I’ve been thinking about starting this blog for some time now. I’m not sure exactly when the idea first blossomed. But, I knew it would become a reality, and not just an idea, in September of 2008. That's when the name “Bread and Tummy” came to me, in Nepal, about half-way up the steep climb to Namche Bazaar.
I've always loved writing, but when I've thought about starting a blog I've mostly considered topics that would lend themselves well to visual illustration -- things like my puppy, or my outdoor adventures in Alaska, or (if I get around to it someday) my home renovations focusing on eco-friendly and non-toxic solutions and materials.
When I got sick, though, it became clear that I had something more compelling to share, and to write about. What I was learning about my illness and how to manage it, the recipes I was finding in cookbooks and creating from scratch, and my day-to-day challenges and triumphs, were all things that other people might be interested in -- and more importantly, might benefit from.
About a year ago, a trusted friend who also happens to have an autoimmune disease, suggested that I write about my experiences. She had no idea that I was already mulling over this blog idea. A few weeks later, a woman at the grocery store noticed my basket full of gluten-free goods and asked me for advice because she'd just been diagnosed with celiac disease. We talked for almost an hour, and I wrote down some of my favorite gluten-free products and websites where she could find more resources. It felt good to help her, and I found myself wanting to do this for other people, too -- to share with them what I've learned, to offer suggestions, and most of all, to give others hope and support. It was then that I realized I had to start a blog, to give it a shot and see where it goes.
I am not sure where my own journey will take me. I hope that one day I will feel as healthy and strong as I did before this all began.
What I do know is that I am not the only one searching for answers, hoping for a cure, figuring out what I can and can't eat, trying to take life one day at a time, adjusting to a life that I never imagined, and learning unexpected lessons along the way. By writing it all down, I hope that someone out there will read it and benefit in some way. Maybe it will turn out to be just a diary, or a way to keep track of recipes and research.
Either way, I'm excited to be putting it all down in a very public way and finally taking the leap into my very own blog! Thank you for reading.
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