Check out Track + React: A New Online Interactive Arthritis Self-Management Tool – by Ashley Boynes

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

The Arthritis Foundation is striving to help cultivate an interactive online arthritis nation to help people live better with arthritis. In doing so, they’ve created an awesome new interactive online tool called Track + React – and the best part is, it’s FREE! People with any form of arthritis or rheumatic disease can log on … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Fibromyalgia / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

In a Perfect World – A Life Without Illness: What Would You Do? – by Ashley Boynes

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

Today there was a “trending topic” on Twitter that simply said, “Serious Question” and provoked users to ask their followers a serious question to answer. I thought about what I’d like to hear from my “tweeps” – especially those who are chronically ill or disabled – and the question I decided to pose was, “We … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

Autoimmune Overlap Syndrome – Yes, There IS Such a Thing! – by Ashley Boynes

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 12 Comments

I recently was told that I have “autoimmune overlap syndrome.” This is exactly what it sounds like. Whereas most people have 1 or 2 autoimmune conditions, I, like many other “spoonies” out there, have been dealt a whole slew of them. Basically, what this is, is when you have one “primary” condition and a few … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

“What I Know For Sure” – Chronic Illness Edition … by Ashley Boynes – inspired by Oprah Winfrey

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 5 Comments

Oprah has taught me a lot of things. She’s one of my idols, and, to me, a prime example of “overcoming” in the face of adversity to truly live your life to its fullest potential. After writing in since high school (I graduated in 2002) and being on a ticket waiting list for over 2 … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Journey to Wellness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

Beauty is Pain ~ Ashley’s Health Diary, Entry #28 ~ by Ashley Boynes

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 4 Comments

The saying goes, “pain is beauty and beauty is pain…” or, another adaptation that I’ve found even more poignant: “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.” I agree. While we could talk about the superficial, painful things that we do for beauty such as eyebrow plucking, ear piercing, brutal diets, laser peels, wearing corsets, high … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized

Keeping Up with Chiari – and Some Inspirational Thoughts ~ Ashley’s Health Diary, Entry #27 ~ by Ashley Boynes

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 7 Comments

February 9th, 2011 Exactly one week ago, I was in the hospital just a couple hours out of neurosurgery. I had brain surgery on February 2nd, and am doing seemingly well. I haven’t posted a “health diary” entry in a while, and some of you were inquiring about it, so here it is! Just a … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

Freedom: Making Choices and Living Judgment-Free with Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • 11 Comments

Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in FREEDOM. In choice. In equal rights. In humanity “getting along.” In the destruction of prejudices and discrimination, and the erasure of hate. Yet, even in 2011, pockets of the population face discrimination, have their “choices” (or lack thereof) dictated to them, and face judgment, regardless of the leaps and … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Journey to Wellness / Juvenile Arthritis / Oldies But Goodies / Personal Stories / Uncategorized

2010 – Our “Blog Year” in review!

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

We thought you may want to check out some of our most popular and most widely-viewed blog posts from 2010! Stay tuned for more informative, helpful, and inspiring “Wellness with a Side of Life, Please!” blog posts in 2011! The lovely stats helper folks at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Journey to Wellness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized

Some Anecdotes & Some Silver Lining: Stories of arthritic hands, Lady Gaga, and advocating for yourself and your health! ~ Ashley’s Health Diary, Entry #26

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Arthritis Ashley • 5 Comments

Entry #26 – December 3rd, 2010 I’ve got a few interesting antecdotes to share in this entry, and so I’ll split it up into a few separate stories, if you all don’t mind! First let me tell you about my hands. (Bear with me here!) In a previous post, I bemoaned my “ugly hands” and … Continue reading →

Advocacy / Arthritis / Ashley's Health Diary / Awareness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized

Life As I Know It: The Gratitude Attitude! – Ashley’s Health Diary – Entry #25

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

November 17, 2010 Well, as always, a lot has happened since I last journaled in this, my online “health diary!” Life as I know it is always changing, always growing, always evolving – a roller coaster of ups and downs, goods and bads! But, isn’t that what life is – a wild ride that we’re … Continue reading →