Out of the Boxeys

In this heartfelt conversation, Nick and Maggie share their journey from friendship to love, discussing the challenges they faced along the way, including breakups, mental health struggles, and the importance of communication. They reflect on their first date, the proposal, and the ups and downs of married life, emphasizing the significance of mutual respect and understanding in their relationship. Through laughter and shared experiences, they highlight the beauty of their connection and the lessons learned throughout their journey together.

Original Show notes with hyperlinks available at outoftheboxeys.substack.com.

Hey y’all—just a quick heads-up before we get started:In this episode, we talk openly about suicide and mental health , which may be difficult for some listeners. Please take care while listening. If you’re struggling, you're not alone. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 anytime to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. (Other content warnings: car accident, mention of child death in a previous car accident, and there’s a possible emetophobia trigger with talk of car sickness. )

Our opening banter is about COVID since it has hit our house this week. We couldn’t agree on what the current rules were about school attendance after infection.

For clarity here is the current guidance: The CDC now treats COVID like other respiratory viruses. They recommend basic prevention like staying home when sick, improving ventilation, handwashing, and cleaning surfaces. Masks and extra precautions are suggested in high-risk situations or for folks who are immunocompromised.

In Georgia, there’s no state mandate for school-wide COVID testing or quarantine. Local districts may set their own policies, but the state encourages schools to follow general illness prevention practices. (We were told by the school nurse our child could return as long as they were 24 hours without fever and symptoms were improving, which is in line with the CDC recommendation.

Be careful out there, y’all!

Click here for information about ECT for anyone curious.

Maggie uses the word sponsor a few times in this episode to clarify:

Sponsor (TRICARE insurance):The military member whose service makes the rest of the family eligible for TRICARE. If you're the spouse or kid, they’re your sponsor.

Sponsor (12-Step programs):Someone in recovery who offers guidance as you work the steps.

Maggie references her Toxically Empathetic shirt. (Go follow Jen Hamilton on IG and tiktok, she’s national treasure).

Learn more about Brene Brown and “the story I’m telling myself” here

Learn more about the Prayer of St Frances here

Here’s the reel Maggie mentioned with Nikki Giovanni and the quote is “Love is a bench. And a bench is something that, no matter what, when you're tired, when you're sad, you can sit. It's going to be right there, and it's got your back" - Toni Morrison

Here’s Maggie’s mention of her recent writing Toward a shared reality about the experience of living in separate informational ecosystems.

Nugget of Wisdom for the week: Conversations are hard, but we have to have them. ~Nick

For show and tell this week Nick told the story of the retired accountant, Kent Broussard, a 66 year old Tuba player for LSU, living out his dreams. Reminding us it’s never too late! Read Kent’s story here.

Thanks for listening, and as always:Maggie: Keep asking questions.Nick: Keep living out of the box.Maggie: We’ll see y’all next time.

Make sure to follow, subscribe on Substack, or wherever you listen. Follow OOTB and Maggie on Instagram

This episode was produced by me, Maggie Boxey, with lots of heart and zero clue what I’m doing (but we’re figuring it out as we go), so bear with me as we figure it out.

Big thanks to Alex Gordon HiFi for our theme music—go check out his other work if you haven’t yet

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In this episode, Maggie and Nick delve into the nuances of their personal journey, discussing the challenges of living with MEcfs. They explore the impact of illness on their relationship, the importance of mutual respect, and the power of storytelling through their experiences. The conversation touches on cultural references, personal anecdotes, and the significance of finding joy in small moments.

Show Notes:

After summing up our thoughts on Superman, we jump in to talk about the experience of living with ME, but don’t go into specifics of the illness all that much. Please watch the TEDx talk here for a deeper dive:

Comment, like and share so that this message goes as far and wide as possible.

I mentioned the Visible Health App and how much it helps me in my pacing (which is my most effective treatment). Here is my referral link, (click here) to save $20 (we both get $20 off when you sign up with the link). This isn’t a paid ad, just something that helps me greatly!

Resources for Meeps and their caregivers:

ME Action Network: This is my lifeline. From information about ME, how to talk to my health care providers, and support, I couldn’t have done the last year and a half without them. There are care giver support groups as well.

Bateman Horne Center: Another priceless resource. There is a comprehensive Clinical Care Guide listed on the website along with many other informational resources. They too have patient and caregiver support group meetings online.

I know I’m leaving out a ton of info, but these are a good start.

Show & Tell:

Nick is loving the series Alien: Earth, watch it on hulu

And more on the Oracle here

I edited and produced the show, and I left in a lot of the brain farts and pauses to show you a tiny bit of the reality of cognitive dysfunction. I am not in a crash, but very fatigued and as we go along it gets harder for me to talk. If it sounds unedited, that’s by design.

Much love to you and yours and make sure to take care of each other,

Maggie

Summary

In this inaugural episode of 'Out of the Boxeys', hosts Maggie and Nick Boxey share their unique family dynamics, personal backgrounds, and the journey that led them to create this podcast. They discuss the challenges of living with chronic illness, the importance of acceptance in raising their children, and the complexities of navigating identity in a small town. The conversation also touches on their political views, spirituality, and the significance of community. With a blend of humor and heartfelt insights, they aim to connect with listeners who feel different or out of the ordinary.

Special thanks to Alex Gordon for our music! Listen to and support his work at https://www.alexgordonhifi.com/

For full show notes go to https://outoftheboxeys.substack.com/

Thank you so much for joining us on our first episode. Sound may be glitchy in spots, and we lost Nick completely for a minute there, but we’ve learned a lot and didn’t want to make great the enemy of good… so stay tuned, it’ll only get better!

As Nick said, Look for the good! and go watch Superman.

Love,

Maggie and Nick