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The year I turned 30, I experienced a vague sense of panic. It seemed like the age at which the fundamental aspects of life — career, family, hobbies — coalesce into permanence. I had recently moved across the country to resettle in a new city that I enjoyed. My work…

It’s an experience every pet owner fears: Our 8-month-old German shepherd needed to be rushed to the emergency vet. Luckily, four hours and several hundred dollars later, he was sent home with some meds and pronounced just fine. While my husband and I were overjoyed that our beloved pup was…

This summer was a lovely one. My days were filled with friendship, travel, gardening, and delicious cuisine. I had enough work to keep busy, but wasn’t overloaded. We even brought home a new puppy — a gorgeous, white German shepherd that is smart and loyal. I had so many good…

I’ve learned countless new words since my diagnosis — phlebotomy, stenosis, biomarker, etiology, hemoptysis, to name a few. There are long strings of syllables for medications and treatment options. And various types of doctors with “-ologist” at the end of their title. Even the name of my disease is a…

Today, I woke up hurting. While it wasn’t the pain that someone with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis might suffer, it caused enough discomfort that I couldn’t ignore it. A dull ache had settled in, from my neck to my knees, making it difficult to get out of bed. The previous…

I’m so tired. That thought threatens to dominate my mindset. It affects everything, including my outlook, motivation, and productivity. Later in the day, it might even tip my appetite levels out of balance. I just want to rest. I close my eyes again, but my brain is already scrolling through…

Humans are configured as social animals, regardless of personality type. We rely on each other, not only at a basic level for security, comfort, and good conversation, but also on a higher plane for things like artistic inspiration and love. The necessity of having “our people” around is never…

Last weekend, a friend visited from another state. An enthusiastic cook who is curious by nature, he suggested we experiment with a new recipe. We decided to make Afghan ashak, which are leek-stuffed wonton dumplings with garlic yogurt and spicy tomato sauce, and topped with a garnish of cilantro and…

Most people set an alarm to wake up. I’m fortunate — and grateful — that I’m not one of them. For several years, I’ve been self-employed in music and writing. This means I rarely need to be anywhere early in the morning. My music students don’t trickle in until after…

In 2004, when I was a teenager who hadn’t yet been diagnosed with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, I suffered a severe onset that required a drug-induced coma for treatment. I’d only been awake a few days when I heard a cheerful voice outside my ICU room. “Would your patient like…