For those of you following my journey of figuring out how to live with Psoriatic Arthritis, you will know that I’ve had my moments of doubt and struggles to find my way. Many days it feels like there are a hundred hurdles between me and the end of my day, each one getting taller and harder to jump.
I have often struggled to see the positive and to find the path that God is leading me down. I’ve questioned, Why me? I’ve wondered what I could have possibly done to deserve this. I wondered how, in all this, will I manage to hold it all together.
Write to live, live to write
Enter…writing. Writing has allowed me to focus my thoughts and has provided much needed direction and distraction in my life. I have discovered a deeper understanding of living with my own psoriatic arthritis through writing about it and a piece of God’s plan for me has begun to come together.
Since the beginning of the year, I have been writing articles on living with psoriatic arthritis for an amazing website, Psoriatic-Arthritis.com. This site is part of the Health Union family of sites and the people in this company are absolutely amazing. Health Union’s goal is to “inspire people to live better with challenging health conditions.” I am truly blessed to be able to work with wonderful people who really care about the people they serve and the communities they build.
Find the positive
Without PsA, I would not have the opportunity to develop my writing talents in such a unique way, or be able to spread a message of understanding and education within the PsA community. Furthermore, working with Health Union has truly been a positive and rewarding experience that I wouldn’t have had, had it not been for PsA. Find the positive.
In all things, there is light and dark. Have I had my share of dark days? Of course. But in the darkness, there is also light.
One of the most rewarding and well received articles that I have written for Psoriatic-Arthritis.com is “The Emotional Impact of Living with Psoriatic Arthritis.” The comments and feedback on the Psoriatic-Arthritis.com Facebook page was overwhelming and affirming at the same time. It allowed me to see that, yes, I’m on the right track. What I have to say is of value and people can relate to what I have to say. I am honored to have the opportunity to give a voice to the experiences that so many people have living everyday with PsA. Working with Psoriatic-Arthritis.com has given me the opportunity to spread awareness for psoriatic arthritis and offer support and understanding. I am truly blessed.
Click here to check out some of my articles that have been published on Psoriatic-Arthritis.com.
If you find challenges in your life, if you struggle with mountains that feel too hard to climb, or you face many difficult days. Trust in God’s plan for you and you just might find the light.
Take a few minutes this Sunday and reflect on a situation in which you can make a conscious choice to focus on the light, even during the dark days.
~Leanne
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Such a great message Leanne – I couldn’t agree more and it really could not have entered my inbox at a better time. Darkness descends so quickly, you never really get the opportunity to see it coming, but finding something out of that darkness that can keep up moving forward might just be the key to survival.
You are doing something incredible, through your suffering you are taking the time to help others. Bringing light into others lives, or at the least teaching them how to do it themselves. It is through reading others experiences that we start to realise that we are not quite as alone as we thought.
As always, huge amounts of love from over the pond xxxx
Leanne, I walked a similar path with my chronic disease, it was so hard. Your brain remembers who you were, what you did and it wants to do the same things. But your entire life has changed, it’s like mourning yourself while you’re still alive. Knowing who I was and what my goals were for 45 years, to not knowing who I was at all. Not that I am happy I am sick, but I am able to see things much differently from this side of the coin. I would never have understood my children’s issues with depression and anxiety before. Or my son’s addiction. I would never have been able to show as much grace and empathy as I can now, to everyone I meet. I’ve learned to work smarter, not harder, to develop a business, actually 2, so that I can thrive and bring financial help to my family. And to help others do the same. Do I wish I wasn’t sick? Heck yes. Am I thankful for what I’ve learned? Heck yes. I think that when we go through things, how we come out on the other side is different. It can be better. And if so, I think we graduate to a higher place of understanding. One you cannot reach without going through the fire. It makes us stronger and better. Most times misunderstood, you can’t fully understand until you’ve achieved the graduated level, but then I learn to have more grace. Keep moving forward, you’ve graduated, and you will help so many others find the light.