It's World IBD Day...
So let's talk shit this week, shall we? 👀 And An Exciting New Release!
I have Crohn’s disease.
If you’ve followed my work before, you know it is not something I shy away from speaking about, yet I am very intentional about how and why I share my experience.
This week, on Sunday, May 19th, it will be World IBD Day (Inflammatory Bowel Disease). It may seem like an oxymoron to celebrate diseases that bring suffering to over 10 million people who live with them worldwide, but it is important to raise awareness and find spaces to connect with others with similar journeys.
In honor of the condition that changed my life, I want to share with you some of the main resources that have helped me find alignment while living with Crohn’s Disease.
10 Insights I Didn’t Ask For (but Chronic Illness Thought I Needed)
I’ve been living with Crohn’s for over 12 years now, and I’ve had some seriously low points.
However, I cannot deny that I would be a very different person without it, and it has taught me several invaluable lessons (in a fairly painful and brutal way, I must say).
These lessons have been the catalyst that invited me to shift and live my life with more awareness:
💩Holistic Digestion
Having a healthy and strong digestive system goes beyond eating good food: digestion is a physical, mental, and emotional process, and how we digest what happens to us in life affects everything. Read that again, friend.
🌤️The Power of Routine
I’ve learned the importance of flexible and sustainable routines. They create an opportunity to check in with myself and notice how I feel before I make choices and commitments, and if possible, readjust accordingly.
Hustle Culture is Bull💩
I no longer want to partake, no Sir. I have learned that slow living is much better for promoting a regulated nervous system and that in itself is half the battle with Crohn’s disease.
When I actively choose activities, spaces, and people that promote calmness and groundedness instead of stress, my condition often improves.
🧻Appreciating Small Things
Having a clean, private washroom with toilet paper is underrated🙃 (I know I speak for many folks with disabilities here who appreciate that even more than I do).
🛜Community and Connection
Finding spaces to connect with others who share similar experiences has been invaluable. Community both online and offline have provided me with a sense of belonging and understanding that is crucial for mental and emotional health.
💛Self-Compassion
Living with a chronic illness has taught me to be kinder to myself. I’ve learned to listen to my body, to rest when needed, and to celebrate myself even when I am a blob on the bed and all I achieved that day was breathe. Self-compassion is a vital aspect of managing any chronic condition.
🧘🏾♀️Mindful Movement
Incorporating yoga and meditation into my daily routine was transformative, to be honest, I don’t know where I would be if these practices hadn’t arrived in my life when they did.
I’ll share the story on my next paid stack at the end of this week. 💛
😶You Gotta Let it Rip
Actually, farting is not only natural but it’s good for you, especially if you have digestive issues of any sort. Just a PSA.
Passing gas relieves pressure and prevents discomfort, indicating your digestive system is functioning well. So don’t hold it in—your gut will thank you!
☁️ Breath is the Best Tool
No matter how bad I feel, I can always connect to my breath, always.
Even if it is shallow and rapid, if I only remember, I can return to the ebb and flow of air entering and leaving my body, returning to the present moment and feeling that I am alive and okay.
🪶Keep it Light
Yes, chronic illness can be difficult, especially when in a flare.
That is why I try to remind myself to not take anything too seriously and to find spaces for lightness and fun daily.
Introducing: The Living Well Conversation Series
I love chatting with people and getting to know them, what brings them joy, what lights their souls on fire. I learn so much.
After losing my main writing gig a couple of months back (thanks AI) I have had a lot more space to dedicate to some projects that had been on the back-burner and I am now able to bring to life.
Hello, creativity!
I’m stoked to share with you the first episode of a series of conversations with some of my favorite people on the planet, folks who inspire me to learn and grow and who have been an important part of my journey whether they were aware of it or not.
Some of my guests are yoga teachers, others are parents, educators, baristas -you name it. What they do for a living is not what matters in these conversations, though.
We’ll talk about health, wellness, and of course a little bit about yoga. We will dive deep into how we keep ourselves engaged in life and connected to others while honoring our space, our time, and our authenticity in a raw, relaxed, and welcoming space.
Living Well with Crohn’s Disease 💜
What better way to kick off the series than to chat with Valerie Maimoni (RYT-200), a fellow Chronie who has so much wisdom and knowledge to share about how to live a good, full life while managing a condition she’s had for over 20 years.
I invite you to grab a cup of tea or coffee, listen in on this conversation, and share any insights or inspiration you may have drawn from Valerie’s honest and raw testimony.
Enjoy. 💛
For the video version of this episode, upgrade to a paid subscription of The Pause and you will get early access directly to your inbox this Friday!
Valerie and I put a lot of love into this episode, and we truly hope that you enjoy it.
Until we meet again pause often, breathe deeply, and stay kind… especially to yourself.
Laia
Hustle culture is bull💩!
I’ll have to send this to my friend who also struggles with Chron’s and is currently in recovery from a surgery