Jenna,

With respect, that is precisely the opposite of what I wrote. And yes, you’re right, my original point- if you truly take the time to read with deep understanding, that the wording is specifically chosen to force the issue. Your words all I can think about is the implication that my friends and family somehow deserve their health issues are very, very revealing. If I had written an article that outlined all the damage I’ve visited on my body, the pain and torture this would have been War and Peace. I would invite you to go back and reread the article and see if you can remove the baggage that you seem to carry around the word “deserve.” Because the message is there. I have a massive body of work on Medium that speaks very eloquently to how I feel about body image, and while I certainly don’t expect you to read that material, I challenge you to listen to the much higher message. It’s all through this piece, very intentional. When we have that kind of reaction to a work and you’re not alone, the work is inside us. I appreciate your comments. We ALL have health issues, we ALL carry damage in our bodies, we ALL bear the proof of where we are emotionally. Nobody gets out of this one without it. Being able to understand the much higher message of how the body is a teacher, and how we are guided by that teacher, is. There is nothing in this article whatsoever that shames anyone for the body you and I end up in. That is in the heart of the beholder. I just looked up the word “ableism.” As a disabled person, that nearly made me fall outta my chair laughing. That would be ripe indeed.