Health. The most valuable asset we own, and the asset we fail to properly identify until we have lack in it. This is true of most assets though. We think most about what we don’t have. When we are short on cash to pay a bill, it is nearly all…

Representation DOES matter. Yes, that collage of photos on the side of the building is me. The picture may look like an awareness campaign. When I see this wall of photographs, I see why representation matters. Let me tell you my story. I was born with a rare genetic disorder…

I have a strong, but unusual opinion on the health and wellness industry. If you ever read any of my prior writing, you know I was born with a rare metabolic disease. I write frequently about it. What makes metabolic disease especially interesting is the fact that this cohort of…

I am not a diet, nutrition, or fitness influencer. Social media is overflowing with people who claim to fit one of these categories. Some are qualified to teach others, but many are not. But I have lived my entire life with PKU, a rare disease with an entire treatment centered…

Today is December 30, 2021, and society is at the turn of yet another year. The past two years have been challenging for everyone. Combine a dangerous global pandemic, turbulent cultural events, increased crime and gun violence here in the United States, and a series of a natural disasters and…

You do have a powerful story. You might not think so yet, but you do. Recently, I wrote a Medium article on how I discovered the power of my own story. Until I went through the process myself, I thought the story of my life was very average. In my…

Through the eyes of many people, my life was incredibly average. I am a 5 foot, 3 inches tall, average weight, White, and now middle-aged, female. I grew up in suburban Chicago to parents that are still married today. Most members of my large extended family lived nearby when I…

Twenty-five years ago, a narrow footpath through these woods led the way around nearly the entire perimeter of the lake, approximately 10 feet from the shoreline. One could meander around the lake, cutting through the trail outlined by birch trees, and explore without losing sight of the still waters. Rows…

The word “community” is a big, broad word that means different things to different people. Its definition depends on the context and conditions upon which the term is used. Regardless, the word evokes positive emotions from people. I like to think we use the word when we feel a sense…