before him. Please share about the pivotal event that turned your world ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: General Grief and Loss Happiness Health-related Inspiration & Hope Interview Memory and Perception Motivation and Inspiration Personal Trauma Car Accident grieving Recovery Resilience Traumatic Brain Injury Source Type: blogs