A black butterfly on pink azaleas

This Week’s M.E. News – Week 19, 2021

It’s been a busy few days of advocacy as it’s M.E. Awareness Week, so there are a lot of ME News and Blog Highlights to share this week. I am constantly amazed at the incredible creativity in this community. This week we feature quite a few poems as well as a beautiful stop motion film. Please share any of the articles linked today – they are all excellent ways to raise awareness and sharing will support and encourage the creators…

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A close up of granola, title reads: Keto granola recipe, a low carb, sugar and grain free breakfast or snack

Delicious Keto Granola Recipe, Perfect Low Carb Breakfast Or Snack

One of the hardest things to adjust to when switching to a keto diet is giving up all those carb-filled, crunchy breakfast foods and snacks. This keto-friendly granola is not only low carb, sugar free and grain free, it’s also nutritious, delicious and crunchy! I eat it with CoYo for breakfast or as a dessert or snack and my Mum has been enjoying it too since being diagnosed Pre-Diabetic. Delivering On A Promise I Made After sharing photos of my…

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A close up of half of Jorja's face, title reads: Celebrating life despite depression, anxiety and ME/cfs.

Celebrating Life Despite Depression, Anxiety & ME/CFS – A Day In The Life of Jorja

After a long break, I am happy to be resuming our twice-monthly guest interviews. This week we are meeting Jorja who has been living with Depression, Anxiety and ME/CFS for many years. This interview is part of an ongoing series where we interview people from around the world who share how chronic illness or disability has changed their lives and how they continue to find reasons to celebrate anyway. I hope this series will inform and encourage you and maybe…

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Watercolour painting of guinea fowl. Title reads: Critters in the garden, Week 3 of the Chronially Hopeful 52-week art project

The 52-Week Art Project – Garden Critters

​I was blown away by all the incredible critters you fabulous artists have created this week! It was week 3 and the prompt was Critters In The Garden. We had paintings, some pencil and ink drawings and we even had clay sculptures! Your creativity is so inspiring. I love seeing how each person interprets the prompts in their own way. In this post I’ll be sharing my ​process, supplies and throughts behind the painting I made. To see the art…

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A snowy winter scene painted with gouache. Title reads: Snowy Winter Scenes, Week 2 of the 2020 52-week art project.

The 52-Week Art Project – Snowy Scenes

​It’s week 2 of the Chronically Hopeful 52-week art project! This past week ​the theme was ​Snowy Scenes and I have ​loved seeing all the winter wonderlands you have created! ​If you missed the ​previous weeks, you’re still welcome to jump in at any point and join us on this arty adventure! This is a no pressure project, not a stressful challenge, so take your time and enjoy the process when you can and just enjoy the gallery when you…

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A geometric watercolour pattern in shades of blue. Title reads: patterns in shades of blue, Week 1 of the 2020 Chronically Hopeful 52-week art project

The 52-Week Art Project – Patterns In Shades Of Blue

The Chronically Hopeful 52-week art project has finally started. I have been so excited to get it off the ground since I came up with the idea and ​now it’s here! This week ​the theme was patterns in shades of blue and I have been blown away by the unique ways that each person has interpreted that prompt! ​If you missed the first week, you’re welcome to jump in at any point and join us on this arty adventure! This…

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Watercolour geometric pattern with paintbrushes and tubes of paint above the painting. Title reads: The chronically hopeful 52-week art project. A year of creativity with one prompt per week.

My 52-Week Project – A Year Of Art

One of my goals for 2020 is to create more art. In order to reach that goal, I’ve created the Chronically Hopeful 52-Week Art Project​.​ It consists of 52 prompts, one for each week of the year, to ​guide my creativity, keeping me focused​ and inspired. Having a fluctuating chronic illness means that I’m not always able to be creative, so I thought one prompt per week would be easier to manage than the one prompt per day ​that many…

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Pills lying on a table top. Title reads: Supplements to manage chronic fatigue and pain. Find out which supplements have helped me the most

Supplements To Manage Chronic Fatigue And Pain

I am often asked about the benefits of using supplements for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. People usually want to know which supplements I use for chronic pain or fatigue so they can have a better idea about where to start with their own supplement regime. Unfortunately, like everything else about this illness, we all respond differently, so what helps me might not help you the same way.  Herein lies the beauty of sharing our experiences though – some…

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In a dark room a hand is held up to block the light that is shining in. Title reads, Photophobia in ME and CFS. 20 Patients share their experience.

Photophobia: 6 Ways To Cope With Light Sensitivity

​Have you ever experienced that moment of intense pain in your eyes and head when you’ve opened the curtains on a bright and sunny day? Anybody who has experienced a migraine or even a hangover would likely understand what I’m talking about too. Although photophobia or light sensitivity ​might ​seem quite common among ​the general population, it can be quite debilitating when combined with a chronic illness like ME. Most people struggle with glare and direct sunlight in their eyes,…

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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…

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