📚 Memoir Teaser — The Sweet with the Sour

I’m writing my memoir.

Typing that still feels wild.

This book is about chronic pain, anxiety, depression, medical gaslighting, an ultra-rare illness, love, loss, laughter, tools, dogs, pond life, and learning how to keep mining for the Sweet when life gets very Sour.

But more than anything, it’s about still being me.

Not cured.

Not magically restored.

Not back to the old version of Ren.

But still Ren.

Still funny.

Still curious.

Still loving people.

Still learning.

Still creating.

Still trying to help others feel a little less alone.

A little sound bite from the book:

«Pain does not politely knock. It kicks the motherfucking door in.

But the Sweet does not erase the Sour. It helps make the Sour survivable.»

This memoir is not a “poor me” story.

It is not a revenge story.

It is not a shiny superhero story either.

It is my story, told as honestly as I can, with the gaps, the gremlins, the meat puppets, the medical appointments that felt like trials, the pond at sunrise, Mr. Ren, the dogs, the tools, the laughter, and the moments where all I could do was keep going one tiny spoonful at a time.

I hope when this book is ready, it helps someone else look at their own Sour and maybe find one tiny piece of Sweet hiding inside it.

Still mining. ⛏️💜

– Ren

The Sweet with the Sour

Join Ren as she shares her go to tool in her mental health toolbox 🧰

Box breathing, also known as square breathing, is a simple tool you can use anywhere, you don't need anything but yourself. You can also do this around other people and no one will be aware you are box breathing.

Look for a square in your environment. If there isn't a square, that's ok you can imagine tracing a square.

| inhale 2-3-4

- hold 2-3-4

| exhale 2-3-4

_ hold 2-3-4

Repeat

Go from fight or flight to rest and digest.

Join Ren as she share more about her healing journey with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and an ultra-rare illness. Here is what you can expect from Season 4 of The Sweet with the Sour.

In last week's episode Ren shared what the Sweet with the Sour means to her. How the phrase has helped shape her life to always mine for the sweet, and that the sour helps the sweet taste that much sweeter.

Today's episode is about a poem that helped Ren get through many difficult moments in her life. To hold on, continue believing and knowing that the pain and suffering would be for something much greater beyond anything she could see.

Enjoy the poem of The Teacup, potter (author) unknown