I Run These Towns

I realize it's a gross generalization, but many women I knew tend to lose themselves in external things - children, jobs, marriage, the sheer volume of things to accomplish. I've always had a strong sense of self. Even in having a child (despite the struggle to get here) I didn't lose myself. I went on my first work trip when my son was two months old. I ran a half marathon when he was four months old and a marathon before his first birthday. In those first few years I struck a balance between being me and being mommy that made me pretty happy. In 2016 I left a job I'd held for a while and hit the reset button, and in that process I felt an even stronger sense of self. I decided I wouldn't do things that didn't make me happy. I wouldn't settle for anything in life - work, friendships, experiences - that were toxic. It was happy or nothing.   As I entered the last year of my 30s I felt like I really had it figured out. I was still a top priority, and that ...

I often have blog ideas rolling around in my head. Sometimes I write part or all of a piece and save it as a draft to be published at a yet to be determined time in the future or not at all. Sometimes I just need to get my snark out in writing before tucking it away, never to be seen again. I've been so busy this last year, and I have a blog that I've started and stopped repeatedly about the business of busyness. I couldn't wrap my head around exactly what I wanted to say, but I'm struggling with what to say when people ask how life/work/etc is. My canned response is "busy" because it's true, and it's the first thing that pops into my head. But I don't want to live a life where my constant first thought is how busy I am. This week's schedule is brutal. I have meetings layered on top of meetings. I have crises layered upon crises. I left City Hall last night after 9 p.m., and when my alarm went off at 4:45 for the gym I was feeling...well, b...

For me the key to psychologically dealing with chronic illness is to always know it could be worse. Even on my absolute sickest days I am grateful that I can handle this. I know there are people who are suffering in ways I can't imagine. I would rather be sick from Crohn's every minute of every day than have my son be sick even for a moment. I can deal with my sickness. I can handle whatever is thrown at me.  The adage goes something like, "Be kind. Everyone you know is fighting their own battle." I know that to be true, and my battle is different than anyone else's. I also almost always choose to believe mine is easier and more manageable. One of the things I've discovered is that people often try to empathize with me, and I'd say they do it poorly about 90 percent of the time. I appreciate that people want to relate, but please think about what you're saying. I had someone recently get over the flu and say to me, "Now I know what you go thro...