The Journey Think of a time when you had to do something that you were dreading. The task or activity might be something that was necessary because of cleanliness; your desire to stretch out of your comfort zone; or even a work, school, or medical need.  In my group of friends and family, I’m known as the “lunch” girl. Many tasks can seem overwhelming, especially with constant pain and fatigue as my standard state of being. But lunch . . . there’s just something about it that seems possible. It’s long enough to have a good conversation but short enough to enjoy even on a down day. No wonder why…

The Journey When I was a sick little girl my grandpa told me something that has stuck with me, not only in name, but deep in my soul. He said, “Sara, when people look at you, they see you as weak and frail. But you’re my little pine knot.” He continued, “Did you know that people see pine knots as imperfections? They think the knots weaken the wood as a whole when they are actually the strongest part. And so, Sara, you may struggle physically but your strength is boundless.” Today I counted 27. Twenty-seven surgical pine knot scars covering my body. Although, you won’t see them because I’m not…

New Season, Fresh Eyes The Journey When you choose a road on which to travel, do you select the one that is straight and quick or the path with scenery, interesting lookout points, and some fun twists and turns? As someone who gets motion sick, I have the tendency to choose the fastest and smoothest route. However, life isn’t always comprised of direct paths. And, as I reflect, it is clear that character is built from taking those tumultuous channels.   I will never forget the time when my car broke down not far from our cottage. I was alone with my newborn, Hudson, and without a cellphone. As I…

The Journey They say the average person sleeps about 228,000 hours in their lifetime. I’m pretty sure I might just double that. As I think of the time wasted laying in either my own bed or a hospital bed, it can be hard to fathom.  When life is calling you, it doesn’t feel fair that your body is grounding you. One of the biggest things that people with chronic disorders face is the unpredictability that comes with their ailment. Through the years, I have had to be ok with cancelling plans at the last minute. I’ve grown accustom to attaching a warning message with my RSVP’s.  “Warning! May stop, delay, or…

The Journey When life gets hairy, find a cute hat and keep living Walking into the bathroom, I caught a glimpse of myself. Surprised by how I looked, I leaned in across the sink and took a long investigative look. Then, it was clear to me. This was my surviving face.   People have their “Going to Work” face. “Going on a Date” face. “Pumping up for the Big Game” face. But I never realized that there was an, “I’m Just Surviving” face. I’m sure that there are many reasons why someone might suddenly see their survivor face show up in their reflection. The loss of a child, going through…