Good morning and welcome again to my corner of the internet, where life is raw, messy, and unfiltered. Here, I want to share my story, not to preach or provide easy answers, but because writing is my therapy, and because maybe, somewhere, someone reading this will feel a little less alone.

You might wonder why I chose the title for this blog, or why I use words like “wounded,” “unmedicated,” and “pharmaceutical numbing.” The answer is simple: human life is full of suffering: physical, emotional, and spiritual, and I have felt it all.

I recently lost Tony, who was my world for three years and made me the happiest I’ve ever been. Five years ago, I was told I needed a hip replacement. I refused, thinking, “Why? I’m young and healthy.” Since then, my hip has worsened. I limp, I ache, sometimes the pain is excruciating, but I don’t take pain meds. I rub, I massage, I do physical therapy, and that’s mostly it. Spiritually, I have my own battles too, but I won’t preach here. What I will share is this: I love to cook, and I write this blog because I need a place to put my feelings, like a type of therapy.

I am not here to sugar-coat life. I am here to share it raw, messy, and real because I am raw, messy, and real.