I think we can all agree that change is uncomfortable. Maybe good changes are sweeping through your life, bringing you joy and excitement for what is to come. Or, maybe unwelcome changes are knocking you off your feet. Either way, adjustment is necessary. Being adaptable is a crucial life skill. Whether you’re taking on more at work, you’re taking the next step in a romantic relationship, or you burnt that pizza you were looking forward to for dinner,  we’re all adapting to things outside of our control everyday.

I recently went through a giant change. In February 2020, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. It felt like life slapped me across the face. I spent about three days in tears and in complete distress because I felt like my life was about to swallow any good in me up. I felt stuck, and it wasn’t obvious how I was supposed to adapt to such an enormous change. 

I have never experienced such feelings of weakness. In the beginning, getting out of bed, getting myself into the bathtub to rinse off, and walking downstairs to the couch were huge milestones. Then something in me changed; after feeling completely hopeless, I looked up and asked God to take care of me and I started listening. After months of saying I was going to eat healthy and work out consistently and stop letting my temper get the best of me, I started learning. My body had had enough and it took a digestive system full of ulcers to tell me that. God promised His grace is sufficient for us and that His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9), and so I persisted. I began working out little by little, sat outside on the porch, and read heaps of books and articles on IBD.

What I had a hard time with however, was finding stories of young girls with Crohn’s Disease. When you google it, Crohn’s pops up as a “rare” condition, but in 2015, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation reported that about 780,000 to around one million Americans have the disease. So why isn’t there more information out there about what living with Crohn’s is really like? Crohn’s typically develops before you turn thirty. You generally have family history of Crohn’s. I do not. Feeling very isolated and confused about what to expect, I turned to God again and asked for comfort.

In the next few weeks, as COVD-19 began to develop, I went on a trip to Cape Cod and had time to think about my diagnosis and how I would strengthen myself mentally. Crohn’s is a lifetime disease with no cure. People with Crohn’s will typically face “flares” or periods of discomfort due to ulcers forming in the intestines. Flares can be brought on by simply eating something your body doesn’t agree with or by increased stress and anxiety. It’s very hard to avoid both these things, as your intestines’ needs are changing every day and anxiety is something a lot of people battle with from day to day. After praying and thinking and wondering how I could fortify myself against future flares and imagining my life and career going forward, I saw my answer right in front of me.

It is with a joyous heart that I welcome you to the Lovely Digest – a place where Crohn’s can’t stop you from eating food with flavor, traveling to wondrous places, and looking like a million bucks when you do it. Although I am ten steps outside of my comfort zone, knowing I am sharing my journey of immense growth gets me so excited for what is to come. It has been a lifelong dream to fully pursue my many “loves” in life, including fashion, food, photography, travel, and so much more. I always knew that someday I would be a content creator, a freelancer, and have Jesus as my boss. I never imagined it would be now, but I feel in my heart the call to share my loves as defined by my life with Crohn’s Disease. Whether you also have Crohn’s or not, I think it is endlessly important to care for your body and foster your unique talents and hobbies. I hope you’ll join me on here, Youtube, and Instagram @thelovelydigest, as I begin to share my story and my life with you all and build the community I wish I had found when I was first diagnosed.