Published In 2015
The Randomness Of My Post Viral Symptoms
This week I'd say my main issue has been pain. I'd wake up in pain, in the night, and in the morning. I'll have aches [Read More]
When Preparing A Meal Makes You Weak
It's been a very weak and shaky few days. Trying to live within my very low energy limits is not easy. I seem to be [Read More]
My Assessment And Diagnosis At The Chronic Fatigue Clinic
I attended my first appointment with the Chronic Fatigue Clinic today. I finally have an official diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as Myalgic [Read More]
My First 6 Months Of ME/CFS: The Best And Worst Months Of My Life
Today marks the end of six months since I got the viral infection that changed my life. That gloriously sunny day in Italy on the [Read More]
Chronic Illness: Making Simple Errands Overwhelming
When unforeseen problems force me to go out despite severe ME/cfs, simple errands can become overwhelming very quickly. I had to go out today, needed [Read More]
My Many Symptoms Of ME/CFS In 2015
You might be wondering why on earth I'd write about the symptoms of ME/cfs when everybody knows Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME is about always [Read More]
Published In 2016
Celebrating The Ordinary: A Gratitude Log
My happy face, my happy place. What a gorgeous day today! So hot and sunny with a lovely cool breeze... I just love British summers! [Read More]
Focus On The Blessings Of The Present Moment
Today has been amazing! Its such a gorgeous day, extremely hot and sunny. I've only spent short bursts outside as my skin burns in the [Read More]
Mobility Aids, The Benefits Of Using A Walker For Shopping
As a thirty-something year old woman, who looks perfectly healthy, walking around a supermarket with a walking aid most commonly used by the elderly can [Read More]
Grateful For Those Productive Days
Today has been quite productive! We just had our shower doors replaced this week, which meant waiting at least 24 hours for the silicone to [Read More]
Enjoying This Gorgeous London Sunshine
Spent the whole morning enjoying this gorgeous London sunshine out on the patio today. I had breakfast, drew a bit, then painted for a while, [Read More]
Reflections On Faith Through Chronic Fatigue And Pain
Today marks 18 months of this Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. At least 18 months in this severe housebound state, we imagine I might have had it [Read More]
Muscle Wastage And Personal Grooming In ME/CFS
A couple of days ago we had some gorgeous autumn sunshine after a few dark and dreary days. I'd just got up and was getting [Read More]
I’ve Started Knitting Again!
Celebrating my first completed knitting project since I was about ten years old! I have been trying to knit a scarf with this one ball [Read More]
Knitting: Bianca Scarf In Autumn Colours
I've completed my second knitting project! So pleased with this one. It was so much fun knitting it too. It's a kit called "Bianca" in [Read More]
The Long Road To Diagnosis: My First 6 Months of ME/CFS
It all started in 2014. I would occasionally get random, migrating pains in my hips, thighs and arms. It was quite painful and alarming. Because [Read More]
International Day of People with Disabilities: Not All Disabilities Are Visible
December 3 is International Day of People with Disabilities. It's a great opportunity to raise awareness and make some noise all over the internet (and [Read More]
Christmas 2016 – A Quiet Dinner With Friends
Had a lovely quiet holiday weekend, but did enjoy my first outing in a couple of months on Christmas day. Was super blessed to have [Read More]
Published In 2017
Don’t Do Your Best, Do Less: How To Avoid The Boom And Bust Cycle
Anybody who has ME or CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) will be very familiar with the boom and bust cycle. ME's main characteristic is Post-Exertional [Read More]
Are You an Unchargeable or a Spoonie?
