My poem ‘Chronic’ has been published! This is the first time I’ve published a poem, and I’m really happy to get the chance to share writing about chronic illness with more people.

Living with chronic illness is exhausting and demoralising, but it has also opened up new worlds for me. I’m more aware of nature, I see tiny details, I take life at a slower pace. I always want to get better, but I don’t want to get back to rushing around. I don’t want to return to looking but not seeing.

The poem explores the ‘different lens’ long-term illness has given me; examining the positives as well as the negatives. There is much I missed before, and going slowly is not a bad thing.

So, take heart my fellow chronic illness warriors. You have a unique perspective, and the world is richer for it.

You can read my poem here: https://575182d1-454a-47ce-a57f-021afabac1f4.filesusr.com/ugd/ee3423_d4b061e7cf554cec9627911f2ed43f51.pdf