Hey contractors / consultants: what are you guys doing about health insurance? I need suggestions.

I think it may be time to bring my story of RA into my blog and my writing. It feels like the time has come to start embracing that saga

I grew up with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and nearly died at 13 from complications. When I was 15 I had both hips replaced.

I literally had to learn how to walk again after that surgery. Imagine relearning to walk instead of living a normal 15 yr old life.

That was normal life for me. Wasn't all bad. I definitely used it for fun too. I had a Segway that I rode on campus at St Edward's.

That was a lot more fun than most people imagined. Everyone asked to try it out, and I would teach them how to ride it. Super fun :-)

I miss that Segway. It died in the flood at my parents house last year.

I also lived in Mexico and Chile while I was in school. This may explain my love of Spanish, Latin culture, Yerba Maté, and dating Latinas

Now that I think about it, I've never seriously dated a girl that wasn't Latin American. I've actually gone more Latin as I've gotten older

@DMEdwards it's a process for me, just like anyone else with RA, I think. Health is better than ever because of careful diet and tai chi

I've always known the time would come to share my story and the pain I've experienced, but I was afraid to talk about it very publicly

I didn't want to burden other folks around me with my own pain or struggle. Everyone is always fighting a battle, physical or spiritual

My story never seemed worth broadcasting for its own sake.

But something clicked with me tonight, and it feels ok to start sharing all of it

Especially if my own story has aspects that I'd prefer to avoid myself. It sucks to walk around in pain every day, for example

I'm not really sure what will come about as a result, but I think it's started to matter to me that I tell my own story as honestly as I can

But I think it's a story worth sharing for my own sake, just to share it, and for anyone else who might read it and hear something important

So we'll see what happens.

@JacquelinesLife yeah, that's what I'm seeing. You're welcome. I hope it helps.

@LisaPastor yeah, it's all over the place. I was friends with a kid, 6-8 years younger, we shared the same birthday. He'd had RA since 18mo