I’m moving platforms

I've moved my column over to Substack! It seems to be a better resource and platform for both the writer and the reader. Still free and still interactive, just a different location. I hope you'll join me over there! You can find me at bentcolumn.substack.com and either subscribe not to miss anything or just check …

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Vogue vomit

I wouldn’t wish _______ on my worst enemy. That common, certainly overused, phrase fits how I feel about my health challenges. Unstoppable pain, ever-changing symptoms, dramatic physical changes, life altering daily struggles, etc. My broken body is my burden. My unfathomable new existence. Even after nearly a decade of trying to find a normal, I …

Spruce ter-let

My frustrations with ablism around most outdoor adventures are numerous. One of the most glaring shortcomings we face on the daily is a lack of access to bathroom facilities. This complaint runs across the board. For all genders, all types of disability, all ages, etc. Every person needs and deserves access to clean functional toilets.  …

Entitled rollers

Most of us who struggle with chronic medical conditions are quite empathetic. We know pain. We know invisibility. We know that everyone has their own struggles. There comes a point where kindness and understanding become traits which get taken advantage of in the larger world.  A new phenomenon called “trans ableism” had begun to simmer …

Vampire hike

We headed out on a hike around noon. While I typically try to avoid the hottest time of the day for physical exertion, it was a day that skewed cooler. Wearing shorts, a shirt and a hat, I lathered on sunscreen and sprayed a thick cloud of skin-friendly yet reliable bug repellent. There were a …

It’s still raining

I don’t know how long it takes for something to be obvious. How many individual accounts of the same story? How frequently do we need to see the same symptoms? When do they, the people and institutions in power, connect the dots or follow the strings? More and more often, journalists and celebrities are publicly …

Be a mummy

I went on a quick camping trip. Planning for at least one hike a day and nights of stargazing, it wasn’t going to be a difficult mini vacation. I’m not prissy when it comes to being outdoors. I expect to get sweaty, buggy, grimy, smoky, and every other description that comes without indoor amenities. However, …

Happy-ish feet

Feet. The often ultra-divisive body parts that allow us to stand. I never understood the love or hate for feet. They were considered simply functional in my culture. Heavily worn, toughened, and critical to mobility… feet were used and not thought of unless they had a problem. With age and travel, I learned that many …

I owe you

Borrowing from one person to pay another is a way of life most of us are either currently in, or have experienced before. Is there a more fitting metaphor when it comes to living with a broken body? I know that I’m constantly navigating between which symptom or body part that I’m willing to trigger …

Getting dirty

I drone on endlessly about being in nature. The scientifically proven benefits are well-known. The personal stories are countless. While much hasn’t been said about how people with chronic medical conditions and pain can easily incorporate nature-based activities into their daily lives, we should be an important part of the conversation. I’ve touched on the …