Chronic illness doesn't exempt me from other opportunistic illnesses. I’m Annette Leonard of https://www.annetteleonard.com find me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theannetteleonard [I don't know what happened to the visuals shortly into this video....] I didn't record Chronic Wellness last week. Two weeks ago I went to Seattle to meet with my specialists. While up there I contracted a virus. With a fever up around 104, I had fever dreams. When I first started to get sick -- I turned on myself. "What did I miss???" The litany of self-criticism is a habit I could stand to change. I suspect it's difficult for those in our lives to understand how additional illness impacts those of us with chronic illness. While I'm still not back to "myself" I'm grateful to be getting out of bed and for the few hours I do have. It helps me not take this for granted. Getting sick can lead me to the fear of "what if this is my new normal?" These are additional opportunities to grow and learn how to be present with myself and what is arising. Have you remained healthy during this flu/COVID/cold season? What thoughts, fears, realizations have occurred to you? This Thursday 2/8 at 12 PST I'll be hosting Alexis Hawes of the Instagram WhyIEatPlants about holistic wellness and plant-based eating. Please join us. This is the Chronic Wellness Podcast. I'm Annette Leonard, speaker, coach, and sick person who believes that my illnesses do not define me. If health is the absence of disease and wellness is the presence of wholeness, then no matter what your disease status, we can work toward your wellness, your wholeness. Whether or not you are ever "healthy" on paper, you can be well. Join me and others on the path back to wholeness at AnnetteLeonard.com. Whether you are a person experiencing chronic illness or are someone who loves or serves people with chronic illness I have great resources here on this channel or on my website for you.