Living in a Body

Hi. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” Special welcome to all the new subscribers! I hope you’ll introduce yourself in the comments. I’d love to get to know you better. Press PLAY above to hear the podcast version of this episode. (4 min) The Scent of Freshly Fallen Snow We had a beautiful snowfall in Northeast Ohio this week. Yesterday, there were still five or six inches of pure white fluff covering...

Hi. I’m Hal. If you look forward to reading this publication, I encourage you to become a paid subscriber. If you’re already a paid subscriber, thank you so much! Please click PLAY above to hear the podcast version of this episode. Watching You from the Window I've never been the kind of guy that sits and stares out the window after lunch. I was always too busy moving on to the next thing. But aft...

Hi. For the podcast version of “Living in a Body,” please click the PLAY button above. (5 min) Also, please introduce yourself in the comments. I’d love to know more about you. Thanks, Hal Smile I had one of the hardest days of my life today. Over the course of the last week, my symptoms have become more severe on an almost daily basis. It’s been terrifying. But guess what? I’ve been smiling throu...

Hi. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” Today’s episode is a conversation between Elanor Nadorff and me. Elanor is making a documentary film about my life. Please click the PLAY button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. The Movie Hal Hi, I'm Hal, and this is the Living in a Body podcast. Thanks so much for being here. Today is episode 70, and it's a conversation between myself and m...

Hi. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” The daughter of my best friend from childhood (see Georg and Hal ) is here visiting. Elanor is a documentary film maker and we’re collaborating on a film about my life. I’ve really enjoyed having her here. We’re having a great time. Today’s episode is a conversation between us. PleASE Click the PLAY button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. Ha...

Hi. Welcome to Living in a Body. I hope you’ll introduce yourself in the comments. I’d love to know who’s out there. Press the PLAY button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. (10 minutes) Thank you! Easy "Easy?" That's the simple question that my meditation teacher greeted me with as I opened my eyes after my first 10 minute experience of Transcendental Meditation. I responded,...

Hi. Welcome to Living in a Body. Click the PLAY button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. Today's episode is different than usual. My usual vehicle for this publication is writing highly edited essays. I spend all week perfecting every line, every paragraph and every word till it feels just right coming out of my mouth. But this week is different. I have not had the strength or...

Hi. Welcome to Living in a Body. Thank you being here! I hope you’ll click the PLAY button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. (14 min) And please feel free to share this episode with a friend! Where Are the Men? I've spent my life surrounded by women. Growing up with three sisters, I was the only boy. I'm grateful for the role that Julie, Johanna and KK have played in shaping m...

Join Hal in supporting the work of OMF Hi. I just donated $55 to support the work of Open Medicine Foundation. I hope you’ll join me is supporting this good cause. (Link Below) On September 10, OMF’s Founder & CEO Linda Tannenbaum is tying up her laces for the 2023 Surfers Point Marathon to raise awareness & fund collaborative research for ME/CFS, Long COVID, & related diseases. Double Your Impact...

Hi. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” If you look forward to these posts week after week, I hope you’ll consider becoming a paid subscriber . Special thanks to all 78 of you who have already chosen to support this publication financially. Your support means a lot to me. Cold Showers I'm a Pisces. I've always liked water. I like lakes and oceans, quarries and hot springs, float tanks and rain showers....

Hi. I’m sorry to report that in the last two weeks ago, I’ve experienced a significant setback in my ME/CFS symptoms. I’m very distraught about it. Living in the current state of my body has been so incredibly difficult . I’m grateful for this Substack that gives me something to distract myself from the discomfort. Thank you for being here. For the podcast version, I hope you’ll click the PLAY but...

Hi. Here’s a quick one to let you know that I’m still here. ❤️ Hal Summer Cold I'm a super nice guy. But I'm living with a very mean illness. ME/CFS has shown its ruthless side once again this week. My symptoms have been very severe. Under the reign of this illness, I feel so fragile, so alone and so afraid. I spent most of the day yesterday crying. It was a kind of bottomless pit crying that didn...

Chasing the Numbers My granny used to always say "Set a date and it will come," But I've also heard it said that "a watched pot never boils." I guess, in this instance, my grandmother was right. I've been looking forward to this day for a whole week now and it's finally here. It took forever, but the watched pot did finally boil and Tuesday has arrived. On last Wednesday, it was so far away that i...

