Planning for travel can be a daunting process when you have extra needs. When I studied abroad in Chile during the summer of 2019, my diagnosis was still pretty new for me. At the time, my symptoms were under control, but I still carried the fear of "what if I start to flare-up while traveling?"… Continue reading Planning for Travel with a Chronic Illness
Tag: lifestyle
Why Don’t People Understand?
Getting someone to understand my chronic disease has been the biggest obstacle for me to overcome. I have asked myself this question many times in the past few years, but at the end of the day never came up with an answer. Truth is, no one is going to understand unless they have the disease… Continue reading Why Don’t People Understand?
Setting Goals with a Chronic Illness
Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can put a wrench in the plans you have for your life. It certainly did for me. Setting goals can be a daunting process, but it does not always have to be. The approach I like to take when setting goals is starting small. Each day, I set about… Continue reading Setting Goals with a Chronic Illness
Advice for the Newly Diagnosed
So you just found out you've been diagnosed with a chronic illness. What now? Maybe you don't know your diagnosis yet, but you suffer with debilitating symptoms and chronic pain? For many IBD patients, it can take months, even years, to receive a proper diagnosis. You are often left wondering, "What's wrong with me?" and… Continue reading Advice for the Newly Diagnosed
Navigating Change with a Chronic Illness
This past weekend, I moved out of my parent's house where I have lived for the past 18 years of my life. It was tough saying goodbye to my parents, my dog and the house that I have grown to love over the years. Change is hard for me, especially when I have the added… Continue reading Navigating Change with a Chronic Illness
The Truth About Happiness
I often get people asking me "How are you so happy all the time?" My response has always been 1) because I have a strong Catholic faith and 2) I have a positive outlook on life. I choose not to let negative circumstances determine my future. When I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, it took… Continue reading The Truth About Happiness
Let’s Spill the Tea!
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love tea! Seriously, I drink about 3 cups of tea per day. I never get tired of it. Tea has several health benefits and has been my saving grace throughout the progression of my disease. When I studied abroad in Chile and my ulcerative colitis flared-up, one… Continue reading Let’s Spill the Tea!
One Year Later: My Tips on WFH
One year ago today was the first day my entire office started working from home due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I had no idea that March 17, 2020 was going to be my last day working in my cubicle. The mood in the office that day was somber. None of us knew what was going… Continue reading One Year Later: My Tips on WFH
Finding Focus through Meditation
I know meditation may not be for everybody, but hear me out on this one. Like I mentioned in my previous post, self-care is the most important way to improve mental health. Under the umbrella of self-care, I include meditation. I started getting into meditating after I attended a few yoga classes about three years… Continue reading Finding Focus through Meditation
Shifting Focus
I started this blog a few years back before I took my first study abroad trip to Spain. I intended for it to be a travel blog, which it was for a while. But with the current COVID situation that has plagued us for almost a year now in the United States, I believe it's… Continue reading Shifting Focus
Turning Wellness into a Lifestyle 