Announcing Big, Exciting Changes! Check Us Out!
Navigating the Storms expands, bringing big and exciting changes. Big changes! That’s for sure! Exciting! At least I hope you think so! Coming in October! For five years, I have posted every other Friday. Sometimes, it was written by a guest. Occasionally, I let you know I was unable to write and why. But mostly, […]
Continue readingCan You Cheer Me Up? I’m Feeling So Down!
How do the chronically ill cope with depression? Well, maybe not full-blown depression. Maybe just down or blah days. Or maybe unusually pain-filled or extra fatigue days. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? And it’s so helpful to have someone to cheer us up. But, on our “good” days, have we worked out a way […]
Continue readingI Can’t Work Now! Who am I?
Let’s think today about identity and invisible disabilities. I don’t mean identifying as an invisibly disabled person. Rather, I’m speaking of the sometimes-difficult areas to consider: our self-worth and identity. Sometimes, when we lose important abilities, we may find it hard to still see ourselves as worthwhile people who do have a purpose. Were you […]
Continue readingInvisible Disabilities–Can You Tell Me What They Are?
Defining invisible disabilities: Is that possible? Isn’t that term an oxymoron? Can’t you always tell who is disabled? Someone in a wheelchair or walking with a cane? Blind? Deaf? They’re the disabled ones, right? Can you really recognize a deaf or blind person? What about severe heart conditions? Arthritis? Disabilities don’t always show. A personal […]
Continue readingBending Not Breaking
Is it truly possible to gain strength from invisible disabilities? Yes! Take a lesson from the trees. The harder the wood, the more likely it is to break in the wind. The more resilient, the more likely to bend. Wind comes with our storms; let’s learn how to bend. Notice that the stiffest tree is […]
Continue readingWhat People Are Seen in the Invisible Disabilities Community?
I see three groups of people in the world of invisible disabilities. First, I notice those living with chronic illnesses; my viewpoint is that of the hurting. Next, I recognize caregivers who also face great challenges; they have a distinct perspective. Third, I identify those who care but aren’t caregivers and who have an even […]
Continue readingDisasters Crop Up Without Warning! Are You Prepared?
Brown rice cooking in the electric cooker! Yum! Breakfast ready soon! Oh no! The lights went out. What happened? It’s a beautiful spring day. No clouds in the sky. But, guess what? I’m not prepared. I have ignored disaster planning for invisibly disabled people, of which I am certainly one. Good news, though. In this […]
Continue readingWhat Are Mobility Aids? And How Can They Help?
Last time, I shared my story of using aids to help me “walk” and how they enable me to spend more time with family and to accomplish practical tasks. However, as I researched these devices, I discovered many more mobility aids for chronically ill people. They come in many shapes and sizes meeting different needs. […]
Continue readingAssistive Devices for Walking – Valuable Help for Living
THANK YOU! To all who completed the survey Many thanks for sharing your thoughts. They helped, sometimes surprisingly, as I make decisions about future changes. I will soon have more time to spend here, hopefully making it more helpful for you. You can still participate here. More information to come. Do you find walking difficult? […]
Continue readingHelping Me Help You
Navigating the Storms exists for you, my readers. But I’m not sure if I’m meeting your needs. This survey will help me know you better so I can meet your needs better.
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