Endo Year Reflections: We Look Back To Move Forward Together

Setting Up The Reflection Series

SPEAKER_00
0:00

With
the
Indo
Year
coming
up,
it's
a
perfect
time
to
reflect
on
all
the
lessons,
growth,
and
amazing
guests
we've
had
on
Indobattery.
But
instead
of
one
big
recap,
I'm
breaking
it
into
quick,
bite-sized
reflections
multiple
times
a
week.
Let's
revisit
what
inspired
us,
learn
what
we
missed,
and
recharge
together
in
our
Endo
Year
Reflection
series.
Join
me
each
episode
as
we
look
back.
Welcome
to
Indobattery,
where
I
share
my
journey
with
endometriosis
and
chronic
illness
while
learning
and
growing
along
the
way.
This
podcast
is
not
a
substitute
for
medical
advice,
but
a
supportive
space
to
provide
community
and
valuable
information
so
you
never
have
to
face
this
journey
alone.
We
embrace
a
range
of
perspectives
that
may
not
always
align
with
our
own,
believing
that
open
dialogue
helps
us
grow
and
gain
new
tools.
Join
me
as
I
share
stories
of
strength,
resilience,
and
hope.
From
personal
experiences
to
expert
insights.
Welcome
back
to
Indobattery.

A Year That Felt Like A Dream

SPEAKER_00
1:08

You
know,
every
December,
I
swear
I'm
gonna
be
ready
for
the
end
of
the
year.
Like
I'm
gonna
glide
into
it
with
all
the
checks
checked,
inbox
zeroed,
and
my
life
color-coded
into
a
beautiful
Google
Calendar
masterpiece.
And
every
December,
I
find
myself
eating
peppermint
bark
for
breakfast
and
wondering
how
it's
already
the
end
of
the
year
and
the
holidays.
But
this
December
feels
different
because
this
year,
this
year
was
a
dream.
It
was
the
kind
of
year
where
I
kept
having
to
pinch
myself
because
somehow
I
kept
ending
up
sitting
at
the
table
virtually
or
in
person
with
people
I
had
admired,
respected,
and
learned
from
for
years.
And
then
suddenly
they
were
here
with
me
on
my
podcast,
talking
about
things
that
matter
deeply,
not
just
to
me,
but
to
our
whole
community.
I've
learned,
I've
laughed,
I've
cried,
sometimes
even
before
I've
hit
record.
I've
grown
as
an
advocate,
a

Mental Health And Chronic Illness

SPEAKER_00
2:10

person,
and
honestly,
someone
who
views
the
world
through
the
lens
of
chronic
illness.
And
I've
realized
something
really
important.
Using
your
gifts,
your
voice,
your
energy,
your
time
can
be
incredibly
fulfilling
and
incredibly
exhausting.
And
yet,
every
single
time,
I
wondered
if
I
was
making
a
difference,
or
felt
tired,
or
wondered
if
all
my
spoons
had
disappeared
again.
Somebody,
one
of
you,
would
send
me
a
message
or
an
episode
would
land
at
the
right
time,
or
a
guest
would
say
something
that
reminded
me
why
any
of
this
matters.
It's
like
a
sweet
little
nudge.
Hey,
keep
going.
You're
not
done
yet.
So
today,
as
I
sit
and
look
back,
I
want
to
give
you
the
gift
of
reflection
in
the
Endo
Year
Reflection
series.
Because,
goodness
gracious,
we
have
covered
a
lot
this
year.
Let's
start
with
mental
health.
We
sat
down
with
incredible
mental
health
professionals
who
helped
us
unravel
the
ways
chronic
illness
affects
not
only
our
bodies,
but
our
minds.
We
talked
about
burnout,
grief,
trauma
responses,
the
anxiety
of
medical
gaslighting,
and
the
hope
that
exists
when
someone
finally
validates
your
lived

Sexual Health With Compassion

SPEAKER_00
3:22

experience.
Then
we
dove
deep,
like
real
deep,
into
sexual
health,
the
experts
who
brought
compassion,
clarity,
and
a
whole
lot
of
I
wish
someone
would
have
told
me
this
sooner.
Because
let's
be
honest,
talking
about
sexual
health
and
chronic
pain
can
feel
like
doing
calculus
upside
down.
But
the
amount
of
messages
I
got
after
those
episodes
proved
just
how
needed
these
conversations
were.

Mapping The Endometriosis Universe

SPEAKER_00
3:48

And
of
course,
endometriosis.
All
things
endometriosis,
everything
from
excision
surgery
and
case
studies
to
fertility
to
pelvic
PT
and
what
the
heck
the
immune
system
is
doing
to
nutrition,
eating,
advocacy,
and
how
to
parent
through
chronic
illness.
If
endometriosis
was
a
universe,
we
basically
spent
a
year
mapping
it
like
curious
little
astronauts.
We
had
Dr.
Gabi
Muad
helping
us
rethink
technology
in
endometriosis
care.
We
had
Dr.
Iris
Karen
Orbuck
walking
us
through
inflammation
like
a
wise,
calm
tour
guide.
We
had
experts
breaking
down
imaging
hormones,
surgical
menopause,
hernias,
GI
issues,
urology
issues.
If
there
was
a
rabbit
hole,
we
jumped
into
it
together.
And
then,
oh
my
goodness,
the
relationships,
the
friendships,
the
conversations
that
felt
like
we
were
sitting
around
a
warm
table
with
coffee,
tea,
and
maybe
a
gluten-free
cookie
because
hashtag
choices.
I
still
can't
believe
the
caliber
of
people
who
said
yes
to
joining
me
this
year.
I
keep
thinking,
is
this
real?
Am
I
really
doing
this
thing?
And
spoiler,

