If you had asked me years ago what productivity meant, I would have rattled off the usual corporate nonsense: doing more, pushing harder, staying available, and proving I could outrun exhaustion like it was a competitive sport. I treated productivity like a personality trait, something I could earn through sheer…
stress
I’ve never been great at fitting neatly into so-called boxes, especially spiritual ones. I grew up exposed to many religions, from Jehovah’s Witnesses to Seventh-day Adventists. I even begged my mom to send me to Catholic school for a period during elementary school, and dragged my younger brother along. In…
The winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year — can feel daunting, but I see it as a powerful metaphor for hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days. I’m writing this from a place of light, so that when the darkness returns, I can…
It’s astonishing how quickly life can shrink down to just the present moment when you’re living with a chronic illness like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Its symptoms have a way of pulling you into the now with an intensity that can feel all-consuming, whether it’s managing fatigue,…
After ordering my double-double coffee, I wait patiently in the second line for my order to be called. (If you’ve been to Canada, you know my double-double reference could only mean I’m at Tim Hortons.) Two patrons later, a woman places her order. I expect her to join the…
It’s been some time since my last neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) attack, and lately, I’ve started to realize just how traumatic the previous year was for me. I recognize that I’m holding in this trauma and still fear another attack, and it’s adversely affecting my life. With more…
Last week, I was fired from my job. I’m still disappointed and angry but mostly confused. I can’t talk about the specifics, but I can share that major life stressors — particularly situations that can’t be undone, such as losing a job, enduring a divorce, or grieving the death of…
Wouldn’t it be nice to glide into the holiday season with everything checked off your to-do list? Every year, I set out with the best intentions to start my Christmas shopping early, write heartfelt holiday cards, and take care of mundane details like ordering a turkey from my local butcher…
I first encountered neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) 15 years ago. Faced with the unknown after a transverse myelitis attack shut down my ability to walk, I was overwhelmed and scared. That’s when a multiple sclerosis patient gave me the best advice: “Never let them see you…
There are 168 hours in a week. That’s quite a bit of time to accomplish life. But what if many of those hours are robbed from you? Let’s examine my schedule, for instance. I’ve worked since I was 14 years old. My first job was at McDonald’s, where I loved…