Comments on: Illness — so it doesn’t become who we are. http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/01/08/illness-is-not-who-we-are/ Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:51:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Sandra http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/01/08/illness-is-not-who-we-are/#comment-50 Sandra Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:06:19 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/01/08/illness-is-not-who-we-are/#comment-50 I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and have been living with it for 15 years. I was also dealing with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 3. So now I have two autoimmune diseases. My family and friends find it remarkable that I still have the energy and spirit I have. My reason: I don't let my diseases define who I am. So what? I have to take 4 shots a day. Coudl be worse. So what, my joints hurt and I can't walk. It's not everyday. I have never let my diseases stop me from doing anything else my peers were doing. When I was asked why I had never volunteered for the Arthritis Foundation Walk for Arthritis, I told them that it was because being part of a group that has the same disease was not the most important thing to me. In my mind, it would define me. Now that I am older, I see that I do need to find resources where people can relate to what I am going through. So I am very glad I found you ladies! I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and have been living with it for 15 years. I was also dealing with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 3. So now I have two autoimmune diseases. My family and friends find it remarkable that I still have the energy and spirit I have. My reason: I don’t let my diseases define who I am. So what? I have to take 4 shots a day. Coudl be worse. So what, my joints hurt and I can’t walk. It’s not everyday. I have never let my diseases stop me from doing anything else my peers were doing.

When I was asked why I had never volunteered for the Arthritis Foundation Walk for Arthritis, I told them that it was because being part of a group that has the same disease was not the most important thing to me. In my mind, it would define me.

Now that I am older, I see that I do need to find resources where people can relate to what I am going through. So I am very glad I found you ladies!

]]> By: Diana http://workingwithchronicillness.com/2007/01/08/illness-is-not-who-we-are/#comment-28 Diana Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:59:09 +0000 http://keepworkinggirlfriend.com/2007/01/08/illness-is-not-who-we-are/#comment-28 I agree that our illnesses are not who we are, but I think they push us harder to become who we truly are than if we weren't ill. And a chronic illness just won't give up! My illness has served as a brick wall, a hard stop. I am operating at about 5% of what I used to. It has given me a lot of time to reflect on my life, and necessarily I've been forced to make hard life decisions, which have brought me to the essence of what deeply matters to me. Dealing with the impact of my illness on my life has coaxed from me a creative spirit I didn't know I had. Yes, it's one of our life experiences, and it seems to have put us on the road "less traveled by." I agree that our illnesses are not who we are, but I think they push us harder to become who we truly are than if we weren’t ill. And a chronic illness just won’t give up! My illness has served as a brick wall, a hard stop. I am operating at about 5% of what I used to. It has given me a lot of time to reflect on my life, and necessarily I’ve been forced to make hard life decisions, which have brought me to the essence of what deeply matters to me. Dealing with the impact of my illness on my life has coaxed from me a creative spirit I didn’t know I had. Yes, it’s one of our life experiences, and it seems to have put us on the road “less traveled by.”

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