Fast Charge And Quick Connect

SPEAKER_00
4:59

yes,
I
did,
and
yes
I
am.
And
you
have
been
here
with
me
and
doing
this
with
me.
Of
course,
we
can't
forget
the
fast
charge
series
that
it
continues
to
be
a
fan
favorite,
probably
because
it's
like
plugging
your
brain
into
those
battery
packs
at
the
airport.
You
get
what
you
need
fast
without
guilt.
But
then
came
Quick
Connect.
Listen,
I
was
not
planning
to
start
another
series.
I
really
wasn't.
But
I
get
so
many
questions
from
you,
amazing
questions,
thoughtful
questions,
questions
that
deserve
expert
answers.
And
sometimes
we've
covered
them
already,
and
sometimes
we
definitely
haven't.
So
Quick
Connect
was
born
from
this
idea.
If
one
person
has
a
question,
10
other
people
have
the
same
questions,
but
may
not
feel
ready
to
ask.
I
didn't
think
it
would
have
taken
off.
I
thought
maybe
it
would
live
a
quiet
life
in
the
corner
of
a
podcast
feed,
like
a
tiny
succulent
that
survives
on
vibes
alone.
Oh
no.
It
took
off.
People
loved
it.
People
asked
for
more.
People
sent
questions.
People
appreciated
the
shorter,
accessible
format
because
let's
be
honest,
life
is
busy,
brains
are
busy,
and
some
episodes
out
there
in
podcast
land
are
basically
a
medical
textbook
narrated
by
Surrey.
And
if
you're
like
me
and
have
ADHD,
spending
an
hour
listening
to
something
technical
can
be
like
trying
to

Community, Momentum, And Hope

SPEAKER_00
6:24

read
IKEA
instructions
without
pictures.
So
Quick
Connect
became
the
surprisingly
powerful
little
space
where
your
voices,
your
questions,
your
needs
shape
the
content
directly.
It
reminded
me
why
we
do
this
to
connect,
to
learn,
and
to
feel
less
alone.
Looking
back,
I'm
flabbergasted
at
the
guests
in
the
conversation
that
I
had.
I'm
still
in
awe
that
I
get
to
do
this.
I
still
have
moments
where
I
think
there's
no
way
I'm
equipped
for
this.
And
then
I
remember,
I'm
not
doing
it
alone.
I
have
you,
this
community,
these
experts,
these
voices.
I've
built
relationships
I've
never
seen
coming.
I've
grown
friendships
I
cherished
deeply.
I've
connected
with
people
I
never
ever
imagined
I'd
cross
paths
with.
This
year,
more
than
any
other
year,
I've
seen
progress
building,
momentum,
awareness
growing,
not
just
for
endometriosis,
but
for
women's
health
in
general.
People
are
paying
attention.
Advocates,
providers,
even
people
who
simply
want
to
understand
us
better
because
they
finally
see
we
are
more
than
symptoms.
We
are
humans
with
stories.
There's
good
and
there's
bad.
Nuance
is
real,
but
we
face
it
head
on
together.
And
as
we
step
into
the
new
year,
it
feels
important
to
pause
and
take
in
everything
we've
walked
through
because
we
move
so
quickly,
we
push
so
hard,
we
forget
to
look
behind
us
and
say,
wow,
look
at
what
I
survived.
Look
at
what
I
learned,
look
at
what
we've
created
together.
So
as
part
of
the
Endo-Year
Reflection
Series,
I
wanted
to
give
you
a
gift
of
reflection,
the
gift
of
slowing
down,
sitting
with
growth,
the
challenges,
the
joy,
the
exhaustion,
the
breakthroughs,
and
the
tiny
little
victories
that
never
make

Invitation To Reflect Together

SPEAKER_00
8:15

it
to
a
highlight
real.
So
here's
to
this
year,
this
beautifully
messy,
unpredictably
magical,
deeply
meaningful
year.
Here's
to
the
episodes,
the
guests,
the
questions,
the
tears,
the
laughter,
the
moments
that
changed
us.
And
here's
to
you
for
listening,
for
showing
up,
for
being
part
of
this
community,
for
trusting
me
with
your
stories,
your
time,
and
for
letting
me
live
this
dream
one
conversation
at
a
time.
Grab
your
cup
of
coffee
or
your
cup
of
tea
and
settle
in.
Let's
revisit
the
year
together.
I've
got
some
backstories
for
you,
some
you've
heard,
some
you
definitely
haven't,
and
I
cannot
wait
to
share
them.
So
come
along
with
me
as
we
go
through
this
until
the
end
of
the
year,
one
episode
at
a
time,
in
little
short
little
micro
bursts
of
a
reflection.
Until
next
time,
continue
advocating
for
you
and
for
others.