People often wonder what we mean when they hear us talking about spoons or that we are a spoonie or unchargeable. These are words I [Read More]
Transitioning To A Paleo-Ketogenic Diet
As some of you might know, I have recently started reading Dr. Sarah Myhill's book, Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalitis. [Read More]
How To Cope When You’re Low on Energy
Having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or any other chronic illness for that matter, can be extremely draining and leave you without much energy to do even [Read More]
My First 40 Days On The Paleo-Ketogenic Diet
I'm happy to report that there have been some welcome improvements after a month on this LCHF (Low Carb, High Fat) diet! As discussed in [Read More]
Basic Paleo-ketogenic Meal Plan for Beginners
Since starting Dr Myhill's recommended diet, I have had quite a few requests for a basic meal plan. Many people find it hard to navigate through [Read More]
Reflections After Two Years in Bed With ME/CFS
As the new month starts, I am filled with joy and anticipation. It's been two years since I fell ill, that's two whole years in [Read More]
Keto Rash: Relieve The Itch
This past week has been rather frustrating - I started itching all over my body! I had been itching previously too, but put it down [Read More]
M.E. Awareness Campaign: The Effects Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
In 2017 I created the "Effects of ME" campaign for ME Awareness month in May. Quotes were collected from patients about how ME affects their [Read More]
How To Get Started On A Ketogenic Diet, part 1
Transitioning to a ketogenic diet can be quite daunting! Not only are you changing the way you eat, but the nature of this diet requires [Read More]
How The Ketogenic Diet Reduced My ME/CFS Symptoms
If you've been following my journey for a while, you'll be aware that I use Keto for ME/cfs management. I often get asked what this [Read More]
It’s Been One Of Those Days, Again
Today is one of those days... I've overdone things this week. Went out to GP on Monday and although I was in wheelchair, it knocked [Read More]
Took Me 30 Years To Learn This Truth About The Gospel
So many Christians live in fear and doubt these days. I know this well, I was one of them. I loved God and wanted to [Read More]
Still Itching: Time To Find The Unknown Allergen
I'm still struggling with this allergic reaction that started in February. I initially thought it was the Keto rash and tried coming off the ketogenic [Read More]
Decorating My Journal Cover
I'm starting a new journal tomorrow with the start of the new month. I want to track my health: supplements, diet, symptoms, etc as well [Read More]
Bullet Journal Layout, July 2017: New Month, New Schedule, New Goals!
I discovered the bullet journal craze in 2016 while I was looking for a way to track my symptoms, medications, activity levels and appointments.Brain fog [Read More]
What Are These Teeny, Tiny White Bugs All Over My House And How To Get Rid Of These Little Mites?
I was shocked to discover that my bed, which was in the house when we moved in, had some teeny, tiny white bugs! Not bedbugs [Read More]
How I’ve Been Since Moving To The New House
We are settled in the new house now and I'm happy to say that I'm doing much better than I was a few months ago [Read More]
My Wheelchair And I: Shopping With The Family
I actually left the house this week! Leaving the house is not something that happens very often when you have a chronic illness as debilitating [Read More]
The Paleo-Ketogenic Cookbook, by Dr Sarah Myhill
Dr Myhill's latest book arrived in the mail this week! It's a Paleo-ketogenic cookbook called "The PK Cookbook - Go Paleo-Keto and get the best [Read More]
Allergic Reaction: Itching And Hives
I went to the doctor again this week. This is the fourth doctor I've seen about my itching. She was lovely and also thinks it's [Read More]
Bullet Journal Layout, September 2017
Don't you just love the flexibility of the Bullet Journal system? I keep changing it up. Not only every month, but even weekly sometimes! It's [Read More]
Enjoying Nature When You’re Housebound With Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness like ME/CFS often means that you are housebound and unable to enjoy the outdoor activities you once loved. You might [Read More]
Bullet Journal Helpful For People With Chronic Illness
If you've been hanging out on Pinterest, YouTube or Instagram, you might have heard about the Bullet Journal, but what you might not know is [Read More]
Ten Ways To Reduce Stress If You’re Chronically Ill
Would you like to know how you can reduce the stress that comes from doing life with a chronic illness? When living with a chronic [Read More]
Paleo-Ketogenic Bounty Bars Recipe
I often get asked about the recipe for these delicious treats. When you switch to a paleo or ketogenic way of eating, it is often [Read More]
The Freedom Of Letting Go
Sometimes you don't notice the weight you're carrying until you let it go. This is often such a hard truth to accept, but letting go [Read More]
How Carbs Make My ME/CFS Worse
Carbs really make my ME/CFS symptoms worse! I have spent so much time on the sofa and in my bed again this week. One would [Read More]
Histamine Intolerance, How I’m Reducing My Rashes And Hives
Have you been experiencing itching, rashes or hives since changing your diet? Have you had no luck in identifying an allergen or trigger despite elimination [Read More]
How I’m Tackling The ME/CFS Flares
I had been doing so well for so long that I had almost forgotten how bad these flares can get. It can be discouraging when [Read More]
MSM for Chronic Pain Relief
I've had quite a few people ask what I'm using for to reduce chronic pain. One of my favourite things since falling ill is MSM [Read More]
Natural Health Worldwide: Healthcare For The Housebound Patient
Natural Health Worldwide (NHW) is a new website that launched on 1 June, 2017. It is a portal which connects patients from all round the [Read More]
My Histamine Issues Have Caused An ME/CFS Flare
It's been a while since I wrote a personal update. I have recently been extremely drained and weak, so haven't been very social or active [Read More]
Does Chronic Illness Make You Feel Useless?
