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in Lifestyle · September 12, 2016

Dear College Freshman Kate

When I went back to Nashville at the end of August, my hotel was right on the edge of Vanderbilt property. To be more specific, there was a parking lot in between the hotel and the Vanderbilt football stadium. It was a bit strange to be right at the campus where I spent 4 years – and drove through even longer – especially because so much has changed since my senior year. And even more has changed since my freshman year! It got me thinking about my freshman year, even more so because I stayed with a friend who I met on my second day of college and was in my orientation group. With all of these reminders of my freshman year, it got me thinking about what I wish I had known then. Like many of my life experiences since I became a blogger, that led me to a blog post. Here is what I wish I knew my freshman year of college.

Dear College Freshman Kate

Dear Kate,

It’s 2009 and you’ve recently started your freshman year at Vanderbilt. You’re excited for the next four years and what they will hold, and you’re excited for your new home. Vanderbilt feels familiar, but Nashville is so far from what you’re used to. And you love it. It’s hard to wrap your head around that the Vanderbilt campus features more people than your hometown and all much closer together. Everything is new, and sometimes you can’t believe that you got so lucky.

Prepare yourself because next four years are going to be wild. After adjusting to your new life – and because extremely annoyed that it stays so hot for so long – it will all change again next semester when you join a sorority and then join concert choir. Both will completely shape the rest of your college career. Delta Gamma brings you sisters and friends who will be key parts in your life, as well as experiences you’ll treasure forever. One will bring a whole bunch of people who can’t go to their homes home with her for Easter, others will be there through breakups and friend drama, and many others will be in many of your classes throughout college. Even when your chapter has to close in your sophomore year, they will be with you for the rest of your time in Nashville.

Dear College Freshman Kate

Easily the biggest influence on your life will be the Vanderbilt University Concert Choir. The vast majority of your friends beyond college will be ones you meet there, and you’ll meet both of your college boyfriends in choir. The friends you make will be there through all of the messes from your arthritis – 4 will take you to the ER on 3 different trips – as well as so many more wonderful adventures. You will go on one tour with them to Washington, D.C., and on another to Savannah and Orlando. There will be so many amazing themed choir parties and social events. But when all is said and done, you will only have been in choir for a combined total of 2 years. This is how amazing choir is and how great an influence it can have on your life. As VUCC says, “Come for the music, stay for the people.” Choir will be one of the top 3 best decisions of your college experience.

But you’ll join choir because you’ll have to stop playing the viola. You came to choir with your viola and with the plan to keep taking lessons, but within a few months, your hand will make that stop. The issues you had with your hand in your junior year of high school will come back and it will become too painful for you to continue playing the viola at the level that you have been because practicing for 1-2 hours as you are not supposed to do too much. Like your junior year of high school, you’ll end up in the splint in the picture above. Stopping to play an instrument will break your heart, but you’ll know that it’s the right decision, and, after all, it will bring you to choir.

College won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. You’ll learn so much and take so many great classes (even if you’ll have to take oceanography and geology). Your heart will be broken and you’ll lose friends and your health will get awful – next summer you’ll wake up one morning unable to open your mouth more than 8mm and you’ll be diagnosed with arthritis – but it will be an amazing experience. Nashville and Vanderbilt will become your second home, and when you have to leave eventually, you’ll leave a piece of your heart there.

Love,

Future Kate

What would you tell your college freshman self?

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I’m Kate, a millennial living in New England. I’m a writer and an advocate for people with chronic illnesses. Join me on my journey to greatness!

