Author Archive: ConnectedCarole
Finding Your Balance Relates to Accepting Invisible Disabilities
“My own personal balance between humility, confidence, independence, and dependence was still sorting itself out.” Finding balance in your attitudes and activities helps in the process of accepting your limitations. The quote above shows the approach Captain Scotty Smiley, a blind Army officer, used in coming to terms with his loss of sight. Each of […]
Continue readingHow Do You Help? Know Your Friend
Can you see your invisibly disabled friend needs help in his storms? Before you offer help, answer these questions. How well do you know your friend? You know she dwells in storms, but do others? Does he want others to know? Is she a private person? Or does he not care who knows? These answers […]
Continue readingKristy’s Doc Adventures Can Help You with Your Doc
My friend Kristy (name changed) has seen over 64 docs in her quest to find out what she has. She was recently diagnosed with Scleredema and now sees even more docs. See Kristy's thoughts about chronically ill doctor visits. When you are sick, you go to the doctor for help. When you are really sick, […]
Continue readingYour Doctor and Medical Breakthrough News
When you hear about a medical breakthrough about your condition, do you excitedly rush to see your doctor? Often, invisibly disabled persons visit doctors hoping this new information applies to them. Lisa Copen supplies some reasons why your doctor may not share your enthusiasm. When Your Doctor Will Not Listen to Medical Breakthroughs That May […]
Continue readingRelationally Speaking: What Not to Say
Relationships invisibly disabled people enjoy are enriched -- or otherwise -- by words people say. Imagine yourself in this scenario: You’ve had some unusual, or downright strange, symptoms for 5 years now. They come and go, but they never stay away. Your doctor finally found a name for it, but there is no cure. They […]
Continue readingNavigating the Storms Planning: Dreaming Big, Seeking Your Involvement
Are you dreaming big? Have you visualized your dreams yet for 2017? We have. We’re dreaming big as our Navigating the Storms planning is underway for 2017.Our site has been up not quite two years. We have a handful of followers. And people are beginning to find us through Google or Bing. But we still […]
Continue readingChristmas and Challenges: A Personal Connection
Jesus came at Christmas. I have physical challenges. Jesus enables me to endure and thrive. So, read about one example of Christmas and physically challenged people What a connection! What a joy! And the connections for me, are there for others, too! My Story As a child, our family celebrated Christmas complete with Christmas trees, decorations, and Santa Claus. […]
Continue readingWaffle House Communication
John presents thoughts about listening to others and why it’s important. Although not specifically about people with invisible disabilities, isn’t good listening what we all want? Don’t we wish others would carefully listen to us, as we need to carefully listen to others? John offers specific helps to facilitate better listening.John’s Thoughts on ListeningWaffle Houses […]
Continue readingThanksgiving – With a Little Help
Creating a Thanksgiving invisibly disabled people can participate in and enjoy takes advance planning and some imagination and even ingenuity.Sometimes, it’s hard for a person to be thankful when he’s hurting or she’s sidelined. Or maybe he’s just received an unwanted diagnosis. Perhaps she’s going through a time of exacerbation.Here are some ideas for you […]
Continue readingNavigating the Storms Is Here for You, the Hurting and the Caring
Strug-gle (intransitive verb)Try to overcome problem: to make a great effort to deal with a challenge, problem, or difficultyMake great physical effort: to make a great physical effort to achieve or obtain something Reality for millionsDaily struggles — a reality of life for millions of people (see Quiz for statistics) who live with invisible disabilities. Some […]
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