This post has been submitted by a colleague, Nicole Matoushek. Thanks, Nicole, for offering your perspective!

As ridiculous as this sounds, in David Letterman fashion, I have created my own top ten list of the positives of the chronic illness experience.

10) Your pharmacist knows you by name.

9) Otherwise complete strangers are your instant friends as we all now share a common bond of the chronic illness experience! Look, I am meeting you today.

You find an inner strength and sense of empowerment that you never knew existed.

7) You grow closer to those who love and support you.

6) You find out who your true friends are.

5) You have an opportunity to reinvent your self.

4) You explore and create new work skills and talents that otherwise may have been left undiscovered.

3) You simplify your life.

2) You slow down and start to focus on the things that are really important to you.

1) You have an opportunity to explore and expand your current balance of the mind, body and spirit — to become more resilient.

NIcole Matoushek, MPH, PT,  has a website, www.acquiredhope.com.

Rosalind