The Chronic Babe site is designed to give women living with chronic diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, a spot to connect via laughter, shared medical tips, career successes, embarrassing stories, boy gossip and more. Ultimately, Chronic Babe provides readers with an escape to a fun place where girls living with illnesses are not alone. And it does all of this while making these women feel sexy and proud.
Here’s a snip-it from yesterday’s newsletter. This is for all you sexy, wonderful sick girls out there! I hope you find Jenni’s writing as powerful as I do.
“The other day I tallied the number of doctor appointments I had in one week: 5. Then I thought about how many business calls were piggybacked on either side of those appointments, and how for each call I had to put on my best business face (voice!) and not let on that I wasn’t feeling well. Then I thought about the deadlines I met, the challenging conversations I had, the time I spent patiently explaining rheumatoid arthritis (changed from fibromyalgia) a to a new friend who was confused, the numerous bus rides I took while in huge pain. For a moment I was tempted to look at the tally of everything and throw a big ol’ pity party. Why me? Why do I have to deal with this big pile of awful? And why do I have to show up for everything with a great attitude, being helpful when I’m exhausted and compassionate toward others when *I’m* the one in pain?
Why? Because I’m brave. Yup, I said it: I’m brave.
I’m not trying to be braggy here. I’m not puffing myself up. I’m just being real with you. I’m brave. SuperBrave. Every day—in spite of pain, fatigue, headaches, exhaustion, cramps, stomach irritation, blurry eyesight, dizziness, memory problems and, did I mention, pain—I show up for my life. I work, I maintain relationships, I put on makeup and cute clothes, I volunteer in my community, I nurture my creativity. And I do everything I can to maintain my health, including (but certainly not limited to) exercising, eating right, practicing sleep hygiene, meditating, praying, taking my meds on schedule, asking for help, doing yoga, journaling and following doctors’ orders. I am totally awesome!
Guess what? You are too! You wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t trying to be the best Babe you can be in spite of illness. I bet you do a ton of things to take good care of yourself. I bet you do a ton of things to care for others as well. And I bet there are people in your life who don’t have a clue how hard you work to keep it all together, to THRIVE and not just survive. I’m not just guessing here; I get your emails every day, talk to you on the ChronicBabe Forum, meet you at events. I see you out there! You are some of the bravest, most hard-working, inspiring folks I’ve ever known. And it’s YOUR bravery that keeps me motivated on my worst days.”
So to all my RA affected readers out there, remember that you are totally awesome!! I believe that there isn’t much out there that you can’t do. Stay well and stay active because while your body sometimes gives up on you, you can’t give in to the disease by giving up on yourself.
Visit chronicbabe.com to read other inspirational blogs and to sign up for Jenni’s newsletter. I hope Jenni’s newsletter brightens your day like it does mine.
Chronic Mum 
Thank you. I really needed to be reminded this. I try to live the “normal” life but lately have been asking why? Why did I get RA and then my husband get MS? Two very healthy people in our 30’s suddenly get diagnosed with these awful diseases. At first we did not tell anyone. Even family. Until my husband became too disabled to work a couple years ago. Just recently I have had so many flares and “bad” days that my RA has become hard hide now. I still work fulltime, have a teenager daughter at home and a son away at college. Some days I want to give up but I can’t, they all still depend on me and that is what keeps me going. So thank you for reminding me to keep going and to take care of myself too. Never give up. I’m focusing on my accomplishments not the pain.
LikeLike