by Kate | Nov 9, 2017 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, Disability, kind promises, Love, Vulnerability
As someone with significant disabilities, I worry that I am a burden on people around me. I tell myself monster-stories about how much better the lives of my loved ones would be if they didn’t have to sacrifice on my behalf. I imagine that such thoughts are noble,...
by Kate | Oct 17, 2017 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, Gratitude
It is gratitude month – the month where I consider the kind promise “I will appreciate blessings.” I have been reading about practicing gratitude here and here (among others). One of the things I like about practicing the promises is the way that I get to give each...
by Kate | Jul 6, 2017 | chronic illness, monsters
It seems my entire adult life has been a process of befriending my mind. It began in an EA 12 step group in Winston-Salem North Carolina with the Just For Today’s. (It’s interesting that, in this brave new connected world, I could find them most easily on an EA...
by Kate | Jun 20, 2017 | Chronic healing, chronic illness
We are born into two cultures: the wider culture around us and our family culture. Both give us messages about what it’s like to have a human body and what we might think about our body in particular – its height and breadth,, the textures of our skin and hair, the...
by Kate | Jun 14, 2017 | chronic illness, Creativity
Creative journaling prompt: What did you learn about having a body from your family of origin? [A list*) Bodies are inconsequential vehicles to carry around what’s important: the brain/mind If you go out, wear lipstick. Eat three meals a day. Dinner should include...
by Kate | Apr 26, 2017 | Chronic healing, chronic illness
Reaching for well-being, we add habits into our routine: more sleep, more nutritious diet, exercise and so on. Then we expect results. The dominant culture pretends to be driven by reason and logic. If this, then that. Living organisms frustratingly and gloriously...