Stale Cabbage is my baby.
This is our 200th post.
It may have taken a while to get here [almost two years!], but I couldn't be happier with the progress. Through this blog I've been able to talk about everything that I've discovered within myself, learned about the amazing city that I live in and am inspired by everyday, and all that I've endured through Crohn's therapy.
Thanks for listening to all of my crap.
With great friends and family, strong faith, and a little luck...
I battled through a sickness that almost killed me.
And I talked about it with anyone who would listen.
[Sorry & Thanks.]
Because of that sickness, I developed a better relationship with food.
I started a group for other people in Boston and surrounding areas with
Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis who can't eat pizza on the reg. The rest of you really piss me off.
I stopped to listen, absorbing everything that I could from amazing and influential people.
And I learned that networking isn't such a scary thing.
Put yourself out there, you'll be super happy you did.
I discovered what a great friend I truly have in my Mama.
[truly.]
I lost my apartment, jobs, and most of my friends when I got sick.
I also found that I could turn that around, and felt warmth in rebuilding what was taken.
I launched what I hope to someday call an amazing career.
[first type.]
I'm still learning to drive cars with manual transmissions.
[Hey, we're not all perfect]
I met the love of my life.
I think he even saved it once or twice.
And I continue to learn patience and understanding as I watch him on the road.
[Some new pals don't hurt during these times, either...]
It takes an immeasurable amount of dedication to keep sane and happy after nearly coming back from the dead. I don't generally pride myself in stick-to-it-iveness, but after knowing the courage it takes to pull yourself together the way I've had to, I'm proud of my ideas, powerful emotion, and strength of character. Illness isn't something that many people understand, and I wouldn't blame most of you if you didn't think as highly as I do about the things that I've done. But I will say this: Most people are walking around with something you'll never relate to, that you're heart will never, ever touch.
Practice understanding, mindfulness, and relentless respect for those around you. The relationships that we create in this life are golden. Caring for others, even in moments when all you want to do is throw a microwave in their direction, is absolutely imperative.
I can go on and say that without everyone I know, I wouldn't have been able to find remission and stability in my life. But... I'd be lying. The people that I love have helped me [a great, great deal], but if I didn't learn to love myself, I would still be lightyears behind. Heaps of that discovery came as I wrote this blog. Post by post, I continued to learn more about myself. I also got a free, first-look at how I fair at practicing what I preach. For other sick people, I cannot say these next few lines enough- Spend time learning yourself. Take advantage of your down time by learning everything you can about what ails you. Talk to family and friends to make sure that they're on the know about what's going on with you, and never, EVER be afraid to ask questions within your medical community. You ARE one of your doctors.
After realizing that what you know can save your life, you'll never want to stop learning. That curiosity will continue for the rest of your life- if you're lucky. Don't push your body away.
It's your best friend.
I love mine.
I hope you love yours, too.
