#kickingsick
The other day during a diversity training at work, we were asked to make a bubble map of all the different groups in which we see ourselves. Among terms like woman, wife, friend, teacher, and childfree was one word that seemed to jump out - sick . The colleague sitting next to me was my shoulder-partner for sharing time. She looked over my paper, nodding gently as she read each word. When her eyes fell upon that word, she paused and looked up at me. "Do you really see yourself this way?" Her finger hovered over the word. Her expression conveyed gentle curiosity without an ounce of judgment. At that moment, I realized that yes...I do see myself that way. She nodded slowly, and the training continued. Although nothing else was mentioned about that word that day, my mind has been circling around this concept of sickness. For the last thirteen years, a large percentage of my time has been spent diagnosing, treating, and managing chronic illness. At times when I f...