Another article my friend Carrie, who has RA, wrote. This applies to all of us with chronic illness:

http://idanceintherain.com/2012/02/f...l-you-make-it/

I love "Dancing in the Rain".

And we all do this dance, everyday.

She is so right!!! Faking it is exhausting and takes everything out of you. When I have a full day of faking it, I too come home get my pj's on and climb in to bed. I don't have many days that I have to fake it all day as one would if they had a f/t job but some times I have to be out and about with DDs, family members, and/or friends. Just putting up that front that everything is normal is a lot of work. And, I am really bad about using my cane so I fight to look like I am walking like a normal person. This rarely works but at least in my mind I am walking normal. It's physically exhausting to do this. And, like she says, I often wonder why I do that. It makes no sense. But, it IS opening up to my vulernabilities that makes me continue to do this.

Good article, Kelly!

What a fantastic article - hits a little close to home, but nonetheless fantastic. I am certainly not near the point that your friend is clearly at, but the basics of it are the same.

I am finally starting to swallow my pride (in tiny bites) and asking some of my colleagues (whom I have worked with for a decade, and love dearly) if they will carry my coffee - because I know it will spill, lift things for me, and help me more if I am physically or cognitively overloaded. Small steps so far - but significant ones for me.

It is a blow to my pride, and the last thing I want to be is any kind of chore to them. So, I offer help in other ways, that save them time where I can - typing, proofreading, writing papers/assessments etc.

I guess once the term starts and I have to be more mobile, it will really show me where I am at, and what I can and can't do.

Thanks Kitty

Please keep those coming - they are inspirational.