I know you have a little life in you yet
I know you have a lot of strength left
I should be crying but I just can’t let it show
I should be hoping but I can’t stop thinking…
—Kate Bush, “This Woman’s Work,” The Sensual World (1989)
Pain Awareness Month
Just published!
“Pain Awareness Month” via RheumatoidArthritis.net.
September is “Pain Awareness Month!” What are you doing for it?
Renoir
“The pain passes but the beauty remains.”
—Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1841-1919
Renoir, as most of you probably already know, was a brilliantly gifted and masterful painter. He created some of the most beautiful and well-known works of art during his lifetime. But did you know that he also struggled with severe, crippling rheumatoid arthritis?
The Inspiration
(PART 2)
Exciting news! I’m partnering with Pfizer to launch a photo-essay series on Arthritis.com on what it’s like living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In each photo of the series, I want to help lift the veil of confusion and misconception that often conceals the truth of RA by making the illness a bit more understandable. In all of its pain, struggle, grief and frustration, RA is worth being seen and can even impart lessons of hope and beauty.
Exposing RA Through Photography, Part 1 – “Meet Angela”
Exposing RA Through Photography, Part 2 – “The Inspiration”
I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you!
Back on the Wagon
This delicious avocado toast is not vegan, obviously. But, it’s a new start/attempt at getting back on track with healthy eating and my weight loss goals. I’m still trying to eat vegan as much as possible, and if not vegan, then vegetarian–because both “diets” help my RA.
So I just want to report that I ate this tasty dish for lunch yesterday at the wonderful Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, AND I stuck with my food tracking and didn’t go over 1,300 calories. YES!
Goals: 1. Eat vegan/vegetarian 2. Eat whole foods (no packaged/processed/refined junk) 3. Lose at least 11 pounds by the end of August and then go from there.
Wish me luck, please! As we all know, it’s not easy–especially if you live with chronic pain and illness.
Birchwood Cafe’s avocado toast: Avocado, cherry tomatoes, basil, pickled garlic scapes, chili oil, lime, cracked pepper, fried egg (optional).
On Being Human
JUST SAY YES
“I want to show you what I mean when I use the phrase beauty hunting. But I have to get you to believe me that when you listen to people and when you show up, like really show up, there is beauty everywhere. And when you start noticing it, you can’t unsee it.”
—Jennifer Pastiloff
*I just started reading this book and I’m already really liking it a lot. And I have a feeling there will be some RheumatoidArthritis.net articles to come from it. :)
Spring
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature–the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
―
