11
A Personal Note about
PowerPhrases
75Sometimes people ask me—Have you always been so articulate?
They seem to think that I was born with a silver PowerPhrase
in my mouth. I wasn’t. I have paid enormous prices for my
silence and for speaking small. I have also paid a price for spread-
ing venom. That is why I am so passionate about PowerPhrases.
I had a huge wake-up call that taught me that I neededto
become more expressive. It happened in 1985 when my hus-
band, Mike, became ill, and I suspected he had cancer. When
I told him, he screamed at me for suggesting the possibility. He
said, “Damn it, Meryl, I don’t have cancer—and don’t mention
it to me again.” I put myself on mute as I watched my husband
fade away day-by-day. I cannot describe how painful it was.
Mike passed away on May 13, 1986, from colon cancer.
I believe that his cancer may have been treatable the day I
first mentioned it to him. I don’t assume he would still be with
Copyright © 2004 by Meryl Runion. Click here for terms of use.