Tag Archives: arthritis

My 12 Hacks for Attending a Professional Conference While Living with Invisible Disability

1 Aug
I avoid in-person trainings and especially conferences, because my chronic conditions make them quite uncomfortable and even agonizingly painful. I live with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease (with one terrible herniated disc named Larry), and...
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Middle-Aged, Disabled, and Still Playing with Toys

30 Jun
I have a joyful building toy hobby, which has now inspired a new YouTube channel @ConstruxtiveChris featuring a favorite toy from my childhood, Fisher-Price Construx. This channel has nothing to do with my speaking business or my Splat books. It’s...
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17 Reasons Folks with Hidden Disabilities are Assets in the Workplace

24 May
I am so thrilled to have my own business and all the flexibility that comes from being self-employed. I’ve managed to become an entrepreneur both despite and because of my hidden disabilities, which are: osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease (with a...
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The Dark Side of Adventure

23 Mar
How I Lost My Ability to “Pass” and What Happens When People Make Assumptions Five years ago, when I published my first article on The Mighty (featuring my Splat system for communicating about chronic physical and mental health conditions), a...
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5 Steps to Start a Workout Routine When You Feel Terrible Most of the Time

12 May
That was fun. Amidst the past year, which began with the death of and grieving for my beloved doggo (that part not at all fun), moved into falling in love with a childhood pal, then the coolest tour so far...
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My Chronic Illness Taught Me How to Grieve My Pet’s Death

17 Jun
On May 31st, with the help of a home-visit veterinarian service, my best friend and sole companion of nearly 14 years passed away. She was a retriever mix named Amica. I’m still grieving. I know I will continue to grieve,...
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Invisible Disabilities and LEGO

11 Jan
I love LEGO®, and LEGO helps me love myself. Here’s how it happened. LEGO bricks were my favorite childhood toy. When I was in middle school, they existed in secret. It was the early 90s, and I was getting teenager...
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