When the going gets tough


“When the going gets tough, get tougher.”

You’ve probably heard this before. When you’re working out at the gym. Going on a really long run. Studying for a big test. Feeling really stressed out about everything going on around you. 

I think these words were designed to be a source of motivation to push through whatever struggles you are facing. But for me, they fall short.  Continue reading

Some things are nobody’s fault

you-151415_640People like to know all the answers. They like knowing the who, the what, the where, the when, the why, and the how about everything. They like when things make sense. 

And it’s fine to like these things. It’s fine to like knowing the answers, the who’s, the what’s, the where’s, the when’s, they why’s and the how’s. It’s fine to like it when everything makes sense. 

But the problem is, that as people, most of us get so used to having these things that we begin to expect them. Anytime something happens, we expect an explanation. An excuse. Some strand of logic that will make us understand exactly what’s happening and why.  Continue reading

New year, same disease.

Happy New Year, everyone! 

I expected to get this post up by January 1st (I didn’t). I expected to write about starting a new year with new goals in mind (I did…kinda?). A blank slate. A fresh start. 

But as I was writing, I realized that we can’t just put the past behind us and start each new year from ground zero. Sure, we can choose to let go of things we’re holding on to. Friends. Jobs. Ugly sweaters. Gum we’ve been chewing for way to long. Things that we control. But what about the things that hold on to us? What about the things that, no matter how hard we try and let go of, will never be gone? Snot. Clingy people. Feelings. And chronic illness. Things we can’t control. 
Continue reading

When your brain says yes, but your body says no.

6025311011_fd55d6aa1b_bLife wasn’t built for fatigue. It wasn’t built for side effects. It wasn’t built for people who need pills, and shots, and special diets just to be “normal.” To put it simply, life wasn’t built for people who are chronically ill. And living in a world where you want so badly to do all the “normal person” things, where you try so hard to keep up with everyone else, and where you smile and say you’d love to have plans even though you really want to take a 4-day nap becomes exhausting.

But for so many people, even worse is the feeling that they are weak because they sat out of that soccer practice. That they aren’t as capable because you rescheduled a math test to a time when they were only 43% zombie as opposed to 64%. That they are being a bad friend by declining an invitation to dinner.  Continue reading

15 things IBD has made me thankful for

turkey-1509892148jybI’ve tried to write this post for a long time. I tried to make it funny, but I ended up rambling about the inner workings of apple pie for 4 lines straight. I tried to make it short and to the point, but if I was any good at that, this whole paragraph wouldn’t exist. I even tried to write something in that cute-holiday-festive-pumpkin-spice-style that’s taken over Walgreens, but the cheese factor was starting to seriously mess with me. But then I realized that the problem wasn’t the way I was writing. The problem was I didn’t know what I wanted to say. Continue reading

What you see is what you get…or is it?



It’s because there’s nothing to see.


People just don’t get it.











So, I am asking you to share this.



It’s almost World IBD Day – Why aren’t we celebrating?!?

pexels-photo-234196May 19, 2017, is a big day in the IBD community. It’s a day where 38 countries from 4 different continents come together to raise awareness. There are fundraisers. Walks. Events. Obnoxious purple lights. Because it’s World IBD Day

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Seriously? Why do you care so much about this random day? Nobody even knows it exists. Stop being so dramatic!”

But that’s exactly what I’m getting at; if nobody knows it exists, how can we raise awareness? If nobody knows, then they can’t possibly care, and if nobody cares, then how can we fund research? Continue reading

Why Me? It doesn’t matter.

14750882233_cf43e135b9_bOften times, the first thing we think when given the diagnosis of a chronic, incurable, and needy disease is “Why me.” We want to know how whatever it is that we have got there. Sure, there are genetic factors. Sure, there are environmental factors. But in that very first moment when you feel like your world has been smushed and cracked open and flipped upside down, it’s not a question of “why me”, but “why me.” We want to know why we, out of all people, became the “lucky winners.” Honestly, there isn’t really a real answer to this question. But for the person who’s asking the question, no answer is not an option. They want an answer, and they want it now. So, here’s my answer: Continue reading

Embracing Vs. Defining – How to accept IBD without letting it rule your life


Those of us with Crohn’s disease are often told that because our condition is incurable, we need to “accept it as a part of life” and “just live with it”. On the other hand, we are also told that we can’t let our disease define us, or “win”. Separated, these phrases are valuable pieces of advice and can inspire us to find happiness even when we feel sick. I mean, who doesn’t feel a burst of inspiration when they’re told “be a fighter!”? However, when read one after the other, these “words of wisdom” completely contradict each other. How are we supposed to accept Crohn’s as part of our lives but not let it “beat” us? Continue reading