Columns

“It was amazing. It was a great feeling, a feeling that can only come once in your lifetime, so I’m definitely taking in this moment. I’m very appreciative.” — Ji’Ayir Brown, San Francisco 49ers safety, reacting to being drafted in the third round as the 87th pick in the 2023…

Recently, I was asked how I maintain a writing career with a chronic illness. My answer was that I ignore a lot of writing advice. Writing every day, maintaining a strict routine, and putting writing first are the most common tips thrown around. But for a chronically ill person, that…

“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” — A.A. Milne Summer is a time for escapades. From mountains to oceans and many places in between, life is an adventure meant to be lived, not passed by. I live each day fully, soaking…

I recently shared that I wrote a book for my late grandma while she was in hospice. She was able to read it before she passed, and she cheered me on when I took advantage of a publishing opportunity. I’m thrilled to announce that the opportunity worked out, and I…

“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere.” — From the film “Van Wilder” I’ve been sitting a lot lately. I’ve watched every new show and movie released in the last six weeks. Ever since my sweet dog Princess Leia passed…

There’s a quote by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich that was later popularized by one of my favorite film directors, Baz Luhrmann, and that repeats in my head during shocking moments: “The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried…

“There is no table of contents in the Book of Life. We don’t know if we’re at the beginning of a new chapter, or the end of a story. Which is why we must be grateful every time the page turns.” — From the 2016 movie “War Dogs” Life is…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with calcium supplements as well as general supplement brands. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When I was diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism and told to take calcium supplements, it was…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with acupuncture. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Isn’t it funny? The truth just sounds different.” — Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) from the 2000 movie “Almost Famous” Monday morning…

On July 2, my surgical hypoparathyroidism turned 22 years old. It’s wild to think that I’ve had this disease for over half of my life, and that I’ve been sick longer than I’ve been healthy. That one day in 2003 changed everything. As I prepared to write this column,…