Somehow it seems counter-intuitive to feel grateful for having a chronic illness. After all it can change your life in so many not-so-good ways. That is how I looked at chronic illness before I was diagnosed and for several years after. There was very little good I could find about it. But then something gradually changed and it wasn't my health. It was my attitude. I started feeling grateful.
Announcing the first ever HealingWell Blog book giveaway! I'm very happy that the first book I have to give away is Carla Ulbrich's book "How Can You NOT Laugh at a Time Like This? Reclaim Your Health with Humor, Creativity, and Grit". Carla writes from the heart with refreshing wit and sometimes brutal honesty about her own struggles and challenges with chronic illness.
Recently I travelled to Los Angeles to attend the BlogWorld 2011 conference. I went for two reasons. First, I wanted to learn how to blog better. I figured there were some things I could learn from veterans about what I'm doing right or wrong. Second, I wanted to meet fellow patient bloggers. These are the folks that blog about chronic illness and share with the world their trials and triumphs. Many of them inspire me everyday.
I just finished reading an amazing book, "The Message" by Lance Richardson, about one man's near death experience and the lessons he learned from it. I know what you're saying, "You need find lighter reading Peter!" Maybe so. But this book is different, I promise! It's a short and easy read. But what makes it really stand out is the message it shares of love, hope, and the realization that we are all connected.
Last summer HealingWell.com hit a major milestone, surpassing 100,000 registered community members. I still don't think I believe it! Growth the last few years has been exponential. We don't do any advertising. Most people learn about this site via word of mouth, just friends telling friends. I've thought about how to best celebrate this milestone and what it means. I decided it might be more appropriate to share what HealingWell means through the eyes of its members. | | |
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