This one’s for us – the fighters, the warriors, the survivors. The ones carrying invisible battles that others can’t see. The ones who wake up every day and choose to show up, even when nothing about life is guaranteed. Some mornings, it’s pain. Other days, it’s sheer exhaustion. But still – we show up.
Life with a disability isn’t just hard. It’s exhausting, isolating, and frustrating. Lot of tears. It’s living with constant pain or fatigue while trying to convince others that your struggles are real. It’s having your significant other or loved one look at you and see you suffering but don’t know how to help.
It’s navigating a world that wasn’t designed for you while being told to “just adapt.” For those of us with autoimmune diseases, it’s the added challenge of fighting your own body while hearing, “You don’t look sick.”
Yet, despite these challenges, we are capable of incredible things. For example, as meteorologist Janice Dean puts it, “It’s important for me to raise awareness of MS because there is still a stigma attached to the disease. Many people are afraid to reveal their diagnosis at work, and I’d like to see more awareness and support of MS in the workplace. Just because someone has an autoimmune disease doesn’t mean they can’t do a great job.”
Dean’s words resonate deeply. There’s still a fear of being seen as “less capable” simply because of a diagnosis. But we’re not defined by our disabilities. We are parents, spouses, siblings, friends, and coworkers. Our lives are full, complex, and meaningful in ways that go far beyond any label.
I’ve lived with MS since my early 20s, though I didn’t know it for years. Connecting the dots moving backwards, I now see how I was innovating and adapting all along, even without realizing it. Now that I understand my condition, I’ve built frameworks not just to help myself thrive but to empower others like me. Because the best way to create awareness isn’t through words – it’s through action. When people see what we achieve and then realize it was done by someone with a disability, the impact speaks for itself.
We are powerful. We are resilient. Every day, we show the world what strength looks like. And we do it while managing challenges most people can’t imagine. That’s why I’m done waiting for a seat at the table. Their table was never made for us. So, I’m building my own – on my own terms.
Together, we can create change. We can raise awareness, build communities, and redefine what’s possible. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s necessary.
If you’re out there fighting your own invisible battle – whether it’s MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or anything else – you’re not alone. You’re seen. You’re powerful. And your life is more than your struggles.
This is bigger than me. It’s bigger than any one of us. Let’s show the world what we’re capable of.
Join me.
