How I Shop Ethically on a Low Income
Last week, I wrote about being too sick to work. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has kept me out of the workforce for a good year and a half now. And that’s had an impact on our finances. My husband works two part-time jobs, and I earn a little through affiliate sales. But our income hovers right around the national poverty line.…
What It’s Like To Be Too Sick To Work
When I was a kid, I loved a good sick day. Of course I didn’t like being sick. But there’s a sweet spot where you’re just sick enough to stay home from school, but not too sick to watch daytime TV in your pajamas. That’s when it was really fun. Or so I thought. When I was twenty six, I…
Tibetan Stovetop Bread
Once upon a time, I lived next door to the Dalai Lama. I was studying abroad, and a research project led me to Dharamsala, a Tibetan enclave in Northern India. I rented a house with a few other students. When we arrived, we were shocked to see that the Dalai Lama’s palace was right next door. Despite being neighbors, I…
Ethical Shoes for Fall
If you want to build a more ethical wardrobe, shoes are a great place to start. The footwear industry has long been plagued with pollution, child labor, and poor working conditions. But many brands are hoping to turn this around by offering beautiful, sustainable, and fairly-made shoes. Today, I’ve curated a selection of ethical boots, heels, and sneakers that are perfect…
Using EMDR Therapy to Heal Chronic Fatigue
For the past three months, I’ve been using EMDR therapy to treat my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It’s an unusual approach: using the mind to heal the body. But when your disease has no treatment, you go to some weird lengths to heal. Some patients try extreme diets, untested supplements, and even parasites in the pursuit of healing. In comparison, going…
Switching to Natural Toothpaste
For most of my life, I never thought about my toothpaste. I brushed my teeth, spit it out, and assumed it would work. Even when I started switching to natural products, toothpaste wasn’t on my shortlist. A strict dental hygienist had instilled a deep fear of cavities in me as a child, and I was afraid that natural toothpaste might…
A Health Update —with good news!
About three years ago, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome took over my life. I probably had the disease to some degree before then, but my health suddenly affected my ability to work, parent, and exist outside of bed in October 2015. After limping along with work for several years, I finally quit my job in France in May 2017. I moved back…
Building a Slow, Ethical, and Healing Lifestyle
