The Whispered Roar – a Column by Shawna Barnes

Close your eyes and imagine that you’re in a diving suit, swimming in a warm and comfortable lagoon. You find yourself drawn into the depths of the beautiful teal water by a siren. At first you don’t realize how far you are from the surface; you’re too enamored by the…

Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat when you travel? Before I got sick during my deployment to Iraq (2009-2010), I used to love to travel. I never had to give much thought to flying. I always went with the cheapest ticket or the best deal.

It happened again. I received this comment, intended as a compliment, I think: “I don’t know how you do it.” It was made by a friend of mine who stopped by my business, The Nook, where I said I’d joined the board for a biathlon. I threw my name…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with prednisone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Do you like roller coasters? I used to — until my life became an emotional roller coaster fueled by health challenges…

Have you ever experienced a period of your life when the universe seemed to be sending signals that were subtle at first, but then — bam! — they were in your face and hard to ignore? That’s been my reality for several months now. Last week, I wrote about indulging…

For the first time in a while, I decided to do something that was low maintenance but would help me feel like the “old Shawna.” My thought process was good: I’d practice self-care by taking the afternoon to myself, first going out to lunch and then getting a set…

My husband, Justin, works in fitness. Six months ago he opened a small-group personal training gym in our little Wisconsin town, and he’s been working to grow his membership, which now includes me. Something Justin talks about often with clients — while he’s discussing training, nutrition, or other lifestyle…

Snow in September? Last week I got a new tattoo. The session was my husband’s gift for our anniversary this year. I told the tattoo artist that I wanted something to mark my myasthenia gravis (MG): a snowflake with the color teal, incorporated into some sort…

When living with myasthenia gravis (MG), sometimes even the simplest tasks, such as choosing a hairstyle, can feel like climbing Mount Everest. Today, I’m diving into the world of hair — short and long — and how each style can affect one’s daily life. I’ve rocked both —…

I’ve never been one to be afraid of insects of any kind. Growing up as a farm kid and then becoming mom to a boy helped rid me of all “ickiness” factors of the sort. Until the end of August, that is. I was outside The Nook (my business),…