After a decade of chronic fatigue, I didn’t have a lot of hope. Although normally an optimist person, after seeing little relief using traditional medicine, integrative medicine doctors, acupuncture, shaman, lasers, sound healing, and so much more, I began to question if this was my new normal and maybe I’d never feel like my vibrant self again.

As I pull up to my favorite cafe, my eyes catch the sandwich board propped outside. Its brightly-colored image unveils the drink of the season – the infamous pumpkin spice latte. Its frothy heart-shaped foam entices my eyes inviting my senses to experience a warm cup of fall.

Twenty-three years ago, my husband and I were moving into our first place together. While the living room was piled with boxes, we scoured through the TV channels to search for a distraction to make the unpacking a little more entertaining. We landed on this new show called American Idol. What started as background noise to break up the monotony evolved into a weekly event. We were invested in the contestants and who got eliminated and who stayed.