If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that  I explore my thoughts and experiences of living with illness and the impact it has on a person’s life — professional and personal.  That said, I’ve decided to push that boundary today and share something that I wrote in the context of my religious life. I do this in the hope that the message in this piece might resonate with you and help if you wrestle with similar challenges. First, let me give you some background so you can understand where this comes from. Since the start of the Pandemic, I’ve attended a daily Jewish morning service ..read more

Have you noticed that these past two years of living in pandemic has lifted mental health into public conversation? I’m all in for authentic conversation about any disabling health issue as an antidote to our overwhelming ‘can do’ ethos.   But I worry that this is lip service to the moment —  not lasting change. My first ciCoach client lived with fibromyalgia and a history of depression. She described, “…. an exhausting, ever present battle waging in my head around what I need to do my job, and what I should do about it.”  She wanted to hide under the covers when she imagined a ..read more

Last week, I woke with chills and a slightly upset stomach. No cold symptoms but I’d been isolating from the contagious Omicron, so I wondered how I’d picked up any virus other than covid.  Staring at my computer while sipping my morning tea, I felt awful. I decided to do a rapid covid test. At least then I’d have an explanation. Fifteen minutes later, no blue line verifying my experience, no clarity. Truth was it didn’t matter since I couldn’t function. I cancelled my meetings and went back to bed. Three days later, I still felt crummy. I found myself saying that these sym ..read more

Lately, there’s a news story citing ‘unprecedented changes’ in the job market’ everywhere I look.  But I can’t help but wonder, is this good for those of us who live with chronic illness?  I don’t know.  But let’s look at what’s different and what it might mean.  A change:  Large and small businesses, whole industries, in fact, are struggling to stay afloat because they don’t have enough workers – from low wage, hourly jobs to professional and C suite.  David Leonhardt, in a recent New York Times article, wrote, “A shortage of bus drivers has force ..read more

Recently, I was a guest on Paloma Health’s podcast, “How to Juggle Work with a Chronic Thyroid Condition”.  I was asked about the obstacles a person with chronic illness faces in the workplace.  If you’re reading this, I don’t have to tell you that’s one long list.   Topping my Top 10 List of challenges in working with a chronic health condition is communication. I’m making a distinction here between talking with no interest in a response and communication where there is a give and take.  Communication is a loop, often transactional (here’s a simple visual), and is&nbs ..read more

A good story starts with an opener that sets the stage for what’s ahead, develops a plot that creates tension and builds the story line, and closes with the conflict or tension reduced and/or resolved. Each of us has a multitude of stories within us and often multiple stories about the same event. As you share your story, you might realize things that you hadn’t noticed before. You might experience the story becoming more expansive within you. You might find new meaning to the event.    And you might find that those who listen deeply will see you more clearly, get to know you a bit b ..read more

It’s been a year since the world shifted into life in Pandemic.  Last April, I wrote about one similarity I found between this (The Pandemic: It’s a marathon not a sprint) and living with chronic illness. Now, many months later, I’m focusing on a glimmer of light.  I’m feeling a smidgeon of hope for a positive outcome that could come from this. Here’s the thing.  It’s impressive what fear can make a person do.  Difficult as it’s been, most people have followed the health expert recommendations to stay at home – – if they’re fortunate enough to have the option.  Even wi ..read more

Note – “Dudes who won’t wear masks” is  quoted from an Atlantic headline. It seems pretty simple, doesn’t it?  Public health experts agree that wearing a mask prevents the spread of Covid-19.  The CDC has issued guidelines  on what the general public needs to know and it includes wearing masks. Still not convinced?  Here’s a graph showing what happens when people do and don’t wear a mask. Yet not everyone agrees with this conclusion — and this is no small disagreement. For the vast majority of people on the planet, this pandemic is wrecking havoc on the individual and ..read more

I know better than to go outside in the heat of the day, especially when it’s blazing sun and 95°. But we were out of corn, tomatoes, and stone fruit, the locally grown produce that I love and are only available in Massachusetts for 3 months a year. My workday had started early and would go late, so I took a lunch break to drive to the farm stand.  But driving into the parking lot, my heart sank at the people waiting patiently on a long line to enter one at a time. Pandemic norm. The heat radiated from the asphalt and I felt the panic rise. The urge to not waste my time won out, though, s ..read more

I think you’ll find this post is different from my typical format.  But then, these aren’t typical times, are they? It’s in 2 parts and each offers information and suggestions for action.  First. This is a political issue that might be impacting you or those you know.  I’m sharing it in the hope that  it sparks a flame — to encourage you to take action on a political level I’ve been working with people living with unpredictable and debilitating chronic conditions for 20 years.  A large portion of my clients are either working as independent contractors or wanting to be ..read more