Today is Day 45 of the Art Apple A Day Retrospective – for information on the project click here.

Day Forty Five – November 14, 2010

Looking back 10 years ago today…

I was discussing vulnerability. It’s been so interesting for me to reflect back to 10 years ago because I am seeing how far I’ve come in so many areas in my life – especially my mindset and health. Back then my vulnerability was sharing the difficulties of chronic illness and chronic pain associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis. It was extremely difficult to share those things at that time.

Shifting to my thoughts on personal vulnerability today with revisiting my apples and A.S., I am feeling anxiety about sharing my successes, thoughts on mindset, and progress with pain and treatment.

In the world of health advocacy (which you can categorize this project as) I am a bit of an outlier. Half of what I share has nothing to do with health issues at all. For some in the past this was labeled as a missed opportunity. I see it as honoring my journey in its entirety and being true to my whole self.

In health advocacy I see a tendency to share the difficulties more than the successes. I understand that impulse and it is imperative we share the extremely difficult truths. People just diagnosed need this especially but in my opinion we should also share how some are succeeding and overcoming and thriving! I’ve been tempering my thoughts because I don’t want to upset people but looking back to this apple and the post about living whole-heartedly and with true vulnerability, I am going to take that to heart and not numb vulnerability. I’m proud of where I am and what I’ve overcome and I wish the same for everyone. My hope is that people who see how my life with A.S. has evolved will find inspiration and hope for their future too. xO

To see my original Day 45 post ~ English Cottage Apple ~ from 10 years ago click here or on the image above.

And the story will continue tomorrow…