Columns

When I was first diagnosed with lupus it felt as if my life was dropped on its head. Goodbye to my 17-year career of selling real estate and basking in the Florida sun. Goodbye six-figure income. Goodbye weekly exercise classes, and finally goodbye USA. What was my “normal”…

Upon meeting, I’d probably smile politely and shake your hand. Not that I’d want to, but because my parents brought me up the right way and, no matter how much hate I have for you, basic respect is not optional. There are so many questions and statements that…

Have you ever gone to someone’s house and checked out their medicine cabinet? My grandma once told me the medicine cabinet can say almost everything you need to know about a person. So, today, I am going to walk you through what’s in my medicine cabinet, which meds I…

I made it! On Jan. 1, 2016, I took myself down to the beach. Sitting in Daytona on the white sand on a cool day, wrapped in two blankets because the breezes made me feel as if I was in a winter storm (thanks to Raynaud’s Syndrome), I had…

You’ll walk into my café early Sunday morning and as I look up to smile and greet you, I have no way of knowing what your impression of me may be. However, I’m certain there’s an array of truths that would never cross your mind. As a part-time…

When my diagnosis was shared with me by the doctor, my mom said “You need to find a support group.” I agreed. I knew that while my family was as supportive as they knew how to be, what I was going through required people who could relate,…

Sitting in my very first philosophy lecture, as our guest speaker was introducing his slides on Hinduism, I was the recipient of another type of first — my inaugural bout of brain fog. At the time I was so confused and upset, trying to type out lecture…

“Mind your business!” Perhaps we really aren’t too polite to tell you this. What really happens is that some of your comments catch us so completely off guard that the thought of telling you to back off only occurs to us after the situation is over. It seems everyone has…

Hopelessly and blindly naïve through all my relationships, I thought I knew what it was like to be loved unconditionally. Sitting here, single and laughing at my innocent, younger self, I realize that what was once considered to be unconditional doesn’t even come close to reaching what my…

Recently, I moved to the other side of the world in search of better and affordable healthcare. Selling off all of my belongings in the U.S., I knew I was preparing for a new and great adventure. I’d traveled alone before, but the longest I was away from…