10 Important Life Lessons learned from Chronic Illness, by Chronically Hopeful. A woman sits by the window, gazing out while holding a cup of tea. She has shoulder length hair and is smiling contemplatively.

10 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Chronic Illness

Last year was a tough one for many of us, but looking back I ​realised that I have learned many important lessons which make me stronger and ​better equipped for the year ahead. So although 2018 was a year of very high highs and very low lows​, there were many ​lessons scattered among both the trials and the triumphs. ​This is the way life goes – it is never linear and it’s always changing – but we can always look…

Read More10 Important Life Lessons I Learned From Chronic Illness
Book cover on the left features a diamond shaped mountain with title He's making Diamonds by Sarah Willoughby above. The Title and author name appear in text on the right.

Book Review: He’s Making Diamonds

Geared towards teens suffering with chronic illness, this book aims to answer some of those tough questions believers often find themselves asking when things seem to be falling apart. This is Sarah Willoughby’s debut work, and I think she has done a great job of highlighting God’s heart and love for us even in the midst of suffering. Are you a teenager trying to navigate faith through chronic illness? I’m here to tell you, you are not alone. When sickness…

Read MoreBook Review: He’s Making Diamonds
Blue forget-me-not flowers on the left. Title reads Day In My Life with undiagnosed chronic illness, Interview with Jodie, ChronicallyHopeful

Living With Undiagnosed Illness – A Day In The Life Of Jodie

In this interview series we highlight various chronic illnesses and the amazing warriors who deal with them daily. My aim is to raise awareness as well as celebrate the many ways in which our fellow warriors overcome the limits illness and disability has placed on them. Today I have the privilege of sharing Jodie‘s “A Day In My Life” interview here on Chronically Hopeful. Jodie has fought hard for years to get a diagnosis – a battle that many chronic…

Read MoreLiving With Undiagnosed Illness – A Day In The Life Of Jodie
A wheelchair parked outside in a field, a woman standing up in front of it. TItle reads: When somebody in a wheelchair gets up and walks. Why do people use wheelchairs if they can walk?

Have You Ever Seen Somebody In A Wheelchair Get Up And Walk?

Have you ever been out in town and seen somebody who looks perfectly healthy get out of a car they had just parked in the spot for disabled people or seen somebody on a mobility scooter park outside and walk into the shop? If you are anything like I was before I fell ill, you might think these people are faking and milking the system for benefits and attention, but you’d be wrong, just like I was! This week is…

Read MoreHave You Ever Seen Somebody In A Wheelchair Get Up And Walk?
Char pulling a funny face. Title reads: How to have M.E. successfully. A humorous look at life with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

How To Have ME Successfully

I came across this fantastic list of guidelines for how to live successfully with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and just had to share it. It’s so refreshing to ​read a light-hearted account of life with this ​horrible illness. I’ll be sharing this humorous look at life with M.E. below as well as explain the realities of each point in more detail to help with raising awareness. There’s also an image you can share on social media.  So here they are, ​The 11…

Read MoreHow To Have ME Successfully
Laura has curly red hair, glasses and is smiling. Title reads A Day In My Life with multiple chronic illnesses, interview with Laura Morningstar, by Chronically Hopeful

Living With Multiple Chronic Illnesses – A Day In The Life Of Laura

In this interview series we feature the stories of chronic illness warriors around the world, we shine a light on various chronic illnesses and the amazing humans who deal with them daily. The aim is to raise awareness as well as celebrate the ways in which our fellow warriors overcome the limits placed on them. Today I have the privilege of sharing Laura Morningstar‘s A Day In My Life interview here on Chronically Hopeful. Laura is a warrior who battles…

Read MoreLiving With Multiple Chronic Illnesses – A Day In The Life Of Laura
Time to reassess my condition ME cfs, ChronicallyHopeful

Reassessing My Condition, Setting Realistic Goals

It’s time for another personal update. Time to reassess and set realistic goals. This month has been so much harder than I anticipated. Somehow I imagined that summer would bring better health and more energy along with sunnier days and warmer temperatures, but it hasn’t really. I have spent so much time in bed! Despite this, there have been some exciting things happening here. Exciting for me anyway, not sure anybody else would define it as such! Haha…  I got…

Read MoreReassessing My Condition, Setting Realistic Goals
Flatlay of bullet journal open on a table with pents and washi tape above. Title reads June 2018 Bullet Journal layout and mid-year flip through.

Bullet Journal – June Layout And Mid-Year Flip Through

As we head into a new month I am excited to show you my new bullet journal layout for June! I’ll also share more detail about my symptom and mood tracker as well as a layout comparison with previous months. I cannot believe we are already half-way through 2018, time is just racing by so fast. I only started this year’s journal in March, so I don’t have 6 months of journal updates to show you, but I will share…

Read MoreBullet Journal – June Layout And Mid-Year Flip Through
A season of anticipation, chronic voice link-up, BLOG

Update: A Season Of Anticipation And New Beginnings

I can’t believe we’re almost half-way through April already! This is possibly one of my favourite times of the year being the season of new beginnings. The days are becoming sunnier and longer, flowers are blooming and there is great excitement in my heart. Let me tell you why… More… This post is part of the April link party with Sheryl from A Chronic Voice, this month’s prompts are: Marvelling – at this time of year Splurging – um, what’s that? Continuing –…

Read MoreUpdate: A Season Of Anticipation And New Beginnings
Title reads Join The MEcfs Community, Social group for ME & CFS patients and carers. Photo of blue forget-me-notspin by Chronically Hopeful

A Community for ME/CFS Bloggers and Patients

When I was first diagnosed with ​Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I felt lost. It’s a condition I had never heard of before and my doctor didn’t seem to know much about it either. What got me through was the support of other patients I found online. And they continue to be my support as the years go by! For this reason I have created a community online for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and their carers.…

Read MoreA Community for ME/CFS Bloggers and Patients