Does chronic illness make you feel useless? I know that many Christians with chronic illness feel like they are no longer useful to God or [Read More]
Low Histamine Keto Meal Ideas, Part 1
This is the first of what I hope will become a regular series on my blog: low histamine ketogenic meal ideas! I had initially thought [Read More]
Isolation: Why Do People Drift Away?
Sometimes it's hard to accept that when you're living with a chronic illness, people fall away, but it is something that commonly happens after a [Read More]
My Weight Loss Journey: Managing My Weight And M.E. With Diet
People with chronic illness often find it hard to lose weight, whether it's due to medication or their ill health, but many wrongly believe that [Read More]
The Wind In My Sails: Celebrating The Small Things
Sometimes, when we're living with a chronic illness, no matter how hard we try to do the right thing, we just flare anyway. Most of [Read More]
Low Histamine Keto Meal Ideas, Week1, Oct 2017
It's that time of the week again! Time to start thinking about what we will eat in the week ahead. As most people who attempt [Read More]
My Life Story In 20 Sentences, For The #20FunFacts Challenge
I write a lot about my experience with chronic illness, my diet and my faith, but there are many things about me that you probably [Read More]
12 Tips To Help You Adjust After An ME, CFS Or PVFS Diagnosis
I am regularly contacted by people who have recently been diagnosed with Post Viral Fatigue or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. They are often scared, worried and [Read More]
Why I Avoid Emergency Services And My Top Tips For Coping At Home
I often see people with ME/CFS writing about how they have spent hours in the emergency room only to be completely disappointed, misunderstood or even [Read More]
You’ve Got This: You’re A Warrior And A Survivor
When living with a chronic illness, whether it's a physiological or psychological condition, it is common to start doubting yourself. Your confidence dwindles as you [Read More]
Do You Feel Like Giving Up? Where To Get Help When You Can’t Cope
In the chronic illness community, I have found some of the strongest people you will ever come across. They are warriors who fight many battles [Read More]
November 2017 Bullet Journal setup
I haven’t done one of these flip through posts in a while. My journal has evolved a bit since the last post and I’m excited [Read More]
ME/CFS Awareness Pictures To Share, Part 1
Ever wondered where to find ME awareness pictures to share? Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a very misunderstood illness, so my aim is to empower people with [Read More]
ME/CFS flares: what do they feel like and how to cope
People with ME all suffer at varying degrees, we cannot compare our flares to somebody else’s. What one considers an ME/CFS flare another considers just [Read More]
How to set up a macro tracking app for your ketogenic diet, part 2
The thought of tracking macros scares many people into delaying their keto journey, but it's really not as complicated at it might seem. There are [Read More]
Update: current ME/CFS flare is slowing me down
It’s hard to deal with these unexpected flares or relapses that seem to come out of the blue. You end up asking yourself a million [Read More]
ME/CFS Awareness, 8 Nov 2017
I have a date tonight – with Twitter! Every Wednesday evening I spend an hour on Twitter, along with a bunch of other ME/CFS warriors, [Read More]
Life is like a twisting roller-coaster ride
It’s easy to get caught up in all the negatives that happen in life. Things don’t go your way, you fall ill, you lose people [Read More]
Recipe for Fat Head, Keto Pizza & Toppings
Can you really have a movie night without a pizza? For months after I had transitioned to keto, I didn’t have any pizza. The crusts [Read More]
ME/CFS Awareness, 15 Nov 2017
As you might know by now, I spend every Wednesday evening on Twitter, along with many other ME/CFS warriors, taking part in ME Awareness Hour. It [Read More]
MAIMES: Medical Abuse in ME Sufferers
As anybody with ME/CFS and their carers will know, many doctors and health care practitioners still treat ME as a psychological disorder, when in fact [Read More]
Keeping An Eternal Perspective
I absolutely believe that we are safer with God in any storm than we would be anywhere else without Him. It's hard when you focus [Read More]
Shaking And Trembling With ME/CFS
