If You’re Not Sure You Can Do This…

You can.  You don't have to believe me.  I didn't believe myself, and yet I managed to find myself on the other side of illness, divorce, and all kinds of heartbreak.  But it isn't the other side of it where the magic happens - it's in it.  In the deep dark trenches...

In the Smile that Still Forms…

It’s funny.  When I healed from my illness, I thought that was it.  I thought that was my one true, golden lesson in the inevitable suffering of humanity.  I thought I was going to emerge victorious from my pain and yay - hooray - hazah! for the wisdom and...

For the past 6 months, I have been working on getting my certification as a forest therapy guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.  As one of our final assignments, we were tasked with a “harvest project”.  It was supposed to be something harvested...

Don’t Avoid the Hills

Living is a precarious predicament.  We didn’t ask for it.  We have no control, or at least minimal control, over when it will end.  And yet, here we are, responsible for all the in-between of it.  I’ve given more thought to how I live my life than what I assume the...

Anything is Possible: Recovering from Neurological Lyme and Providing Hope as a Pelvic Floor Therapist with Denise Nichols

Denise Nichols is a pelvic floor therapist, an occupational therapist, a pelvic rehabilitation practitioner, the owner of Motivate Health, Inc., author and coach of "Your SelfCare Matrix", and a neurological lyme survivor.  She started her influence as someone who...

Create Space to Move Forward

How to create literal and figurative space in order to move forward with your life

How MS inspired an Entrepreneur: A.S.H. and Her Journey with Chronic Illness

I ran into A.S.H. at a local festival.  Her tent was full of beautiful herbs and fruits and I was told I HAD to try this iced tea that literally was bubbling and steaming.  It was delicious!!!  And then a few weeks later, I started talking to this amazing human and...

For Paul: Interstitial Cystitis Healing Guide

This episode is in response to an email I get over and over.  This time it was from Paul.  But it’s been from many others.  It’s for the me I was when chronic illness had made me believe I didn’t have a reason to live anymore. It’s for those of you stuck in that dark...

Living Well After Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with Adrian Lemberger: Part 2 | 

Adrian is a rockstar - and not just because he is a talented musician, but because he has experienced just about the most difficult challenge one can face in life, and he survived.  So many don't.   My friend Alicia, interviewed on this podcast (you can listen here),...

Living Well After Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with Adrian Lemberger: Part I

Meet Adrian Lemberger.  Father, musician, and survivor of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  Adrian shares his story with us, as well as how Graft vs. Host disease, resulting from stem cell treatment (which saved his life) impacts his daily life.  Adrian's story of one of...

My Kids’ Perspective on Chronic Illness and Divorce

They aren't just along for the ride - They are a major reason FOR it.  Taking a break from social media helped me realize the people in my life who deserved more of my attention and my kids were at the top of the list. I write about chronic illness and have begun to...

3 Lies We Tell Ourselves About Grief

Quick.  Look down.  Are your lungs inflating?  Feel your arm.  Do you have skin?  Put your hand on your chest.  Is your heart beating?  If you have answered yes to all three of these questions, then you have passed the "you are, in fact, a human" test, and you will,...

Reclaiming Your Identity After Chronic Illness – Week 2 Audio Guide (Self Care & Breathe)

This is an audio guide to accompany this four week plan.  Week 1 can be found here: Week 1 Audio Guide Print out your very own excercise behavioral contract here If you have Interstitial Cystitis and were wondering about 'dem supplements, go ahead and check out this...

Understanding Interstitial Cystitis and the Emotional Toll of Illness with Therapist, Jolene Jensen

On this episode of the Chronically Well Podcast, I interview Jolene Jensen.  Jolene is a marriage and family therapist, and also has Interstitial Cystitis.  We discuss the impact of illness on mental health and her experince as a suicide hotline therapist - as well as...

How Diet Can Break Our Bodies AND Our Hearts and What to Do About It – with Jenny Levine Finke

If you have had to cut something out of your diet for your health, you know how difficult this is, not just logistically, but it hurts down deep deep deep in the soul.  Food is social and having to adjust one's diet can be incredibly isolating.  Most of us who had to...