When most people hear "sickle cell disease," they think about pain. Pain crises. Hospitalizations. Blood transfusions. Complications. As a hematology nurse practitioner, I've spent more than a decade caring for individuals living with sickle cell disease. And while I've learned a tremendous amount about blood... I've learned even more about people. September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, but awareness shouldn't stop at knowing the name of a disease. True awareness asks us to look deeper.

What if your body has been talking to you this entire time? The tightness in your chest before you say yes to something you don't really want to do. The knot in your stomach when something feels off. We tend to think of these sensations as inconveniences. Something to ignore, push through, or make disappear. After more than a decade caring for people with complex and chronic illnesses, I've become fascinated by one simple idea: The body is always communicating.

Our day begins with the first thoughts you think, the first emotions you feel, and the first signals you send to your brain about what matters. Because whether you realize it or not, your brain is paying attention.