Keep It Moving – a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

Shanelle Gabriel is an HBO Def Poet, singer, and health and lupus advocate who has performed internationally. She has been featured on the Rachel Ray Show, Huffpost Live, and in several publications including Women’s Health Magazine. Visit www.shanellegabriel.com for music and poetry, videos, show schedule, and more.

October 4, 2018October 2, 2018

Answering Questions and Activating Advocacy

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

A guy I was seeing took it upon himself to Google me. (Yes, I’m “Googleable.” Lol.) He tells me this over the phone while I’m folding clothes. It’s usually no ... Read more

September 20, 2018September 18, 2018

Saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to Prescribed Medications

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

Some of you will remember the 1980s public service commercial where the man holds an egg in his hand and says, “This is your brain.” He then cracks it into ... Read more

July 19, 2018July 17, 2018

When Liquor and Lupus Meet at a Party

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

“Shots! Shots! Shots! Shots!” The chant is repeated by my squad of friends at the bar. It’s my friend’s birthday and celebrations go hand in hand with alcohol. For many, ... Read more

June 21, 2018June 19, 2018

Best Face Forward: Taking Care of Your Skin

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

My face starts to itch. I’m noticing my skin is more photosensitive than ever before, and it’s annoying. I feel the little red bumps beneath my Urban Decay makeup, and ... Read more

May 31, 2018May 29, 2018

Trial Doesn’t Mean Error: Signing Up for Clinical Trials

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

I took my niece to a soul food restaurant in Harlem one day. It was there that I realized that growing up in Flatbush can sometimes limit your taste buds ... Read more

May 17, 2018May 15, 2018

With Lupus, a Power Nap Helps You to Maximize Your Day

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

What others call “overdoing it” I call “maximizing the hours of the day.” One example is this past weekend, for which my Saturday was scheduled to go like this: 7:30 ... Read more

May 3, 2018May 2, 2018

Do You Have Someone to Talk To?

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

Five years ago, when I realized my mother would pass because of lung cancer spreading throughout her body, one of the first things I did was look for a therapist. ... Read more

March 22, 2018March 21, 2018

Making Moves when Movement Hurts

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

To this day, I don’t know how to braid hair. I missed this rite of passage in middle school, because while the girls in my class were doing each other’s ... Read more

February 1, 2018January 31, 2018

Neglecting My Baby Named Lupus

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

Lupus is a part of me, and like a baby, it’s something I need to nurture, pay attention to. But at times, I neglect my lupus so much that someone ... Read more

January 25, 2018January 24, 2018

Managing Stress: ‘Relax, Relate, Release’

Columns, Keep It Moving - a Column by Shanelle Gabriel

One of my favorite childhood shows was “A Different World.” It was one of the first TV shows that made college (and Greek life) seem real for me and exciting, ... Read more