One of the most frustrating and debilitating symptoms of ME/CFS is the shaking and trembling after minimal exertion. Something that healthy people might get after [Read More]
When moving to a foreign country feels like coming home
It was an icy November evening in 2010, exactly 7 years ago today, when my best friend and I hopped on a plane to London [Read More]
Gift Guide: What To Buy For Your Chronically Ill Friends, Part 1
It can be quite tricky deciding what to buy your friends with chronic illness because of all the limitations and intolerances we often have. What [Read More]
God will give you the desires of your heart
This verse is often misinterpreted and then people are discouraged and think God doesn’t keep His word. It’s not saying God is a genie and [Read More]
Gift guide: what to buy for your chronically ill friends, part 2
I know many people find such joy in shopping for gifts. They start shopping months in advance and they buy the most thoughtful, personalised gifts [Read More]
Summertime Christmas in Africa
When people think of Christmas, they think of snow, father Christmas or Santa Claus, Pine trees and funky Christmas sweaters. We also think about the [Read More]
Gift guide: what to buy for your chronically ill friends, part 3
I'm so excited to share this third part of my spoonie gift guide, I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am! [Read More]
Blogmas 2017 Christmas Tag!
One of the things I love about blogging are all the community events. Things like monthly challenges, link-ups and interviews. Holiday link-ups are always fun! [Read More]
Outcome: Unfit For Work
I love Facebook memories. Each day you wake up to find a lovely look back at how much things have changed over the past year. [Read More]
Chronically ill being stalked and denied benefits
On this day last year something very wrong and so unfair came to my attention: People with disabilities, who are deemed unfit for work by [Read More]
How I Survived Christmas Despite Chronic Illness – How To Cope During The Festive Season
One thing that can really cause a lot of stress for people with Chronic illness is coping with Christmas and all that it entails. For [Read More]
December 2017 Chronic Voice Blog Link-up
As this year draws to an end, I have decided to start something new here on the blog. One of my favourite parts of blogging [Read More]
Published In 2018
My First Outing in 5 Months
I am so happy to have visited the beautiful Lake District this holiday! As anybody with a chronic illness can tell you, holidays are a [Read More]
ME/CFS Awareness, 10 Jan 2018
Sandwiched between 2 hot water bottles, under layers of clothes and blankets, medicated - multiple times, in the dark with sunglasses on, my phone's screen [Read More]
Encouraging Quotes to Share, Jan 2018
Welcome to my first freebies page! I make a lot of images for my social media profiles and have decided to share them with my [Read More]
Thoughts On Needing A Wheelchair At Age 35
A year ago today I got my wheelchair! I was almost completely bedridden at the time. Walking just a few steps every hour or two [Read More]
Reflecting, Aiming, Expanding, Focusing, Refreshing
I'm so happy to finally be taking part in A Chronic Voice's monthly link-up! I have been silently following along from the shadows for months, [Read More]
ME/CFS Awareness Pictures To Share, Part 5
Every Wednesday the ME community comes together on Twitter to raise awareness of this debilitating chronic illness. We share recent media coverage, research news, our [Read More]
Imagine… A Day in The Life of ME
It might surprise you how often people with chronic illness are asked what they do with all the free time they have at home. I [Read More]
My First Blog Award: Liebster Nomination
I was incredibly surprised when Emma from Not Just Tired nominated me for the Liebster Award. That was 3 months ago, in November last year. [Read More]
How I overcome insomnia
When I first got ME/CFS, I was so utterly exhausted, I slept many hours a day and I slept at night too. Later I was [Read More]
Paleo-Ketogenic Chocolate Truffles with Almond Filling
One of the staples in my house are these ketogenic chocolate truffles. These delicious little fat bombs are protein packed too! They are nutty and [Read More]
Getting To Know The Me Behind The Illness
I've been nominated to take part in the blogging tag game "Me Behind The Illness". I think it is a great way to remind ourselves [Read More]
Paleo-Ketogenic Breakfast and Snack Ideas
