I’m sitting in the White Peacock Tea and Coffee House. A young girl is talking to a couple of elderly ladies about how she’s writing a fantasy book. The young author appears to be drawing the pictures for her book, and the women are very impressed with her talent. I’m not sure if she’s in high school, or is a local college student, but it’s inspiring all the same. If you know me, then yes…my smirk is full force at the moment.

I came to take care of my paperwork the lawyer needs for my appeal on Jan 8th. I still can’t believe tomorrow is the start of a new year already. I’m listening to the various conversations behind me, while I sit in the front window watching the leaves be pushed around on the sidewalk, and this quiet town’s occupants meandering by.

I didn’t get to take part in the local festivities like I had hoped. (There were plenty to choose from!) I’m still fighting to get the much needed MRI. Still, the air smells different today. I may still be incredibly exhausted from engaging with the family last Friday, but a tiny fire still burns within.

I am aware of the doom’s day coming, but that’s not the energy that’s in the air. No, something else is coming. And it’s going to be electrifying. So, buckle up, storm chaser…Not all is lost just yet.

Exclusive Pricing Extended Just for You!…

Yeah, you heard me. Why not start the year off right? Unfortunately, it’s not quite as low as the holiday sale, but it’s still exclusive pricing for my fans who need it. US Residents Only! Starting January 1, 2025….

Will She Keep the Purple?….

Nevermind that when you mix red (evil) and blue (good) you get purple (balance). But did you know that purple is the color for hemiplegic migraine awareness as well? That’s right. My bipolar disorder is a green ribbon. Yellow is Suicide Prevention. And (technically a wine) purple color represents hemiplegic migraine awareness. Sadly, there’s a lot of awareness that takes place these days, but since I’ve been red for so long, it is time to switch it up and start conversations.

Even though money is crazy tight, my purple hair has strangers coming up to me asking me about it. It’s a great opportunity to spread awareness. Migraines aren’t just a “really bad headache”. Mine currently comes with body convulsions, the right side of my body collapsing at any given moment, my ears ringing, passing out at any given moment and not waking up for several hours while my brain “reboots”, and more. No medication has proven to be helpful because my episodes are cycling too aggressively and too quickly. for the medication to have a chance to do anything for me.

I don’t talk about the migraines in order to get pity. Insurance companies don’t want to cover the medications needed to slow my episodes down. Although 1 in every 5 people will suffer from some version of a migraine, if they don’t, they will never understand what we go through without sharing our stories. The world won’t understand that there are multiple types of migraines if they never hear from individuals themselves. I know, because I was unaware until I ended up here.

I didn’t know I had a neurological disease (that had been passed down genetically) waiting dormant in my system, waiting to be awaken. I didn’t know that continuous toxic workplace abuse would be the thing to wake it up. I didn’t even know what a migraine was until I started getting them in 2019. I only knew that my dad suffered most of his life plagued in pain, and you needed to stay away from him and give him peace when his eyes turned grey and he couldn’t hold his own head up anymore.

Suddenly, I found myself unable to talk properly, and my whole right side of my body going completely numb and giving out on me. I knew he was truly suffering from looking at him, but now I understood on a whole different level. Only, I have learned that the gene has mutated to be a more aggressive version than even he had. He definitely had the pain. I hardly remember times when he wasn’t suffering, even to today. However, he hasn’t collapsed, showed stroke-like symptoms, or several of the other things I continue to experience.

Still, education is our best weapon, so I continue to try to learn what I can. Although it is like my bipolar disorder. It is unique to me as much as my own fingerprints. I will figure out how to manoeuvre this as well. My limitations seem to increase rapidly, but I still have faith that this will not bench me completely. I will find a way to work with this ever changing neurological disease just like I did with my bipolar disorder and learn to thrive. That didn’t happen in the early years either, but I still got there all the same. So, I know I can do this too.

And sharing will most likely help someone else like me that was struggling to be heard, and knew something was wrong even when no one wanted to listen. So, I will keep my purple. I will keep sharing. And I will keep fighting to get my balance once more.

What’s Coming in 2025?….

Honestly? Hell if I know. Mostly because these migraines are putting me at a snail’s pace, and that’s being generous. So, I can’t really set deadlines, because I would forever be moving them around. That will just cause us both frustration and depression. How will you know when things are coming out?

1. Join my Patreon. There’s a free membership for those who need it. Paid memberships, of course, have additional benefits.

2. Subscribe to this newsletter. You’re already ahead of the game! Good job!

3. I don’t know what’s going to happen to TikTok, but my social media of choice would be Blue Sky over meta.

Other than that, I’m going to probably take some time to focus on getting some books finished. My migraines are progressing rather rapidly, and I want to make sure I get all of my stories out. Plus, there’s going to be some game developments as well. I really want to take the time I have left to put words together on my own to do just that.

So, the only thing I can promise you right now is chaos per usual!

Thank you so much for your on-going support. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to keep going like I have been without you. You make more of a difference than you will ever know!

Happy New Year!
All the best,
Stormi