The Blog - Page 4 of 18 - Christina Irene

Try a Smile Day

16 Apr

I know, I know. It’s tacky and cheesy. Most of us, if not all of us have heard that if you just force yourself to smile, you automatically feel better. I guess maybe it works a little bit. But a...
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4 Ways I Do It Anyway (When Pain and Fatigue Conspire Against Me)

20 Mar

Oh, springtime …. I’m seeing green of my lilies starting to reach out of the ground. Daily I marvel at the new growth on the rosebush I planted last year. And the weather is … all over the place. So...
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Children’s Coloring Book About Invisible Disabilities

13 Mar

Last year, a high school student contacted me through my website after she Googled invisible disabilities. She is a Girl Scout, and she told me she was working towards her Gold Award, which is the highest award and equal to...
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How to Tell People About an Invisible Disability

12 Feb

This came up as a question from a student when I was presenting at a university last fall. The student was recently diagnosed with a cognitive condition and asked me, “How do I tell people about it?” I happen to...
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Lost in My Dog’s Head

3 Feb

My go-to coping strategy for when my chronic illness, chronic pain, or mental health are especially on the fritz is a thing I call “get lost.” I did not invent it and hardly think I even named it. Also, it’s...
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Talking Sh*t (why we should!)

21 Jan

Did you know I hold an elected government office? I’m a Council member in my tiny old suburb near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Earlier this month, we were discussing parking spaces in town for people with disabilities. I won’t go into that...
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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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Reflections on Resolutions

2 Jan

I’ve long stated that I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I don’t believe we should wait until the beginning of an entire new year to make big positive changes in our lives. But I do tend to make them...
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Invisible vs. Hidden: What to Call Our Disabilities?

4 Dec

A couple times in the past month, I’ve had conversation about the term “invisible disabilities” versus “hidden disabilities.” Which one do I use and why? Are they the same? I first used “invisible disability” because that’s the first way I...
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10 Travel Tips from the Disabled Duo

12 Nov

We love adventure, my old lady dog and I. This is most likely our last big one. You should see us in the mornings! I’m all sore and stiff with my arthritis and foggy from my fibro. She’s morning-delirious and...
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