sustainable systems & storytelling
Lately, I've been thinking quite a bit about blame and about responsibility. What does it mean to take full responsibility for your life? How can I let go of past mistakes and focus solely on moving forward? The last several years have been filled with guilt, shame, and self-blame. The monthly visits to my family... Continue Reading →
Every year for our anniversary, my boyfriend and I spend a long weekend in a remote cabin devoid of technology, and then embark on a pre-dawn hike in order to enjoy a mountain-top sunrise. Though it's unlikely that I'll be up for our Year 5 hike next month, I'm anxiously anticipating the day I'll be... Continue Reading →
My health insurance carrier approved my full-body PET/CT scan. Thus, I have been looking up what the heck imaging entails and what the results might show. The scan for which I've been approved offers stunning detail. The PET scanner and CT scanner are superimposed into one image, showing both the 3-D anatomy and any metabolic... Continue Reading →
What are you up to this weekend? I am taking it easy after an eventful, yet exhausting week. After falling asleep during a theater production last weekend, I've decided that I'd much rather sleep than stand in a concert pit for hours. A meeting with two world-renowned infectious disease doctors this week has led to... Continue Reading →
I've been feeling discombobulated lately. Restless, frustrated, a little bit lonely, and unable to focus. The feeling is subtle, yet intrusive and pervasive to the point of debilitation. I begin each morning with the same routine. I take my blood pressure while reading the day's entry from The Daily Stoic, journal whilst sipping on perfectly milky... Continue Reading →
For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to words. Strung together and paired with pictures, words introduced me to new worlds. The stories taught me to exercise my own imagination and ask, "what if?" in response to the mundane and the absurd. As a young child, I sat in my parents' laps... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I received a call just moments before 5pm. An infectious disease doctor at a local hospital wanted to see to me. The medical assistant asked, "Can you come in tomorrow at 8am?" I did not hesitate for a moment in my response. I arrived and the doctor asked me to go over the entire... Continue Reading →
I just learned that September is self-care awareness month, and I'm taking it as a sign that it's time for to focus wholeheartedly on loving and caring for my body. Self-care is important for everyone, but I think it's especially beneficial for those navigating their ways through chronic illness, a difficult time, or even and... Continue Reading →
The most challenging part of my illness is not the hair loss, skin ulcers, or constant nausea. I'm starting to come to terms with the swollen joints and the forced sabbatical from lifting, hiking and cardio. I'm okay with the fact that I'll be on heavy-duty medication for at least ten more months and, quite possibly,... Continue Reading →
