My purpose for writing and what I hope you'll take away from this blog.
I'm new to the world of blogging. In fact, I had a flip phone until this year and the only social media I'm part of (facebook) was created for me by a friend who thought it was ridiculous I didn't have one. The regurgitation of people's experiences into the internet makes me uncomfortable and I'm always afraid of getting stuck in the trap of using social media for self-validation. So, I've tried to use the same standards that I use in teaching to figure out when a story is ok to share: what is my intent? Am I sharing this story because it fulfills a need of my own? (If so, then save it for a therapist or friend/family member.) Or, am I sharing this story because I hope it will benefit others in some way?
This was my internal battle when deciding to blog. I often journal as a means of unloading the clutter in my brain. I never thought to share it, because my intent in creating those writings was always for personal gain. In recent conversations, however, many people expressed that they felt they could also learn from what I had to say. I thought about all of the blogs and articles and facebook groups that have given me hope when I felt too sick or fatigued to get out of bed.
So, despite being a self-conscious writer, I've decided to share my thoughts with you all. While many of my posts may just seem like random stories or complaints about my life, I actually have really specific goals that I hope my writing accomplishes.
For readers who suffer silently with chronic illness, I hope you'll find solidarity, hope, and perhaps a few tips. Maybe some readers are like I was a few years ago -- sick, but told it's all in your head. I can only hope that reading blogs like this could lead you down the path to discovering a diagnosis or at least owning who you are and how you feel (and navigating the nightmare of the healthcare systems in this country). At the very least, I hope to share very real pain with genuine positivity.
For readers who don't feel they can relate to my stories on a personal level, I hope you will find the information illuminating and begin to feel more compassion and understanding for people in your life who may be struggling. I hope you'll read about the random mishaps that can occur and bring some depth to your understanding of what it means to be "sick." Know that there will be some graphic descriptions of my condition, and I hope you'll pay attention to the stigmas you may carry for people with atypical bodies.
Some of my posts will be more about general identity (or food!) and relevant to anyone. I hope these will bring depth, empathy, and a creative approach to cooking to my readers.
Well, happy reading!