September 28, 2021 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Repairing the Cracks in My Foundation āSweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine.ā These lyrics are from a spiritual song on my playlist. They’ve challenged me to assess myself while simultaneously liberating me from the judgment of others. Life happens on its own terms, and the only…
February 9, 2021 Columns by Jessie Ace How Players Present and Perceive Disability on ‘The Circle’ āOpen Circle Chat!āĀ Have you seen the reality TV series “The Circle”? It was first shown in the U.K. on Channel 4, and thereās now a U.S. version on Netflix. It is well worth a watch.Ā I started watching it because of the psychological…
December 17, 2020 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell What Do You See When You See Me? If I were using a wheelchair, would you question why I use a handicapped placard? Perhaps some (or all) of the condemnation I now receive would diminish. Maybe the notes left on my windshield would not be written. Perchance, it might temper some of the ugly comments spoken to my…
July 21, 2020 Columns by Jessie Ace ‘You Look OK to Me’ “You look OK to me.” He stood, towering over me, his big belly billowing from his shirt as he straightened up and lifted his chin, glaring down at me over folded arms.Ā I swallowed. Anxiety rushed through me. What am I going to do? I was desperate…
September 17, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson My Judgment-free Zone Judgment is a social ill that many people with chronic illness must endure. People have said, āYouāre not the same person,ā āSnap out of it,ā and of course, āYou donāt look sick.ā Most recently, referring to my irritability and need to regroup, someone asked where the old me had gone.
July 25, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Judging a Book by Its Cover I find airport newsstands alluring. I am drawn toward the litany of books. Shelves of colorful covers beckon to me, bestsellers emblazoned with enticing accolades. I need those books, I tell myself, so I buy two. Fortunately, my shallow criteria are confined to airport literature. Life most certainly imitates art.
June 1, 2018 Columns by Jamie Hughes How Dare You? If you read my last column, youāre well aware that there has been some drama around Casa de Hughes over the last few weeks. I can now happily say that the situation has been resolved and weāre trying to get things back to a more normal, humane pace.
October 31, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Invisible Illness Awareness: The Struggle Continues Last week was Invisible Illness Awareness Week, which ran from Oct 14-20. Awareness weeks are designed to bring attention to certain conditions, issues and situations. They are directed at creating consciousness and disseminating information. Sadly, invisible illness is a subject that needs much more attention. Those of…