Charlton is an independent multimedia/video producer and video editor located in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area. He was diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis in 2004 at the age of 40. He has worked over 30 years in advertising and educational media. When he’s not creating, he’s in the kitchen cooking. Charlton is known as a skilled pit-master, homebrewer and jazz aficionado. He hopes his column on sarcoidosis will help inspire readers to live life the best they can, and not shed any tears for this illness.
A new year means new resolutions. I start every year with good intentions to do better than the year before, but I made a few resolutions last year that I haven’t fulfilled. That doesn’t mean I didn’t try; life got in the way and made some more difficult to complete…
“The greatest failure in life is to stop trying.” — Napoleon Hill The past few days have been encouraging for me, even though living with sarcoidosis can make some days more challenging than others. I didn’t win the lottery, nor did I pay off my mortgage (wishful prayers), but…
In 1989, I rented my first apartment. It was in a wonderful brownstone in the same area where I grew up. My family used to shop at the Italian Market in South Philly, an area that stretches about six or seven blocks where outdoor vendors sell merchandise, such as fruits,…
“Who is of so little faith that in a moment of great disaster or heartbreak has not called to his God? Who has not cried out when confronted with danger, death, or mystery beyond his normal experience or comprehension? From where has this deep instinct come which escapes from the…
For the past few days, I’ve been feeling distant in my relationships, mostly because of an unusual series of deaths close to me. This is the 19th year since I lost my mother. It’s also been 18 years since I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. For some reason, I’ve been…
If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. That’s a familiar line that most folks have heard once or twice. To be honest, I’ve heard it from my male friends more than anyone else. It seems like they had a specific meaning in mind, but as usual, it means something…
The other day I received a text from an old friend of my wife and me. He needed help editing a video, which is my expertise. He knew I had the software to do what was needed and thought it’d be an easy fix. During our back-and-forth texts, he told…
“I may not know where I’m going, but I’ll let you know when I get there.” I used to say that to a few of my college friends. I was always the one who knew where I wanted to go in life, even though I wasn’t sure how I’d get…
Motivation. It begins as an inspiration that becomes an action toward a goal. That’s what they say, and I’ve listened. Every now and again, I find it hard not only to get motivated, but also to stay motivated. Many factors affect my becoming and staying motivated, and I find the…
And just like that, summer has come to an end. Folks try to hold on to it for as long as they can, but everything must change. Personally, I prefer the fall, my favorite time of year, with its cool, clean, crisp air for me to breathe and comfortable sleeping…
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