Private Chef, Writer & Podcaster
Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure means even simple tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. This raw, heartfelt reflection from a private chef and debut novelist explores chronic fatigue, aging, and the exhausting work of keeping up appearances while living with a chronic illness.
Ever had someone snatch your phone while you were just trying to show them a picture? Twice in one day, it hit me how much of my entire life—accounts, passwords, memories, even my brain power—now lives inside this little iPhone. As a chef with sarcoidosis and heart failure who once memorized entire bank account numbers and directions without GPS, I’m wrestling with the good, bad, and ridiculous sides of tech dependence.
For nearly two decades, I had a deep, complicated friendship with someone I never met in person. We bonded over email, phone calls, cancer, cats, and clashing work styles. Then one day, I almost didn’t pick up the phone. This is a story about unexpected grief, long-distance connections, and why you should never let a call go to voicemail.
Labor Day may feel bittersweet for most, but for me—a chef living with sarcoidosis and heart failure—it’s a relief. Summer’s heat, crowds, and entitlement give way to autumn’s crisp air, golden leaves, and the quiet comfort my body and spirit crave. Here’s why fall feels like freedom, and why I’ll always celebrate the end of summer.
Feeling left out by friends or coworkers can hit hard, especially when you’re already battling chronic illness or the daily grind of writing your first novel. Here’s how to deal with being excluded—without wrecking your peace or your relationships.
Tate Basildon 