It's 11 am on another beautiful Thursday in Ohio. My shades are pulled dark and the elementary school students just walked by my house on their annual field trip to Fred Fuller Park. I could hear the crowd of young voices coming from a distance and then I heard it fade away as they headed down toward the river. These are the echoes of children on the glorious last days of school before summer. Thi...

Looking for the Good It's the end of May and the fringe tree is in full bloom. Her official name is Chionanthus Virginicus but we just call her Vergie. Her drooping clusters of fringe-like, creamy white petals hang delicately from her young sturdy branches. Her spear shaped leaves are fresh and new. I watched those leaves being born just three weeks ago. She loves to soak in the morning sun that s...

Hi. I’m Hal. Once again, this week’s episode includes lots of music and melody. I recommend clicking the play button above for the full audio experience. (11 minute listen) Enjoy! Melody Maker, Part Two I'm hungry for validation. In fact, I'm starving. On the outside, I'm a 57 year old man with a little bit of white showing up in his beard, but on the inside, I'm a little boy crying out for attent...

Hi. I’m Hal. This week’s episode is all about music and melody so I recommend consuming it with the podcast version. Please click the play button above for the full audio experience. Thanks! Melody Maker, Part 1 I'm a melody maker. I love making melodies. I come alive when I'm crafting the ups and the downs on the steps of the scale. I thrive when I'm sculpting the skips and the jumps and the rise...

Hi. I’m Hal. Welcome to Living in a Body. We celebrate reaching 1000 subscribers this week! I send a special welcome to every single one of you. I hope you’ll introduce yourself in the comments. I’d love to get to know you better. Thanks for being here. H Stuck I'm stuck. In fact, I've been stuck for weeks. I'm so stuck that I'm calling this entire episode, "Stuck." I have a feeling there's so muc...

Hello! Welcome to “Living in a Body.” Thank you for being here. Press play above for the podcast version with original music. (10 min) BTW. I need just 50 more subscribers to reach a thousand. :) Please share. Hal Musical Spoons Guess what?! A new musical instrument has just come in to my life. I can't wait to tell you about it. When it comes to musical instruments entering my world, I've been ver...

Hi. Welcome to Living in a Body. Today’s episode is mostly original music . I encourage you to listen to the PODCAST version by clicking the PLAY button above. It’s a 13 minute listen. Enjoy! This Week in Music Hi, I'm Hal. Welcome. This is the Living in a Body podcast. I think today is episode 54. It's 4:39 on Friday afternoon and I haven't written an episode yet. So for the first time ever, I'm...

Hi. Welcome to Living in a Body. I extend a special welcome to all the new subscribers. After a year of producing this publication, I’m glad to report that we’re approaching 1000 subscribers. Please consider sharing this episode with a friend. Press play above for podcast version with original piano music. The Story of a Morning It's 11:00 in the morning on a Tuesday and I just took a one minute c...

Hi. I’m Hal. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” Today’s episode is best consumed through the audio podcast. I encourage you to tap the play button above for the full effect of the episode. (11 min. listen) Thanks for being here! Hal The Working Series I love being in the flow of the creative process. When I'm flowing with creativity, I get some relief from the physical discomfort and the negative thin...

Hi. I’m Hal. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” I extend a special welcome to all the new sunscribers this week. I hope you’ll introduce yourself in the comments. Please click the play button above to listen to the podcast version which is accompanied by original music. Thank you! A Puddle of Sadness It's been a year now that I've been writing this publication. Somehow, week after week, for an entire...

Hi. I’m Hal. Welcome to “Living in a Body.” Please click the Play button above to hear the podcast version of this publication. I hope you’ll share this episode with someone who might like it. Special thanks to my friend, Brad Bolton for the photos of the chime choir. Thank you! The Tone Chimers It’s Thursday afternoon and I’ve been lying here in bed thinking about the past. I’m longing for a few...

Hi. I’m Hal. We’re celebrating ONE YEAR of “Living in a Body!” To listen to the podcast version of this publication, I hope you’ll click on the PLAY button above. Thanks for being here! Feel free to share. H Telling My Story The combination of the public writing life and life with chronic illness is not an easy one. I didn't choose it. I don't think anybody would. Certainly, I made choices along t...