Coffee Check-In: Health, Humanity, & Choice

Continued leaning into rest yesterday and was fortunate to schedule a same-day doctor's appointment. That is an extreme privilege I am so grateful to have, and it's taken a good amount of time to find a doctor in our area where that is possible. I have a medical plan for the next three months along with bloodwork and hormonal testing, and I'm happy with that.

All my bloodwork and hormones have been really good the last few years, and I hope they continue to stay that way as now we're on the serious side of starting a family. Messaging with my mom yesterday about the visit and plan; I'm incredibly grateful to have a mother who is so open and communicative about health and health history.

Our health is so important. It's central to our lives. I think, as a pretty healthy kid, I took that for granted. I was that kid in elementary school who got awards for not missing school 🤓but that changed once I started my period, and my health became way more complex 😅 Those of us who menstruate, our health is incredibly complex!!

So I'm incredibly thankful for all the friends and colleagues who are empathetic and supportive but show and give their humanity when we're not always at the top of our game. If I had the energy this week to stress, I would have been worrying about a freelance interview I had earlier this week. But one thing I've leaned into the past four years is asking for help and understanding. Being vulnerable in hopes that I will connect with other authentic, caring humans. That made a huge difference for me when I was laid off and during this time of newness for me. The people I've connected and fostered relationships with via social media, my jobs, my career, and grad school - I am so grateful for y'all! Being able not only to continue to be my authentic, vulnerable self but encouraged and supported to keep going - keep growing. It means the world.

The pressure we're under as humans is immense. Health and humanity make a huge difference—another game changer - choice. The only way I could see my doctor the same day was thanks to ObamaCare or its real name, The Affordable Care Act. When I was laid off, one of my first questions, if not my first, was about health insurance. Especially with my husbands' Type 1 Diabetes, as well as my Endometriosis and ADHD, there is no way that we can go without insurance. I was told my health insurance would continue with the severance package I would be receiving, so that was a huge relief. In investigating if I wanted to try contract and freelance work, I looked into my options with ACA as preemptive research because that's just who I am. And luckily, I did so because what was meant as "continued health insurance" was that COBRA would be offered. I have LOTS of thoughts and opinions on that, so we won't go into it now, but because I did my research, I was able to get us signed up for health insurance with ACA. I still had to pay $500 out of pocket for my ADHD meds because the health insurance didn't start until June, but it's still cheaper than the $1700 COBRA offer I received about a week later 😑

All of that is to say that because I had the choice of healthcare options thanks to the ACA, and not having my healthcare tied to my employer, I've now been able to have more choices in what I do and where and how I can work now and in the future. I don't HAVE to stress about finding a job with health insurance, let alone a job I would want with good health insurance as soon as possible. That shouldn't be the immense privilege it is, and I am so grateful for it right now. Choice is something that is important to me, and if I do end up working for someone else again, choice is going to be an important requirement. And when I get to the point of hiring others, it will be something that I offer.

I've always been frustrated when people say, "We're more than our work/jobs." That comes from an incredible place of privilege. And I want to help bring more choice, humanity, and healthy living into our world.

It's nice to feel a bit more like me this morning 😊 And here's a little sneak peek at my typical morning breakfast, not just my morning Decaf Fortado 😉 I need a good balance of carbs to protein to make it through a good few hours before needing to snack or have another meal, so I enjoy a nice gluten-free bagel from Trader Joes with cream cheese, veggies (usually green onions, tomato, spinach, sprouts/micro greens), a Beyond Meat breakfast sausage patty, an egg or two, and orange juice with extra Vitamin C and added Vitamin D. The fat from the egg, cream cheese, and sausage help to absorb the vitamin C and D, so I make sure to take any supplements like the turmeric and prenatal vitamin with my breakfast as well for better absorption.