Body-shaming is sadly a very real phenomenon. I mean, just look at the awesome and mega-fit Lady Gaga (who I LOVE, by the way!) who was shamed and trolled over a practically-nonexistent “belly roll” during the Super Bowl. It almost became a bigger topic of conversation than her stellar, iconic, and historically-great Super Bowl Halftime Show. … Continue reading
Category Archives: Journey to Wellness
Walking in My Shoes: Keeping Perspective With a Chronic Health Issue
Today I decided to post a photo to my blog that I had posted on Facebook and Instagram back in November, 2016. Since I finally have my custom medial-unloader knee brace and my custom permanent Arizona cast for my foot, I decided that this particular post would be worthy of a re-share, and you will see … Continue reading
Thoughts & Updates from Arthritis Ashley
I haven’t updated this Arthritis Ashley blog in a while (I barely find time to post to my main website abshuck.com and haven’t posted to my entertainment blog Glitzburgh in about a year. Eek!) However, I do want to share some thoughts and updates with all of you, my loyal readers! I’m glad that many … Continue reading
Finding Faith During Times of Chaos
I’ve learned something: Illness turns many people away from God. Suffering makes many question their faith. However, these times of chaos and seemingly “ungodly” pain causes others to go the opposite direction, running towards God and embracing their faith with arms wide open. Of course, there are those of you who are agnostics and atheists, … Continue reading
Rant Time: Don’t “Quantify” the Sick Girl
You know how it’s rude to say things like, “you throw okay … for a girl.” Or, “you run pretty fast … for being so big.” It’s also somewhat insulting to say things like, “wow! You’ve accomplished so much … despite being sick.” No, I haven’t accomplished a lot “for being a sick girl.” I’ve … Continue reading
How Much Do Our Emotions and Life Decisions Contribute to Our Disease Symptoms?
I read a really interesting piece recently about some symptoms of chronic illnesses being, not caused by, but, exacerbated by, one’s life being out-of-balance or on the wrong path i.e. wrong career, wrong spouse or romantic partner, no spiritual compass, minimal friends or social prospects, little community involvement, too much focus on the self or … Continue reading
An “Ashley’s Health Diary” Update – Entry #30 – Wrapping Up 2011 and Looking Ahead to 2012 – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck
January 3rd, 2012 – I have not done one of my more personal Ashley’s Health Diary posts in a while, because I realized that it was more important for me to educate about rheumatic conditions than to talk about my own story. However, I do realize that as a patient advocate, that sharing my story … Continue reading
Beauty is Pain ~ Ashley’s Health Diary, Entry #28 ~ by Ashley Boynes
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
2010 – Our “Blog Year” in review!
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
Some Anecdotes & Some Silver Lining: Stories of arthritic hands, Lady Gaga, and advocating for yourself and your health! ~ Ashley’s Health Diary, Entry #26
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