My Youth Is Not Health
For HuffPost, I wrote a response to the harmful ideology that "youth is health." Also, poop.
It’s the small things — like being told that I’m ‘making things out to be worse than they are’ or that I’m ‘not being positive enough’ — that can hurt more than my illness.
Over the weekend, HuffPost published an essay that I've—‘til now—been anxious about people reading. While I've been open about my chronic pain and illness, I haven't fully written about the extreme mental toll they’ve taken on me, amongst other challenges, with both daily and long-term effects. This essay is an attempt to untangle some of that complexity, and create a space for me—and others living with chronic illness—to, at the very least, sit with. Hopefully, by doing so, we can together reach—or become more open to the idea of someday striving for—a place of radical acceptance.
I've woken up to over a hundred emails and direct messages this morning, from folks all over, sharing their stories with me, and thanking me for sharing mine. It echoes the importance of community, one of which I am so happy and grateful to have found. If you're struggling to adjust to life with chronic illness, this essay is for you. I hope that you feel seen, heard, and—most of all—validated.
To read my full essay, head over to HuffPost.
With love and solidarity,
GM
You can follow my other unhinged missives by following me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. My debut memoir, Born to Be Public, is out now.