How to Be Sick: A Short Primer on Living Well with Chronic Illness

How to Be Sick: A Short Primer on Living Well with Chronic Illness

by Lauren Jonik No one expects to develop a chronic illness. After all, the common narrative around health is that people who get sick either get well within a certain time frame or they pass away. But for many people, there is a universe in between that requires daily navigation. According to the National Health Council, 133 million Americans live with ongoing, incurable conditions. There is little doubt that chronic illness brings challenges above and beyond coping with symptoms. Health…

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Our Devices, Ourselves

Our Devices, Ourselves

by Andrea Crowley-Hughes The day I went to get my MacBook, the commuter train that connects Newark, New Jersey to lower Manhattan was packed and slow. Although it was only the beginning of spring, I remember the overwhelming heat, exhaustion and lightheadedness that caused me to crouch on the floor when no seats were available. A woman who looked to be in her late 20s or 30s—about my age—was being helped by paramedics when we got to 14th Street because…

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Elizabeth, Rebecca and Dorothea: Pioneers in Medicine

Elizabeth, Rebecca and Dorothea: Pioneers in Medicine

by: Lauren Jonik Every week, we’ll be shining a light on women from history that you should know about. History is not just about the past—it is a lens through which we can examine and better understand the present day human experience. The struggles to have our basic needs met, to live meaningful lives, to be emotionally and spiritually fulfilled, to feel connected to others and to discover our own resilience and beauty are common to all people throughout all…

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These Doc Martens Have Been Trouble From the Start

These Doc Martens Have Been Trouble From the Start

By Lauren Hudgins Bringing my Doc Martens was the worst decision I made while packing for Japan. In Japan it’s customary to take off your shoes when you enter somebody’s home, along with some other indoor spaces. I went to see a dermatologist and was required to remove my boots as I went into the building. The first thing I saw when I entered my new, tiny metal box of an apartment was a red paper sign on the floor,…

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The Eyes of Faith

The Eyes of Faith

by Amy Barnes I once was lost, but now am found Was blind but now I see “Amazing Grace” I didn’t want to fail my mom again. Or fail the pastor. I pushed down harder on my eyelids. I had already failed at speaking in tongues. I needed to see the red healing light with my eyes closed. The hymn playing in the background was Amazing Grace. And yet, I couldn’t see. I couldn’t see red. Or light. Or a…

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