Some of the most common questions I get asked when people are considering the ketogenic diet is "What can I have for breakfast?" and "Which [Read More]
Update: When Intention, Creativity and Chronic Illness Collide
This month has been quite productive! I can't believe it's almost gone already. I'm once again taking part in this thought-provoking monthly link-up with Sheryl [Read More]
Quotes and Bible Verses to Share, from Feb 2018
In February I changed things up on my Instagram and created what I call a rainbow of positivity. My Bible verses and quotes now have [Read More]
Bullet Journal Layout, March 2018
My journaling has evolved much over the past few years since I discovered the Bullet Journal system. I love that this method is so flexible [Read More]
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 [Read More]
My 100 Day Project for 2018
It's that time of the year again: The 100 Day Project has started and I am so excited about it this year! I first heard [Read More]
Baptism: Celebrating My Rebirth-day
April is a very special month for me. Many of my great life changes seem to have happened in April. This particular celebration is very [Read More]
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 [Read More]
The 100 Day Project 2018: Night Skies And Galaxies
I am so pleased to have made it through the first 10 days of The 100 Day Project! This is the third year I am [Read More]
The 100 Day Project 2018 – Watercolour Flowers
We are now 3 weeks into this year's 100 Day Project! If you've been following along here on my blog, you will know I have [Read More]
Advocacy And Fundraising Ideas And Resources
What Is M.E? How To Get By Advocacy Tools M.E. Directory We in the ME community are so grateful that you are interested in supporting [Read More]
Living With Severe ME/CFS, Who Am I Now?
Who am I? When living with severe chronic illness it can be easy to feel like you've lost your identity. When experiencing a loss of [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Nicole Starbuck on Faith Through Illness
Welcome to the first interview in a new series called Faith Through Illness. I hope you will find these stories to be encouraging and a [Read More]
The 100 Day Project 2018 – Watercolour Sunsets
It's been a while since I posted my last round-up of paintings for The 100 Day Project. That's because I actually took a whole month [Read More]
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A Day In The Life Of Hailey Hudson
Welcome to my first guest post in this new series where we will explore the impact of chronic illness and disability on our daily lives. [Read More]
Jennifer Cannon on Faith Through Illness: Hemiplegic Migraine
Welcome to the second interview on Faith Through Illness. In this series we will meet a variety of Christians from around the world, people who [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Sunshine Blogger Award, June 2018
Chronically Hopeful has been nominated for another blog award! The Sunshine Blogger Award is awarded to bloggers by bloggers in recognition of their contribution to [Read More]
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 [Read More]
How To Edit MEpedia – The ME/CFS Encyclopedia
The main focus of this post is to show you in a step-by-step way how you can edit MEpedia. I was very happy to recently [Read More]
My 2018 WEGO Health Award Nomination – Best In Show: Blog
I am so excited to share this news with you! I have been nominated for the 2018 WEGO Health Award in the Best In Show: [Read More]
How To Get More Links On Instagram Without Using Linktree
If you are a blogger with an Instagram account, you will be very aware of the frustrating limit they have placed on us by allowing [Read More]
My Summer Survival Kit & Top Tips To Beat The Heat. Spoonie Gift Guide, Part 4
Summer can be a really difficult time for people with chronic illness. Regulating body temperature is a common problem. Add in a rare summer heat [Read More]
Eating To Heal IBS, Interview With Gina Caro
Since falling ill with severe chronic illness, I have discovered that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to managing chronic conditions, especially in regards [Read More]
Tracy Cooper on Faith Through Illness: Degenerative Disc And Joint Disease
Welcome to another guest interview in our Faith Through Illness series. In each interview we will meet a new warrior who'll share their faith journey [Read More]
The SIPB Summer Blog Tag: My Summertime Favourites
