Caryn Sullivan spent nearly a decade honing her skills as an attorney at an international law firm and Fortune 500 company. But when her son was diagnosed with autism in 1993, she stepped away from her law practice to become her family’s advocate. For more than a dozen years her family faced a parade of life-threatening challenges – cancer, heart disease, and her daughter’s bone marrow transplant.
When her “w” suddenly changed from wife to widow in 2009, Caryn found herself flirting with bitterness. But a priest offered life-changing counsel that set her on a new path.
His words also prompted the title of her award-winning memoir “Bitter or Better: Grappling With Life On The Op-Ed Page.”
You may have read Caryn’s work on the St. Paul Pioneer Press Opinion page where for 13 years she was the only contributing columnist, in her reflective Op-Eds she offered a road map to resilience. She offered insight into how we an find our way in and out of the “better” choice.
She wrote about topics ranging from Alzheimer’s to Addiction and about individuals and organizations familiar to and including Optimist Club members and guest speakers. Her writing about autism earned her the ARC of Minnesota Community Media Excellence Award.
Caryn’s writing also captured the attention of the Global Resilience Project which identified 50 individuals around the world who faced extreme adversity but chose to not only survive but to thrive. In September her story appeared in Emma Bell’s audio book, The Nine Secrets to Thriving, as it has in numerous other books and online publications.
As an inspirational speaker, Caryn shared her steps to living the “better” choice with a variety of audiences around the country. She also enjoys giving back which she had done as a board member and community volunteer.
In October, Caryn penned her last Op-Ed for the Pioneer Press. Her goal is to enjoy life as fully as possible with her husband Chris Galler, their friends, and her blended family of seven kids and eight grandkids.
Where: Via Zoom
When: Friday, December 11th, 2020 11:30 to 1:30pm