The Hidden Gifts Chronic Illness Can Bring
I hate the saying “you have nothing without your health.” You don’t go away because you are ill. That’s ridiculous. You don’t become an empty shell of sickness.
If you let yourself, you can be more. You know your strength. Your experiences allow you to reign over your life and your decisions in a way you couldn’t, otherwise. If you let it, your empathy can grow with each pain, and your faith in others blossom as those you love step up to become heroes.
It can be easy to define yourself, or be defined by others, by your health or struggles. It is also the biggest mistake anyone can make.
Defining yourself by your illness can hold you back and stop you from following your dreams. It’s an anchor, weighing you down or a whisper, telling you that you aren’t enough – that you aren’t whole or you are defective.
It’s not true.
Don’t hold yourself back from growing and finding the joy and gifts in every small moment. You’ve been given the gift of knowing: One that tells you not to take a good day for granted. The gift that shows you bad days can still be full of sunshine, and to cherish every moment – good or bad.
Let’s face it: We all have our struggles. Everyone has their demons, their battles, their sorrows – and everyone has the ability to grow and design their own beautiful world full of custom-made rainbows. My hope is that you build your joy on top of the trials and be the best person you can be.
Thinkstock image via Julia_Sudnitskaya.
Lisa Prins is a binge hobbiest who is constantly throwing herself into many different projects. When she is not well enough to do one, she will find another. Music is her main love. She is a classically trained pianist, vocalist, songwriter, composer and ukulele player. She also enjoys writing, drawing, painting, crocheting, pixel bead art, photography, jewelry making, sewing, playing video games, robot building, and a number of other hobbies. Love, compassion, friendship and understanding are most important to her. They are what gives meaning to her life. Lisa was born with a congenital kidney disease called renal tubular acidosis. This combined with asthma, chronic infections, idiopathic angioedema and anaphylaxis have shaped her into a person who is thrilled to experience every bit of life and love, every sunset and every little joy that life has to offer. She lives with her incredible partner, who is, and has been, her love, her best friend, and, at times, her caregiver. She decided to start contributing her writing in the hopes she can help others know they aren’t alone, and help those who aren’t chronically ill better understand the people around them who are.
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