Again...Let Your Love Be Larger part 2 with Rebecca Galli
Rebecca Galli's story isn't just about survival—it's about creating a magnificent life from the pieces that remain after tragedy shatters your original plans. Picking up where Part 1 left off, this powerful conversation delves deeper into Rebecca's extraordinary journey of navigating motherhood from a wheelchair, building a thriving autism nonprofit, and finding joy amidst devastating losses.
Twenty-five years ago, Rebecca channeled her experience as a mother of a child with autism into founding Pathfinders for Autism, an organization that now provides support to tens of thousands annually. What began as parents sharing resources around a kitchen table has blossomed into a comprehensive support system with a worldwide database. Rebecca's approach to life's challenges—creating "parallel paths" when faced with uncertainty—became the philosophical foundation for an organization that has changed countless lives.
The conversation takes a profound turn when Rebecca shares how she processed simultaneous tragedies. After experiencing her brother's death, her own paralysis, her divorce, and her daughter's autism diagnosis, Rebecca developed an almost supernatural ability to move quickly from grief to action. When her mother and son died within six hours of each other, her sister offered the perfect comforting words: "Maybe it's mom's time to take care of him now." This moment perfectly encapsulates Rebecca's life philosophy—finding meaning and even beauty in circumstances that might crush someone else.
Perhaps most striking is Rebecca's relationship with faith through hardship. She shares her father's tradition of the "black chair"—a safe space where honest feelings could be expressed without judgment, even anger toward God. As Rebecca beautifully puts it, "I've been in a relationship with God for as long as I can remember, but not always on speaking terms." Her father, a minister who wrote a book called "Sit Down God, I'm Angry," taught her that authentic spirituality makes room for questioning and rage.
Throughout her journey, Rebecca has discovered that acceptance doesn't mean surrendering to circumstances—it means redirecting your energy toward what remains possible. From wheelchair dancing to wearing sparkly boots because "if you can't stand up, stand out," she demonstrates that joy can coexist with hardship when we shift our focus from limitations to possibilities.
Ready to rethink what's possible in your own life? Grab Rebecca's books "Rethinking Possible" and "Morning Fuel," visit beckygalli.com, and remember her powerful mantra: "Life can be good no matter what."
@Real Talk with Tina and Ann
00:00 - Rebecca's Incredible Journey Continues
08:58 - Founding Pathfinders for Autism
16:23 - Parallel Paths and Acceptance
26:05 - Finding Humor Through Hardship
37:21 - From Pity to Power
44:58 - Confronting God and Unresolved Anger
51:14 - Life Can Be Good No Matter What