Kali J Desautels

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Originally intended to simply focus on book reviews, over time, KaliDesautelsReads has morphed into its own entity. I write about issues that are near to my heart, be they political, feminist, motherhood, mental health, or, as the title holds, books. A thirty-something Canadian woman in my mid-thirties, I have been “super married” to my high school sweetheart since 2006, and together we have two crazy, clever, kind, hilarious, wonderful kids. My first book – How Not To Blog: Finding Myself, One Post at a Time is available on Amazon (in eBook formats for you clever tech readers, and paperback for those of us who love that new book smell!) I have tried a podcast – it’s still on Apple and Google Podcasts – but writing is where my heart is. My life changed dramatically when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2018, and I am now a writer for a leading Canadian Cancer Non-Profit. I am lucky enough to have a family that loves me and pushes me to be my best, even if it is outside of my cushiony comfort zone. I have a village of friends that nourish me, mentally, and spiritually. Welcome to my thoughts. Sit down. Stay a while. Enjoy a cup of coffee!

Category: chronic illness

  • I know what I’m not, but I don’t know what I am

    I am not gluten intolerant.I am not a heavy drinker.I don’t consume dairy products.I’ve tried cutting foods out of my diet.I’ve had every test under the sun. I’ve had blood work and colonoscopies.I’ve spoken to naturopathic professionals, and gastroenterologists.I’ve eaten strictly vegan.I’ve tried FODMAP.Keto.Paleo.Liquid.Rice cakes and peanut butter.Starvation. I was told to eat only raw…

  • #TBT – #BellLetsTalk2021

    Before KaliDesautelsSpeaks, before KaliDesautelsReads, there was Kalijd. There was a lot of life in the before. I tend to talk a lot about this season in my life as something I had to get passed to get here, and yes – I had anxiety and depression and an eating disorder and an unhealthy obsession with…

  • Is It Illness or Is It Fibromyalgia?

    It’s time for another fun game of Is It Illness Or Is It Fibromyalgia!! Cheeks flushed? ☑️Muscles aching? ☑️Headache? ☑️Scratchy throat? ☑️Intense shoulder pain? ☑️Overwhelming fatigue? ☑️On the edge of tears? ☑️Irritability? ☑️Feverish? ☑️Ears ringing? ☑️ So the consensus is???? Who the heck knows? If it looks like a horse, sounds like a horse, and…