-
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger? I Disagree
I’ve started off by providing a *certified BOP* by the lovely Kelly Clarkson. I wanted to put this song here because it is just one example of this rhetoric that is common in our society. Her chorus sings: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Stand a little taller. Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone. What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter. Footsteps even lighter.” Kelly Clarkson wasn’t the origin of the phrase. The German philosopher Freidrich Nietzche originally phrased it as “what does not kill me makes me stronger” in his book Twilight of the Idols (1888). It has become a common phrase and a sentiment that I…
-
“I’m Jaded”: Resenting Becoming Hardened by Illness
On this rainy and dreary evening in the middle of a tumultuous week, I am reflecting on who I was 4 years ago. I was about to graduate from high school, and things felt really magical. It was a time of new beginnings and some bittersweet endings, but ultimately, I had this sense that my life would be radically different, let’s say, four years from now. I can say with confidence that my life is radically different now. I have a different purpose than I thought I would. I’m in a state that I had no real intentions of living in. I have new hobbies and interests. I’m also jaded.…
-
Invisible Illness and Disability: A Complicated Relationship
Happy Monday! Today I wanted to talk about something that I’ve noticed when I talk to some of my peers and colleagues about my invisible illness. It isn’t something that I can blame them for, but rather a fault of how society has painted disability. Let me ask you: what do you picture when you think of disability? Really take a moment and evaluate what images and thoughts pop into your head. If you’re like me, you probably think of something like the handicap parking sign, a wheelchair, or mobility aids like crutches or canes. Now there’s no shame in it. It’s what we’ve been taught. But it isn’t the…
-
Explaining Chronic Pain – The Wet Socks Metaphor
Happy Spring everybody! As it warms up, I can’t help but resent the rainstorms that bring the beautiful flowers. My love for rain has decreased over the years as my ability to predict the weather with my joints has increased. I call it a superpower, but it often doesn’t feel like one. Today I want to talk about something that has always felt just out of reach for me. How do you explain your chronic pain to other people? I’ve tried many things over the years but sometimes, it just feels impossible. How do you describe that deep ache, that persistent itch you can’t scratch? Most days it’s not the…
Navigating chronic pain and disability with humor and grace (most of the time)