Writing Around Chronic Illness

To Exist is To Flare

Western culture tries to teach us that illnesses have cures. We hunt for antidotes and fix-alls. Yet, those of us with chronic illnesses—in our bodies and minds—persist in the slog of hit-n-miss treatment and diagnoses in-between “flare-up” and “remission.” There’s the isolation.

There are. All. The. Costs.

We’re even gaslit by healthcare professionals when we self-advocate, judged by those who do not/cannot see our inconvenient, uncommon, or invisible illnesses. Our stories are messy, inflamed, transcendent, mundane, stunning.

How do we love our own sick bodies and minds when so often, we are not loved well?

We need to decolonize the industrial, capitalistic, ableist reactions to the liminalities of sickness, suffering, treatment and wellness to love our true selves better.

This virtual “sick bay” is for chronically ill people of mind and body. Together, we will resist band-aid, results-driven ways of loving ourselves. We will:

*ponder and play through somatic portals

*practice sick-informed “love languages” beyond ‘toxic positivity’ (e.g. dispense laughter, tears, and tender touch as medicine)

*honor the divergent, brilliant ways our sick bodies and minds hold and tell story

*share and listen to our wonderings, woundings, and epiphanies. NOT medical advice!

In this same spirit, we encourage you to join the meeting however you can. We recognize that how we are able to ‘show up’ changes constantly, hour by hour. Come as you are. We got your back (unless it hurts too much to touch).

To Exist is To Flare: Labor-Less

Saturday, September 21st

1-4pm PST/4-7pm EST

***

Fall is the essence of liminality: ripening, change, preservation, protection, comfort, balance, letting go. With less daylight, we are invited into more mystery.

Leaves change color; so, too, we shapeshift to adapt to our physiological needs.

Less planting, more harvest.

Less distress, more rest.

Less toil, more joy-l. :)

As Brontë Velez invokes, “How can I be useless to capitalism?” Could Fall be an invitation to labor less?

To Exist is To Flare: Howl-Daze

Sunday, December 1st

1-4pm PST/4-7pm EST

***

Gift yourself this time of solidarity (via creative writing) during the howl-daze. We know how expensive it is to be sick in this culture. Sliding scale—please don’t let cost keep you. You deserve this♥️

The Holiday season can be stressful even at the best of times. For many of us, the holiday season also brings a swell of grief, isolation, anxiety, and depression. But ESPECIALLY for those of us who live with chronic illness.

Add in that one family member that you just know is going to tell you to do a yoga or snort some kale and is it any wonder that you just can’t with the holidays?

After Turkey Day and before the big nexus of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, come write, vent, get loved on, and feel seen and heard in the Holiday Edition of To Exist is To Flare.Do something to take care of yourself this Holiday season (and tell that invalidating person to foot the bill, just kidding, but not really. We’ve all had enough of gaslighting from all directions—medical and work, too.)

To Exist is To Flare: Labor-Less

from $50.00

Sliding Scale:

$50 $100 $150

Add To Cart

To Exist is To Flare: Howl-Daze