One of my favourite things about the blogging community are the seasonal tagging events. These blog tags are like a game of "20 Questions" and [Read More]
Breakfast With Birds: Enjoying Nature From Indoors
Welcome to our garden! We have just moved into a lovely new house and this one has a garden! I am beyond excited about being [Read More]
Coal Tits – Our First Brave Visitors At The Bird Feeder
After moving to our new house last week, we hung our first bird feeder out on Monday and waited (im)patiently for the birds to come [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Chronic Pain and Lukewarm Faith, by Heather Hart
After almost a year of severe, chronic migraines, I am happy to announce that I am finally feeling better. I’m not 100% yet, but I [Read More]
How To Crochet A Twiddle Muff, A Handmade Sensory Toy To Relieve Anxiety
Most people with chronic illness have experienced anxiety or panic at some point. It's not always a condition on it's own, but commonly is a [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Book Review: Annabeth’s War, by Jessica Greyson
In my first book review I'm sharing my thoughts on this lovely novella by Jessica Greyson. Annabeth's War was her debut work and it happens [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Book Review: Nobody’s Girl, By Tania Crosse
I'm so excited to share this heartwarming story with you today! Nobody's Girl by Tania Crosse is a fantastic book full of family drama, tragedy, [Read More]
Where To Find ME Awareness Pictures
Have you been searching for graphics to easily share with friends and family what Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is really like? Would you like to share relevant [Read More]
Heather Hancock on Faith Through Illness: Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy
Welcome to another Warrior of the Week guest interview. In this Faith Through Illness series we will meet various chronic illness warriors who'll share their faith [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Moving To A New House – Plus 12 Ways To Make Moving Easier If You’re Chronically Ill
This summer was a season of great change for our family. After little more than a year in our flat, my dad had found us [Read More]
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? [Read More]
Published In 2019
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 [Read More]
How To Create Your Own Instagram Landing Page, Step-By-Step
If you're a blogger who uses Instagram to promote your content, then you will most likely be just as frustrated as I was about the [Read More]
Eat To Heal Loss Of Appetite And Depression, Interview With Jo
In this interview series we explore how diet and chronic illness affect each other and today I have the honour of sharing Jo's story. Jo's [Read More]
How Can I Be Physically Disabled And Not Depressed?
I'd like to speak about my own mental health. I feel like some people misunderstand my condition, so I wanted to address the matter directly. [Read More]
Chronically Hopeful Art: Paintings, Lettering And Drawings From Feb 2019
This is the first in a new series of posts where I will share all the art I have worked on for the month. I [Read More]
Living With POTS, Gastroparesis, MCAD And More – A Day In The Life Of Brenna
Today I am excited to share Brenna's chronic illness story with you. She is a creative warrior who has been battling a multitude of chronic [Read More]
Health And Fitness: A Week Before I Fell Ill With Severe Chronic Illness
Ironically my life was super busy and active during the weeks and months before the onset of what lead to my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis. [Read More]
Celebrating Life Despite Chronic Pain And Osteoporosis – A Day In The Life Of Lynley
Today I am excited to share Lynley's story. She has been living with chronic pain and osteoporosis for years and is sharing how her life [Read More]
Get Your Own Personalised Millions Missing Poster For ME Awareness Month
May is #MEAwarenessMonth and I thought, since many of us cannot go to the live #MillionsMissing events in person, I'd like to help my fellow [Read More]
Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: How Can The Church Better Serve The Chronically Ill?
Today I am sharing a guest post by Shona Smith. I must admit, I have mixed feelings about this topic, but it is an important [Read More]
My Chronic Illness Story: How I Became Housebound With Severe M.E.