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1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
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Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
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📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
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◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
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[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
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You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
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You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
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◾⁣
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[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
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I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
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◾ ⁣
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[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
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⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
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⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at wo Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at work, but then I'm taking a long weekend around Easter. Here are some things I do to power through weeks like this: ⁣
▪ Make sure to get a full night's sleep⁣
▪ Drink lots of water ⁣
▪ Take breaks away from the computer⁣
▪ Take all my meds ⁣
▪ Cut myself some slack when I struggle⁣
⁣
What do you do to ensure that you do what you have to while also not pushing yourself into a flare? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a white desk typing on a laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a blue-and-white striped dress, large brown glasses, a FitBit, and a silver bracelet.]
What spring walks look like these days! With COVID What spring walks look like these days! With COVID-19 still being a big threat - and my immune system is still suppressed! - it's important to keep wearing masks. I'm not vaccinated yet, but even when I do get it, I'll be wearing masks for a while. ⁣
⁣
As you get your vaccine, remember that it takes a few weeks to be vaccinated. I heard that it takes 2-4 weeks after your last shot for your body to do what it needs to do be vaccinated. So don't get the shot and then immediately take your mask off. I know it has been a hard year, but please keep doing the safe behavior that we need for you!⁣
⁣
✨ What does your spring look like? ✨⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie while sitting on steps outside. She's a brunette white woman wearing a teal t-shirt, a blue popover fleece, a Boston Red Sox hat, round tortoiseshell glasses, and a black mask. Her cavalier King Charles spaniel is sitting with her and looking up at her.]
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✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ✨ VISIBLE SIGNS OF MY "INVISIBLE" DISABILITY ✨ ⁣
⁣
1️⃣ TENS unit clipped on my jeans to help my foot and ankle pain ⁣
2️⃣ Wearing sneakers because a) they're the only shoes I can really tolerate b) I have an indoors and an outdoors pair c) I have to wear sneakers/can't go barefoot for long because of my foot and ankle pain ⁣
3️⃣ Leaning on my closet door slightly because it's the only way I can really stay still for pictures ⁣
4️⃣ Wearing glasses because I can't wear contacts due to dry eyes, which is a side effect of many of my medications ⁣
5️⃣ Popsocket on my phone because I really can't keep a grasp on it due to my super arthritic hands ⁣
⁣
These are just some visible signs! Just because you don't see these things doesn't mean they aren't there if you look. Invisible disabilities aren't truly invisible. ⁣
⁣
➡ What are visible signs of your invisible disability? ⬅ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate stands in front of a mirror on the inside of her closet door, taking a selfie in the mirror., She's a brunette white woman wearing jeans, a blue-and-white top, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a TENS unit clipped to her jeans.]
Harley and Piper's new album, coming this fall 😂 ⁣
⁣
Comment below with what you think their album would be named if this was the album cover ⬇ ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs but from the perspective of down on the ground looking up at them. The dogs are on a brick pathway in Boston and behind them are classic Boston brownstones, trees without leaves, and a cloudy sky. One dog is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel, and her ears are flying back in the wind. The other is a golden retriever.]
Even once you're done with school, you should neve Even once you're done with school, you should never stop learning. That doesn't mean that you have to take classes! Learning can look however you want. ⁣
⁣
You can take up a new hobby. ⁣
⁣
You can learn a new skill. ⁣
⁣
You can learn about the world by getting your news from different sources. ⁣
⁣
There are so many ways to learn, and one of the great things about not being in school anymore is that you can learn about whatever you want and whatever interests you. ⁣
⁣
What is something you've learned or learned about? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair, facing the camera. She's a brunette white woman wearing black pants, a white sweater, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She's holding an open book. Behind her on the walls are a couple of round mirrors.]
I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I I've been missing rural Maine these days. While I like being able to see people out and about in Boston, spending most of 2020 in rural Maine really reinforced how much my soul prefers country to the city. ⁣
⁣
I don't know what to do about that short-term, but it is helpful to know that my long-term goal of moving back to Maine (or at least not living long-term in the city) is in fact something that I will love. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Looking at a lake that has a rock-filled "beach" with rocks going out to a point. The other side of the lake is filled with trees.]
Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter ce Put on a full face of makeup for a small Easter celebration today. This is your reminder that while it's nice to dress up and look nice, celebrating in small ways is just as good as celebrating in big ones. Also, Jesus doesn't want you to risk your health or the health of others to celebrate. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie. She's a brunette white woman wearing a v-neck ribbed shirt, claddagh necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses.] ⁣
⁣
#bostonbloggers #bostonian #bostonblogger #proptoit #myunicornlife #makemoments #acolorstory #makeyousmilestyle #liveunscripted #howyouglow #mybeautifulmess #choosejoy #influencehercollective #howiseeit #inspiredwomen #documentyourdays #momentsofmine #myeverydaymagic #darlingdaily #todayslovely #seekmoments #momentslikethese #posttheordinary #thatauthenticfeeling #discoverunder5k #BossGirlBloggers #ChronicIllnessBlogger #bostonma
Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. Like I said on Monday, this has been a busy week. But I made it through the week! And you almost have, too. ⁣
⁣
Earlier this week, I published a new blog post with tips for new health bloggers. There are 12 in total! And then today I published a new blog post that is an FAQ for POTS. I'm answering questions that I've gotten a lot in my personal life as well as in my advocate life!⁣
⁣
Check these posts out by clicking the link in my bio or ➡ katethealmostgreat.com. ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Check out my blog at the link in my bio or go to katethealmostgreat.com.⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits in a gray chair working on a silver laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a gray t-shirt, a lighter gray cardigan, and round tortoiseshell glasses. The t-shirt is mostly covered, but the text on it is CureArthritis.org.]
Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're tak Piper and Harley want to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. If you're not, they're not mad, they're disappointed. ⁣
⁣
In all seriousness, if you're struggling right now, that's okay. We're a year into the pandemic life, and it is 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 some days. Piper and Harley want to give you hugs, but they know that they can't jump through Instagram to make that happen. But know that they want to! ⁣
⁣
📸 @happydogsboston⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: 2 dogs sit on a brick pathway. The one in front is a red-and-white cavalier King Charles spaniel. The one in the bag is a golden retriever.]
Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at wo Happy Monday! I'm heading into a hectic week at work, but then I'm taking a long weekend around Easter. Here are some things I do to power through weeks like this: ⁣
▪ Make sure to get a full night's sleep⁣
▪ Drink lots of water ⁣
▪ Take breaks away from the computer⁣
▪ Take all my meds ⁣
▪ Cut myself some slack when I struggle⁣
⁣
What do you do to ensure that you do what you have to while also not pushing yourself into a flare? ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣
⁣
◾ ⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate sits at a white desk typing on a laptop. She's a brunette white woman wearing a blue-and-white striped dress, large brown glasses, a FitBit, and a silver bracelet.]
What spring walks look like these days! With COVID What spring walks look like these days! With COVID-19 still being a big threat - and my immune system is still suppressed! - it's important to keep wearing masks. I'm not vaccinated yet, but even when I do get it, I'll be wearing masks for a while. ⁣
⁣
As you get your vaccine, remember that it takes a few weeks to be vaccinated. I heard that it takes 2-4 weeks after your last shot for your body to do what it needs to do be vaccinated. So don't get the shot and then immediately take your mask off. I know it has been a hard year, but please keep doing the safe behavior that we need for you!⁣
⁣
✨ What does your spring look like? ✨⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
I'm Kate, a chronic health blogger who blogs to help chronic illness patients and their loved ones. Follow me for more tips on living an awesome life with chronic illness! ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
◾⁣
⁣
[Image: Kate takes a selfie while sitting on steps outside. She's a brunette white woman wearing a teal t-shirt, a blue popover fleece, a Boston Red Sox hat, round tortoiseshell glasses, and a black mask. Her cavalier King Charles spaniel is sitting with her and looking up at her.]
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