No Tears for Sarcoidosis - a Column by Charlton Harris

My last doctor’s appointment of 2021 was on Dec. 30 and involved a six-minute walk test and a follow-up with my pulmonologist. The walk test didn’t seem to go well, as I required more supplemental oxygen than I usually do while working out at the gym. I explained this to…

I go to the gym because I know it’s good for me to stay active and to get some physical exercise. Recently, I found out that it also helps me trust myself to take charge of my own well-being. I was fortunate to have participated in…

Like a coin, there are two sides to every story. A disagreement involves two different perspectives. A face has two cheeks. And sarcoidosis has two faces. I was reminded of this while helping an old friend and his son last week. My friend called me two weeks ago and…

“I am thankful to all those who said no. It’s because of them, I did it myself.” — Wayne W. Dyer Now that we’re approaching the thick of the holiday season, it’s time for us sarcoidosis warriors to be thankful for what we have and what…

Recently, my former brother-in-law Johnny invited me to his house for the weekend to spend some much-needed time with friends. He lives about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia, and I love visiting him because his home sits on a hill on a quiet cul-de-sac. I expected it to be a…

The past few months have been challenging for me. I’ve had several doctor appointments that seemed more serious than usual, and I lost three family members who passed away. To put a number on things, I was close to one of those family members, very cool with another, and very,…

Last week, I took a leap of faith, and it’s given me a new outlook on things. I had taken my car to the dealership for service. It turns out that it needed a whole lot more than an oil change; the mechanic told me that…

Going down the rabbit hole is a real thing. I’ve often heard that phrase when it seemed I was going to let something consume all of my time and attention, to my detriment. As I like to say, “Don’t take yourself out of the game.” The phrase originated with…

“I trust everyone. I just don’t trust the devil inside them.” – John Bridger This quote is from one of my top 10 favorite movies, “The Italian Job.” In it, John Bridger, played by Donald Sutherland, leads a band of thieves before turning control of the group over to…

I took a shower yesterday and then had a hard look at myself in the mirror. I didn’t like everything I saw. Later, I was helping my wife clean our living room and I saw a photo of my dad I had taken years ago. I didn’t like what I…