May is ME Awareness Month and once again I am participating in the virtual campaigns online to help raise awareness of this life-destroying illness called [Read More]
ME Warrior Of The Week: Emma, Overcoming Stigma And Disbelief
In this new series I will be sharing stories from our beautifully resilient ME community. These chronic illness warriors are not only battling crippling symptoms [Read More]
ME Warrior Of The Week: Brittany, Living With M.E. Since She Was 18 Years Old
I'm Brittany. I have suffered with ME since September 2013. It started 2 weeks before my 19th birthday. I was a University student studying psychology [Read More]
Creating A Retreat Away From My Own Bedroom
Look at that beautiful Lily! Everyday there seems to be something new in the garden. It's constantly changing. I try to take a walk through [Read More]
My 2019 WEGO Health Award Nomination – Best In Show: Facebook
I'm so honoured and grateful to be nominated once again for the WEGO Health Awards. Last year I was nominated for the Best In Show: [Read More]
A Poem About Life With Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
August 8 is Severe M.E. Awareness Day. A day to give a voice to the millions of people around the world who are living in [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 33, 2019
Grab a cuppa and get comfy - it's time for some weekend reading! I've gathered together a collection of some of this week's M.E. news [Read More]
You Might Be An M.E. Sufferer If… (Part 1) Guest Post By David A Graham
I can't read this without a smile on my face and shaking my head in agreement. In this three-part series our guest author, David Graham, [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 34, 2019
It's that time of the week again! Pull up a chair and grab some snacks, we've got lots of exciting news and interesting blog updates [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 35, 2019
It's time for this week's M.E. news and blog updates from the community. So get a nice cup of tea or coffee and make yourself [Read More]
Chronically Hopeful Award, September 2019
I am honoured to have been nominated for the Chronically Hopeful Award! And no, I did not create this award, the name is just a [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 36, 2019
I'm running a bit late this week, but here's a summary of the latest news on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis as well as blog updates from our [Read More]
Help Fund Vital Services For People With M.E. In Africa Through Char’s Birthday Fundraiser
Did you know that with a small donation you could help fund vital support for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in Africa? It's true! My birthday [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 37, 2019
It's time for some weekend reading! Curl up with a cuppa and let's catch up on some community news. I've summarised this week's M.E. news [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 38, 2019
It's that time of the week again - grab some snacks, make yourself comfortable, and let's catch up! I've summarised the latest news articles and [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 39, 2019
Hello lovelies! Scroll down for this week's M.E. news highlights and the latest blog updates from warriors in our community summarised just for you. Please [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 40, 2019
It's that time of the week again! M.E. news headlines and blog updates from the community. There's been a lot of buzz this week with [Read More]
Exploring The Garden And Our First Family BBQ In Years
Last year, at the end of Summer, we moved into this house that has a lovely little garden. It was the first time in years [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 42, 2019
Time to catch up on the latest M.E. news headlines and blog updates from the community. So grab a cuppa and get comfy, there are [Read More]
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 [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 43, 2019
Brrr... It's been so cold here in the UK this week. It's the perfect weather to wrap up in a soft blanket with a hot [Read More]
Celebrating Life Despite Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder – A Day In The Life Of Nicole
This week I'm sharing Nicole's story. This incredible warrior lives with multiple chronic illnesses including Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder as well as [Read More]
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. [Read More]
Celebrating Life Despite Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) – A Day In The Life Of Sarah
Today I am honoured to share Sarah's chronic illness story. She has been battling Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, also referred to as ADEM, for decades. This [Read More]
Published In 2020
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 [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Getting Organised For The Year Ahead – Personal Update, Jan 2020
I am so excited for the year that lies ahead; something about new beginnings just really makes me happy. For me, 2019 was quite a [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 3, 2020
After a long break, I'm back with this week's ME News highlights and blog updates from the ME community. So make yourself comfortable and let's [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Crops In Pots, Indoor Gardening While Housebound
This month my sister and I are taking on a new project: crops in pots! I have always been interested in gardening and have always [Read More]
My 2020 WEGO Health Award Nomination – Advocating For Another
I'm so grateful and humbled to be nominated for another WEGO Health Award. This is the third year in a row which is just incredible [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Published In 2021
Tiny Task Tuesday – Creating Sanctuary At Home
If you're anything like me, living with a chronic illness means that you're super low on energy on a daily basis and the chores at [Read More]
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. [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 17, 2021
It’s May, which means it’s M.E. Awareness Month, so to get things going, I’m sharing this week’s ME News Highlights and Blog updates from the [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 18, 2021
M.E. Awareness Month is well under way now, but among all the advocacy campaigns and fundraisers there is still research and other news to catch [Read More]
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 [Read More]
Tiny Task Tuesday – Celebrating All I’ve Achieved In May 2021
We're one month into the Tiny Task challenge, so today I'm celebrating all that I've achieved this month. If you're not familiar with Tiny Task [Read More]
This Week’s M.E. News – Week 21, 2021
Are you ready for this week's ME News Headlines and Blog Updates from the ME Community? Get comfy, there are lots of exciting things to [Read More]