Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Uncategorized

Advocate for Yourself and Your Health! Learn About Arthritis Advocacy and the 2011 AF Advocacy Summit! – by Ashley Boynes

What is an advocate? An advocate is someone who supports a cause publicly, and who pleads the cause of themselves or another. Advocates push for things to get done. For awareness to be spread. For laws to be passed. For rights. They educate. They inspire. Simply put, advocates are heroes.   Who needs to advocate? … Continue reading

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Uncategorized / Wellness

Oh, hey, OA! What You Need to Know About Osteoarthritis – by Ashley Boynes

Almost everyone will get arthritis at some point in their lives, and the most common type is osteoarthritis, also known as OA.  Osteoarthritis usually comes with aging and is frequently seen in athletes, overweight people, and “blue-collar” workers, as well. It is the “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis, and not the autoimmune type.   OA is … 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

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 / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

Rheumatic Conditions, Autoimmune Diseases, and the Skin: How does our skin relate to arthritis? – by Ashley Boynes

The skin is the largest organ of our bodies….but we so often forget about it. Don’t neglect your skin, and don’t ignore skin-related symptoms! There are many rheumatic autoimmune disorders that affect the skin. I personally have high autoimmunity, a few different conditions, and have had a slew of dermatologic issues ranging from vitiligo, to … Continue reading

Advocacy / Arthritis / Awareness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized

Keeping Perspective With Arthritis & Illness – My Opinions – by Ashley Boynes

“You can complain that roses have thorns, or rejoice that thorns have roses.” It’s all about your perspective. In the past 2 weeks, myself, family, fiance, and people close to us have unfortunately been dealing with a lot of deaths. The veil of sadness barely has lifted before news of another set in. Most were … 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!

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 / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Juvenile Arthritis / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

A Nation Unaware: We Need To Increase Juvenile Arthritis Awareness – by Ashley Boynes

“She’s just a hypochondriac.” “He’s lying.” “It’s all in their head. They just want attention.” “You’re faking!” “Oh,  you’re too young for arthritis.” These are all phrases that children and teens with juvenile arthritis will, unfortunately, come across many times during the course of their lives and their illness. Even the adults that these kids … Continue reading

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

Water Aerobics and Aqua Exercise: Fun Fitness for All Ages and Abilities!

Water aerobics are a great way to keep moving and a fun, fit way to start your new year off right!  Yes, the Arthritis Foundation offers aquatics programs – and, yes, many senior citizens and older folks have arthritis. But, as we know, people of ALL ages can get arthritis, too – and water aerobics … Continue reading

Advocacy / Arthritis / Arthritis Foundation / Awareness / Uncategorized / Wellness

Cozy Up but Keep On Moving: Tips for Staying Active in the Winter Months – by Ashley Boynes

For many across the country, the winter months mean colder weather. It is easy for anyone to use snow, rain, chilly air, or freezing temperatures as an excuse for becoming depressed and inactive during the winter season. It is REALLY easy for those of us with arthritis to do so. However, we must learn to … Continue reading