I’m starting a new writing category here on JoJoisms because I find that “Laughing through the Struggles” and “Inspiration” are not enough to find your joy.  We also need to find our “Silver Linings” or the little blessings hidden inside our struggles.  And there are some!

I’m going to share a few of mine and I’d like you to share some of your own with me and my readers by posting a comment at the bottom of this post.

1. Being able to bless and support others!

This is the BIGGEST blessing to me.  I love hearing how my story, my writing, my posts, my struggles have inspired and supported others going through similar issues.  It makes me feel like, even the parts of my story that don’t have a silver lining, do have one for others.  And that, in turn, inspires me back.  If even the dark parts of your struggle aren’t somehow infused in some small part with a blessing you can point to, you can take joy in making someone else feel they are not alone, someone else cares.

2. I’m in love with my shower!

We’re not getting married or anything, but taking a hot shower has never felt sooooo good to me before.  I used to jump into the shower with only one thought in mind: get clean and get out!  But now I truly appreciate the power of a good, loooong, hot shower.  Here’s why:

* It eases my pain

* It doesn’t judge me when parts of me jiggle or laugh when I look awkward trying to reach certain parts of my body with achy, tense or painful muscles and joints. 

* It doesn’t ask me why I’m crying  

3. Having Hashi’s flare ups can keep Peri Menopause at bay!

For the first time in YEARS, I was able to blow dry my hair for an hour without having a single hot flash!  I can’t remember the last time I could say that with a straight face! While it doesn’t feel great to be freezing all the time, it did bring a smile to my face to realize that hot flashes aren’t as severe, frequent or destructive.  Know what it’s like to step out of the shower and two minutes later need to step back in?  How frustrating is it to be dripping sweat right after getting out of the shower and getting dressed for the day?

So you see?  You can find little silver linings hidden inside of some of the struggles you go through with chronic illness if you look hard enough.  What are yours?  Please share them here as a comment below.  Maybe one of us can hold onto that one too as we all navigate through this process.  Thank you!