the autoimmune hippie.

Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts. . . Practice resurrection. – Wendell Berry

mental health.

  • 988

    I just wanted to pass along that – as of July 16 – the new mental health 911 emergency type number for the United States is now live. It is simply 988. Goodness knows this is long overdue. Also, if you ever are in need of additional help, there are many options listed on the… Read more

  • heavy & honest things.

    The notes for this post have grown – and found several unexpected turns – in the past few weeks as I’ve been wrapping up Spring Semester. It’s always a wild ride at the end of term – but this one especially since I had some pretty substantial hospital and sick time so I had projects… Read more

  • honoring the memory of erin gilmer – and considering some of my most difficult days at the hands of the medical community as well. (we must do better for those in chronic pain.)

    As I wrote in my previous post, my rheumatologist had to take unexpected medical leave and cancelled all of his appointments suddenly – which he could not help – but he left WITHOUT providing another physician to cover for him. As my medications ran out from what was to have been my June 29th appointment,… Read more

  • sharing a short devotional from my book on another day of loss in our community.

    Today, following my previous post on mental health and suicide, I want to share a short devotional from my book. Since I posted, there has been another stunning loss in our community of a beloved local news anchor. He was a gifted young man with a family, married with three children, and his death is… Read more

  • speaking my heart on mental health and suicide.

    Earlier this week, I was just rocked to learn of the passing of a precious soul in our local Christian community, Steve Austin. Steve was the minister over a really big youth program some years ago, prior to experiencing  mental health struggles and surviving a suicide attempt. After that, he began opening up – and… Read more

  • sober up, Tropicana. you should be ashamed.

    Many of you may have missed Tropicana’s, ahem, genius recent marketing campaign with Gabrielle Union – the ad I saw – as well as apparently Molly Sims and Jerry O’Connell – as it was only around for a few days on Instagram for good reason – but my initial post about it was already underway… Read more

  • oh, the oscopies and the anxieties. . .

    As you can see, yesterday was a super fun day in my world.  After a long long (LONG) time contending with massive GI symptoms, I had stalled as long as I could and I had to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy. First, let me say that I have no problem actually having the procedure –… Read more

  • sudden illness, hospital visits, and too close to covid-19 for comfort.

    Quite suddenly over the past few days, I developed a significant GI bleed. It became clear quickly that there was no way to manage with waiting on a GI appointment and I would have to go to the ER – which I have tried desperately to avoid – to get to the cause of it.… Read more

  • fractured centre (x2)

    Running. Running. Running. Barefoot through the dew covered grass. Running – Until I’m breathless. . . All a dream. Often in my dreams. . . I run free. Long. And return home. . . Hot, tired, sweat-covered. . . Happy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .… Read more

  • a health detour and some mental health talk for awareness month. . .

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month and I have wanted to talk about several things related to mental health issues and my own health – but, ironically, my health hasn’t behaved well enough for me to get to that in these past few weeks. So, today I’m going to share about this week’s health adventures… Read more