When Celebrities Do Good: Thank You, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Robin Roberts!

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Arthritis Ashley • 2 Comments

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Lately, I’ve been thinking about celebrities who use their fame for good. Sure, there are tons of recent examples: Beyonce is aiming to start a vegan revolution, Paula Abdul has worked tirelessly for pain causes and lupus organizations, the Kardashian and Jenner families have opened the eyes of many to transgender issues, and actress … Continue reading →

Arthritis Ashley / Awareness / chronic illness / Entertainment / Juvenile Arthritis / Lupus / Personal Stories / RA awareness / rheum awareness / rheumatoid arthritis awareness / SLE / social media / Types of Arthritis / Wellness

Get My Book Sick Idiot: On Sale Now!

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

The time has come: Sick Idiot has arrived! You can now order my funny-yet-inspiring nonfiction health memoir, Sick Idiot, in paperback! Chapter titles include: “That Time I Cried On The Pitcher’s Mound and Saw My Grandma’s Doctor” “That Time I Was a Cheerleader … With Arthritis … On A Hit-List” “That Time I Had a … Continue reading →

Arthritis / Arthritis Ashley / arthritis blog

Chronicles of a Sick Girl: A Rant on Feeling Conflicted and Judged

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Arthritis Ashley • 4 Comments

Here’s a little rant; maybe some of you can relate. Sometimes, I feel conflicted. I want people to know about the illnesses that I live with. I want to inform, inspire, advocate, and educate. I want to spread awareness. I want people to empathize or understand what I’m going through. I want people to “get … Continue reading →

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

Finding Faith During Times of Chaos

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • 4 Comments

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 →

Arthritis / Journey to Wellness / Wellness

How Much Do Our Emotions and Life Decisions Contribute to Our Disease Symptoms?

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

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 →

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Don’t Bench Yourself: An Inspiring Juvenile Arthritis Story by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Arthritis Ashley • 6 Comments

Today, I spoke at an Arthritis Foundation Juvenile Arthritis Family Day event in my area. I wanted to share the text of my speech with you all below. I will have videos and photos at a later time, to share on my arthritis Facebook page. Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment letting me know … Continue reading →

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A Modge-Podge of Arthritis News and Tidbits! – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Arthritis Ashley • 1 Comment

Today has brought a lot of news and “tidbits” about arthritis and other forms of rheumatic disease. Some of it is brand-new, other news is older … but still worth sharing. Here are some recent stories to be made aware of, as of today … A CBS article reveals that running doesn’t always lead to, … Continue reading →

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An Open Letter to Lady Gaga: Synovitis Stinks! – from Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Arthritis Ashley • 8 Comments

Dear Lady Gaga, a.k.a. Stefani: Synovitis stinks. I, too, am a twentysomething who knows what it is like to have put on hold the things I love because of pain, and I interact with thousands of others every day who have felt the same exact way. I read on your Twitter page that your doctor … Continue reading →

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Journaling for Wellness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Arthritis Ashley • Leave a comment

Many of you have likely heard of keeping a “pain diary” or a “health journal” to keep track of symptoms, but did you also know that keeping any kind of journal or diary, in general, can be beneficial to your health & well-being? It’s true. Writing can help you get in touch with your inner … Continue reading →

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Self Esteem, Body Image, and Chronic Illness – by Ashley Boynes-Shuck

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Arthritis Ashley • 3 Comments

Many of us who live with chronic illness – especially rheumatic and autoimmune illnesses, or conditions that cause chronic pain – can get frustrated at our body at times for seemingly working against us. However, there are other body issues that can come along with being chronically ill. Many medications cause appearance-related side effects: skin … Continue reading →