Part of the reason I named this column “Run Your Own Race” is that I found (much to my great surprise) that running can easily be a metaphor for life. And when you have compromised lungs from sarcoidosis, running is also a fight for your life. In a…
May has not been my favorite month for many years. I lost my mother suddenly over Mother’s Day weekend in 2003, and later lost one of my favorite aunts in May 2006 and my maternal grandmother in May 2007. On May 19, 2018, I suffered a second spontaneous…
Earlier today, I scheduled appointments for my husband and me to see our primary doctor and pulmonologist. I also rescheduled appointments with my cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, and ophthalmologist, all of which I’d had to cancel recently because I was too sick to go to the doctor. There really is such…
Sometimes, you know you’re in a unique time of your life, and you should just appreciate your good fortune without questioning it. For me, I’m in such a time. Last weekend, I gathered at my college alma mater, Morehouse College in Atlanta, to celebrate my 30-year reunion. It was…
I recently recorded my first episode as co-host of a podcast about arthritis — defining it, differentiating the various types, and discussing how it affects us. Our group of co-hosts included people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Sjögren’s syndrome, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and sarcoidosis. I think we raised more…
Last month, I participated in my biggest race ever, the Brooklyn Marathon. The race weaved through various neighborhoods in Brooklyn, passing less than a block from my apartment. With over 20,000 runners, it was by far the biggest crowd I’ve ever run with. And while in 2022 we have learned…
For the past few days, I’ve been taking an inventory of my life. I guess living with a chronic illness will make you do that. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not feeling sorry for myself. I guess I was feeling like I needed to take inventory of what…
Two of my daily tasks are staying confident and encouraged. Sometimes that’s a challenge. I joined a few sarcoidosis groups on Facebook, and I’ve read postings about folks who’ve lived with the disease from three to 40 years; I’ve been living with it for about 18 years. As I like…
There seems to be a correlation between productivity and inherent value nowadays. The busier a person is at work, the more she is viewed as a great employee; the more a person accomplishes in life, the more she is praised and admired. While most of us understand the difference between…
This week, the 126th Boston Marathon was held. It was exciting to see 30,000 runners pushing through the 26.2-mile course on the streets of Boston. I had a few friends running this year, and I was so glad that technology allowed us to cheer on our favorites (as well…
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