There’s a phrase I hear quite often in the chronic illness community. This proclamation, for many, is one that summons strength, brings comfort, and conjures an inner resilience. The phrase is, “My chronic illness doesn’t define me.” While I appreciate the sentiment of this phrase, it doesn’t resonate with me. In this post, I explain […]
Two Things to do When Grief Disguises Itself as Nostalgia
If you live with a chronic illness, you’ve likely experienced some level of grief at some point during your health journey. I always used to think of grief as an overpowering black cloud of darkness and despair. And sometimes it is. Other times, grief can take on other strange forms. Recently, I had a moment […]
Life is Too Short to Work a Job That Doesn’t Bring You Joy: Lessons From Chronic Illness and My Time as a Receptionist
Living with chronic illness has taught me that time is finite and moments are precious. So after working a job that didn’t bring me joy for a year and a half, I realized something needed to change. In this post, I share lessons I learned during my time as a receptionist and explain why I […]
When Your Diagnosis Isn’t About You Anymore (And Why It’s a Good Thing)
Celebrating my five-year ulcerative colitis diagnosis this year, I had an epiphany. I realized that my diagnosis isn’t about me anymore. I’d started out sharing my story to find community and emotional healing, and now I share my story to help others. If you find yourself in a similar boat, keep reading to see why […]
Accepting Your Chronic Illness Isn’t a One-Time Thing
Happy September everyone! This month is very special to me because it’s my five-year ulcerative colitis diagnosis anniversary! In honor of this, I’m doing a five-part series of the five most significant lessons this chronic illness has taught me. Today’s topic is about why accepting your chronic illness is not a one-time thing. Accepting Your […]
5 Practical Ways to Launch Your Patient Advocacy Journey
So, you’re interested in becoming a patient advocate. That’s awesome! I truly believe that creating inspirational and educational content for others is a serious silver lining to living with chronic illness. Although you know that sharing your story will be amazing and empowering, starting your journey of patient advocacy can feel a little intimidating, too. […]