How transformation can emerge from the depths of despair — When I got sick seven years ago, all I wanted was a quick fix. I was an 18-year-old journalism student suddenly thrust into a world of unpredictable symptoms, doctor’s visits and tests. I was diagnosed with POTS, an autonomic nervous system disorder that turned my life upside down with symptoms…

Everyone’s healing journey starts somewhere. Mine started on my first visit to a holistic practitioner, desperate for relief from Postular Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS is an autonomic nervous system disorder I was diagnosed with at 18. It drastically impaired my quality of life with symptoms ranging from pre-fainting spells…

Walk to the edges of the grocery store, and you’ll find food that our ancestors would likely recognize: fresh food like apples, carrots, fish and eggs. The rest of the grocery store is filled with food that our ancestors probably wouldn’t recognize: ultra-processed foods like chips and soda formulated in…

“When you have your health, you have everything,” writes American author Augusten Burroughs. His words ring true today as I reflect on our current global health crisis and my personal healing journey. For the first 18 years of my life, I took my health for granted. I ate whatever I…

As I struggle to cope with the new reality of COVID-19, I can’t help but feel an odd sense of deja-vu. The anxiety, the uncertainty, the loss — they all feel strangely familiar. I remember a time not too long ago when I was also stuck inside, unable to plan…

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the poor state of mental health in the United States — and worldwide. There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make matters even worse. For many of us, anxiety levels are reaching all-time highs as we struggle to cope with the…

Dear Corona, I must say you are quite the impressive foe: invisible and silent with a mind-boggling global reach. It feels like you snuck up on us in the middle of the night. We had heard nervous whispers about you for months, yet most people shrugged them off and carried on like…

How an innovative nonprofit fights for justice in the heart of Kentucky’s food deserts — In our sea of processed food and soaring chronic disease rates, it can be hard to believe that the tides will ever change. Yet change is coming, evident by the brave individuals and organizations across the country fighting for a healthier tomorrow. These are our lighthouses, shining their bright light…