“Life always kind of works out,” said my counselor to me a while back. I so badly wanted to argue, and say, Notta. But it really got me...

We’ve all heard the saying, “That’s about as fun as a colonoscopy.” Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say it, but I’m going...

You’ll recall I’ve turned to high waisted pants these days. I don’t move as quickly as I used to. And I’m starting to embarrass my kids....

It’s hard to know where to begin in my relationship with her, but I think this story is best. She doesn’t live too far from me, and...

Yesterday I was listening to a podcast about why blogging is important for your speaking career. (Yip, I’m that awesome. I wasn’t out...

I have no idea when, but once when I was younger, I asked my dad why we had to change time during the year. He told me very matter of...

I penned the “Hold On” blog over a month ago. I write blogs in real time, but don’t always post them that quickly. I finally published it...

Q: What do you do for a living? A: I’m a professional patient. Truly. That’s why I do with a lot of my days. I go to the doctor. Q: Do...

I am a very social person. Truly, one of the most social people I know. In law school, I became close with someone who was the shyest...

I couldn’t quit staring out the window. I just sat there and kept blankly looking. But I was smiling. For sure on the outside and...

It’s New Year’s Eve Day, and I’m doing what others around the world are doing – pondering where I will party tonight. Yeah right, in my...

“That’s a big deal and you’re incredibly stupid for standing in the middle of a dark road,” she said as she laughed hard and flashed me a...

I often wonder what it would be like to go back in time and watch myself as a kid. As my kids grow, I’ve become obsessed with asking my...

I’ve been in serious contemplation about whether I’m going through a midlife crisis, with my wearing navy blazers and high waisted,...

While growing up, the “worst” thing to happen at home was Dad going grocery shopping. No matter what, no matter the season, Dad came back...

“You know they say, you can’t go home again. But I just want to come back one last time.” As my brain had already checked me out of life...

I found this NYT’s video opinion piece to be very thought provoking. I encourage you to watch it to think about what “quitting” means to...

I want my book to first and foremost help people who are diagnosed with AE. I also want my book to have broad appeal and hopefully be...

When I wake, the first thing I do is decide that I’m still really tired (stupid AE aftermath). The second thing I do is walk straight to...

I’ll never forget the day I met her, in the dorm hallway. Trish is a bit (a really super duper) of a closer talker (and I love her for...

I will never do that. I’d be the only person in history to get one and then get Lyme disease, or worms. I’m sure I’d die from it. Me for...

When I was little, around third or fourth grade, I desperately wanted Reebok pump shoes. Imagine a black high top, with a little orange...

“Jackie, that’s how I know you’re healing. That’s how I see true inner peace coming from you.” My counselor told me that the other day,...

I watch about 3 movies every 10 years. But one of my absolute favorites is Lonesome Dove. Though 6 hours long, I used to watch it every...

You never think it will be you. But then suddenly, it’s you. Sorry about that. Sorry it’s you. My cousin sent me an Insta video on this...

“For this week’s WordPromptWednesday, write about the reflection in the mirror being different than reality.” I read that and chuckled,...

“Be thankful for stumbles, they prevent falls.” I saw that on a church’s marquee at the corner of a busy street. It was the day after it...

"If you knew that you would die today If you saw the face of God and love Would you change?" I’ve spent the better part of three years...

To keep or not to keep? To do or not to do? Stay right here in this place or go somewhere new? My life feels like a Jeopardy board. But I...

I once heard Hunter Pinke say that he doesn’t ask, “Why me?” rather he asks, “Why not me?” (If you don’t know Hunter’s story, Google him,...

My counselor recently asked me to start a gratefulness journal – to write down daily thankful thoughts. But since my diagnosis and...

You came onto me so fast. Like a sick lover. But, we were never meant to be. Me and you. You’ve been away for years now. Yet, you linger...

I read an opinion this morning in the New York Times, about how nurses are being overworked to serious degrees. Covid has strained these...

“Everything is worse at night. Everything.” Said my mother to me yesterday, after I had a particularly awful night, which led to an...

“Princesses, they’re just like us.” My friend Christina once commented that on Facebook, under a picture of Princess Kate. You know, the...

While I was in the psychiatric ward, and could still write a little, I wrote: “BETTER DAYS AHEAD.” It was more me trying to convince...

*The turkey artwork is courtesy of my Kindergarten son.* When I was in college, the United States was involved in conflict in the Middle...

This photo of me was taken at the Mayo Clinic, on November 6, 2018. It was at the height of the dark days of my recovery from autoimmune...

Everyone has an idea and a way for me. I’ve accepted that’s just part of living with a monumental illness.

My newfound time and perspective on life have given me all sorts of nostalgia. Feelings of longing for the past.

Everything about autoimmune encephalitis scares the bee jeebies out of me. It’s horrible to face your own mortality, but also eye opening.

As my health improved, I became less fixated on life’s uncertainty, but I remain lonely.

Figuring out how to educate our children and keep them safe, is a big part of our new daily routine.

After all, drinking cold coffee may be guaranteed, but tomorrow isn’t.

Please take away from this piece that I have some thoughts about coping with grief, not that I read old lady magazines.

In my new weird encephalitis world, there are two types of people: patients and carers.

As painful as it is, I’m now a card carrying member of the “Encephalitis Club.”