by Kate | May 10, 2016 | chronic illness, Vulnerability, Weakness
Last Saturday I was privileged to attend a performance of “Who Has Eyes to See” at Uprising Theater. The play, written by Shannon T. L. Kearns, allows us to witness a family dealing with a teenager’s unexpected pregnancy and the return of a transsexual brother,...
by Kate | Mar 29, 2016 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, kind promises, mindfulness
These days, it’s easy to find evidence that mindfulness meditation is good for what ails us. There are studies and meta- studies lining up to tell us that folks with chronic illness who participate in mindfulness-based stress reduction programs (MBSR): deal...
by Kate | Mar 1, 2016 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, Surrender
This morning I asked my 18-year-old daughter to turn on some lights as she was leaving the apartment. She turned on my desk lamp and a hallway light near my desk and stopped with her hand on the door. “Do you need me to turn on the other light?” she asked, looking...
by Kate | Feb 16, 2016 | chronic illness, Disability, kind promises, Surrender
I’ve been reading what Pema Chödrön has to say about patience. Lately, I’ve been struggling with physical pain and a dark mood. I want them both to go away right now. How quickly I move from discomfort to aggression! What if, instead, I bring curiosity to my...
by Kate | Feb 2, 2016 | Chronic healing, chronic illness, Disability, joy, kind promises
The other day I was painting an experiment: “Make marks in joyful colors with joyful motion; combine them into one piece of art.” Before I started painting, I imagined the motions I used to make with my paintbrush when I was happy. I could envision the swoop and...
by Kate | Jan 22, 2016 | chronic illness, Disability, joy
I just came from getting some x-rays. (They replaced my baclofen pump a week ago and wanted to check their work.) The appointment was with the surgeon, who wanted to make sure my incision is healing well. Getting x-rays was a surprise. For someone in a power...
