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I had my first date.

My first date with AOL search engine led me to dates with Yahoo and Google. I started to investigate even further. They listened and didn’t tell me I was wrong.

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This has been on my mind for quite sometime. I had $This has been on my mind for quite sometime. I had a hunch this would start happening to people, once I heard that mask mandates were being lifted in certain places. Last week a post I made for @creaky_joints was shared with the arthritis community. It posed this question: How many of you will be wearing a mask for the long-term? Many replied with what they plan to do, and almost everyone said they will continue to wear one. One person @fifishannon shared their thoughts and experience of the exact scenario I’m referencing in this post. See next photo {posted with permission}. Everyone’s situation is different. We don’t know what someone else is going through or who they are keeping in mind when wearing a mask. And before you think someone is living in fear or being ‘stupid’ for wearing a mask now, stop and think. Maybe they are just being proactive about their health and specific situation. I know I will continue to wear a mask for my own personal reasons- just like I was before this all started. Wearing a mask in the chronic illness space isn’t anything new. If the mask isn’t on your face, it shouldn’t bother you if it’s on someone else’s. You would think after almost three years people would learn what compassion, empathy and minding your own business means. . . . . #chronicillness #arthritis #covidisnotover #spoonielife #immunocompromised #rheumatoidarthritis #spooniesupport #chronicpain #fatigue #humira #methotrexate #wednesdaywisdom #chronicillnessawareness #disability #disabilityawareness #arthritissucks #arthritisawareness #creakyjoints #rawarrior #arthritiswarriors #chronicfatigue #juvenilearthritis #maskup #thoughts #thoughtsoftheday$

During a recent conversation with Colleen over @ma $During a recent conversation with Colleen over @mad4minnie she shared a heartfelt and emotional story about one of her doctors who was always there for her. It got me thinking about my own experiences and medical providers who’ve helped me along the way. 💕 Over on YouTube today you can catch Colleen sharing her journey, positive outlook on life, how she has adapted to life's challenges with both RA and a limb difference, and doing everything 'The Colleen Way.' {and what that means}. Also take note because April is Limb Difference Awareness Month, and Colleen will be hosting a giveaway for the picture book Baking Up a Storm by Jessica Parham @jessicaparham_author to raise awareness for inclusion. Make sure to not miss out on that.🧡 I know I won’t! 🔗 Link in bio… to watch or listen to this truly inspirational convo! ✨$

Hi all 👋🏻💖 It’s been a minute but I wan

Hi all 👋🏻💖 It’s been a minute but I wanted to hop on here to say that I hope you’re all doing well and give a quick update about the book! 📖 Per many requests and my own realization that extra time would be beneficial for myself as well {if you’ve been following along this update shouldn’t be that much of a surprise}- I have made the decision to change the deadline for story submissions from 4/9/22 to…

Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET.

*If there’s another deadline extension, that will be announced. But this time it will only be for an extra week or so.

I just have to say that I absolutely LOVE all the stories that have been submitted so far! Writer or not, these are all awesome. Everyone has their own unique voice and perspective that makes them shine, and that’s exactly what I envisioned. At first I’ll admit, I was nervous when this launched. But after seeing the submissions come through {btw, I’m the only one that’s viewing these right now}.. from people living in all parts of the world, with different forms of arthritis and having each theme start to be represented.. I was reminded how this book idea would bring so much beauty to the world. 💫

And as a writer & creative, the most important thing that my teachers, editors and mentors have taught me is that you must believe in yourself no matter what. That inner critic may want to stop you but only if you let it. 🦋 I’ll be continuing to share updates here and there, so definitely stay tuned!

To learn more about the book and submit your story visit www.keepingitrealwitharthritisbook.com or the link in my bio.

✨SUBMISSION PAGE FOR THE BOOK IS NOW OPEN! The K

✨SUBMISSION PAGE FOR THE BOOK IS NOW OPEN! The Keeping it Real with Arthritis Stories photoblog and book is now accepting story submissions!

People living with any type of arthritis, in all parts of the world are eligible to submit. So are those who support someone with arthritis and are affected by it indirectly.

Deadline to submit is by Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. More details can be found on the book website. Visit www.keepingitrealwitharthritisbook.com or the link in my bio. 💕

*STORY TIME* Wait, no. It’s YOUR turn to share a

*STORY TIME* Wait, no. It’s YOUR turn to share a story. 📝 One week from today…

The submission form for the Keeping It Real with Arthritis Stories photoblog and book will go live on Sunday, February 6th, 2022!

All instructions and details will be on a dedicated website for this book. Though as promised in the meantime, here is a heads up of what you need to know as you prepare your submission.

📘The book will be broken down into six themes. These themes are areas of life arthritis impacts. People are invited to share the good, the bad and everything in between. There will be multiple ideas under each theme for inspiration. The themes are as follows:

✨ Physical
✨Mental and emotional-well-being
✨Social life and relationships
✨Work/career/finances
✨Spirituality and faith
✨Arthritis supporters: this is a dedicated theme for those affected by arthritis indirectly and who supports someone living with it. i.e. Parents of children with arthritis, caretakers, spouses, family members, providers, friends.

📘Short stories should be around 1,000 -1500 words. You can submit less than 1,000 words too.

📘 People living with any type of arthritis, in all parts of the world are eligible to submit. So are those who support someone with arthritis and are affected indirectly.

📘Deadline will be Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET. If there’s an extension, that will be announced.

📘The book will be published with @imaginewepublishers

✨ Spread the word about this opportunity with others you know. The book will be the first of its kind for the arthritis community!!

If you have shared a story and photo on the @keepingitrealwitharthritis Instagram and on my blog www.risingabovera.com before, you’re still eligible to submit another one for this book. Just pick one of the themes, and share something new.

That’s all for now, more posts to follow! 💙
.
📸 @lorendoza created this beautiful artwork for the books submission page. She also made the #myhandsarelovable arthritis campaign image last February!
💕👐🏻

✍🏻 I wrote this free verse poem several month

✍🏻 I wrote this free verse poem several months ago when @wishbonewords asked me if I wanted to submit a piece to their online magazine for disabled and chronically ill writers and artists.

The meaning behind my poem is about finding the strength to fight your own battles, whatever they are. That essentially we are the only ones who really can. We may have outside help, support and encouragement from others. But it’s our own willpower and tenacity that will drive us forward. Others can only help us so much. We must also put in the work. Even if some days it feels like the effort put in was all in vain, it never is. Even within defeat; we learn, grow, evolve and transform 🦋. And just because you feel defeated some days, doesn’t mean you have to let it consume you. We always have the chance to rise above, if we want to.

I absolutely love what this platform is doing to advocate and bring awareness to and for creatives out there in this community! 💖 Grab a copy of the winter issue out now & subscribe to read 80 pages of art in all its forms from poems, short stories, drawings and so much more!

2022 ain’t ready for us warriors! 🔥✨

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