#RealTalkRA Summit: Pharma, Fun, and Friends
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#RealTalkRA Summit: Pharma, Fun, and Friends

  This week, I was invited by Pfizer to attend the 2017 Real Talk Summit in New York City. While they did compensate me for my time and took care of accommodations, I’m going to go ahead and disclaim now that they are NOT paying me for this blog post, and did NOT ask *or* … Continue reading

Doing What We Can
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Doing What We Can

Something I’ve struggled with during my decades of illness is what I WANT to do, versus what I CAN do. I’m learning to accept that I can only do what I can. Some days, like last weekend, it is hiking up over 500 steps on the side of a mountain. Some days, like yesterday, it … Continue reading

#Longread: The Emotions of Thinking and Talking About Illness
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#Longread: The Emotions of Thinking and Talking About Illness

I’ve written and posted before about hiding our pain to spare the feelings of others, and many similar topics of conversation. I have also written about the emotions of guilt, resentment, and burden that can accompany a lifelong illness or disability. I decided to revisit the topic and reframe it in a couple of new ways. The first … Continue reading

Walking in My Shoes: Keeping Perspective With a Chronic Health Issue
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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

#HAWMC – Day 10: An RA Q&A
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#HAWMC – Day 10: An RA Q&A

Questions and answers about life with rheumatoid arthritis and invisible illness. Continue reading

When RA Tries to Get in the Way (But I Won’t Let It)
Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis awareness / arthritis blog / chronic illness / Entertainment / instagram / invisible illness / Juvenile Arthritis / Lupus / pain / Personal Stories / Pop Culture / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / selfies / Types of Arthritis / Uncategorized / Wellness

When RA Tries to Get in the Way (But I Won’t Let It)

I set off for this summer to be my “summer of hobbies.” My summer even has its own Instagram hashtag, #AshSummerOfHobbies2016! But, I didn’t anticipate RA to get in the way. (This is something I discussed in a recent Arthritis Ashley Facebook Live Chat.) I’m very proud of myself for pushing through, though. RA and … Continue reading

The Problem with Negativity: And Why Being Positive Doesn’t Hurt
Arthritis Ashley / invisible illness / Personal Stories / Uncategorized / Wellness

The Problem with Negativity: And Why Being Positive Doesn’t Hurt

Let’s be honest: no one can be positive all the time. To do so simply wouldn’t be human. I highly doubt that there is one person on this earth who has never been unhappy or felt pessimistic, who is always happy and positive at all times, and without fail. If so, I would like to … Continue reading

The Great JA vs. RA Debacle
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The Great JA vs. RA Debacle

This is a Facebook-rant-turned-blog post. I am definitely looking for some feedback/insight on this one, because when it comes to The Great JA vs. RA Debacle, I don’t know what is considered to be the standard, or what is the “proper” and acceptable approach. Even  whilst doing research, I seem to encounter different answers on … Continue reading