April Smith | The Thriving Spoonie
@thethrivingspoonie.com
Sharing practical tools and real talk about adapting to chronic illness. Building community along the way. 👉 Learn more at www.thethrivingspoonie.com
"Just go for a walk" — if only it were that simple. #Endometriosis makes exercise complicated in ways nobody prepares you for. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life tells it straight.
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What People Do Not Tell You About Exercise With Endometriosis
When you have endometriosis or any kind of chronic pain, doctors often recommend that you do some kind of exercise because movement can help improve pain levels. Exercise is important when you live…
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September 25, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"Just go for a walk" — if only it were that simple. #Endometriosis makes exercise complicated in ways nobody prepares you for. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life tells it straight.
buff.ly/sWdyExq
buff.ly/sWdyExq
"The sea has never promised certainty. Neither has my body." Rhiann Johns at Brain Lesion & Me draws a beautiful and quietly devastating parallel between #ChronicIllness and life at sea.
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Chronic Illness: Finding Hope on an Unpredictable Journey
Living with chronic illness has taught me that life can change without warning. Cruising has taught me to find hope in the unexpected.
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September 24, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"The sea has never promised certainty. Neither has my body." Rhiann Johns at Brain Lesion & Me draws a beautiful and quietly devastating parallel between #ChronicIllness and life at sea.
buff.ly/tuL5WvN
buff.ly/tuL5WvN
"How do you do it?" — it's a question Sheryl Chan gets asked a lot. In this deeply thoughtful post, she shares the personal philosophy that keeps her going through nearly 30 years of #ChronicIllness.
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How to Live with Chronic Illness (My Personal Approaches)
People often ask me how to live with chronic illness, especially when chronic pain seems endless. Here are my personal approaches I use to thrive.
achronicvoice.com
September 22, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"How do you do it?" — it's a question Sheryl Chan gets asked a lot. In this deeply thoughtful post, she shares the personal philosophy that keeps her going through nearly 30 years of #ChronicIllness.
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buff.ly/CzI7Wcl
Your doctor will tell you the positives of # StomaSurgery — but they won't tell you everything. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life shares the honest, patient-perspective advice she wishes she'd had before going under the knife.
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What I Would Tell Someone Thinking About Stoma Surgery
When you have Spina Bifida, often it is more difficult to go to the bathroom because most a lot of the time your bladder and bowel muscles are affected and don’t work properly. I have two sto…
myrockindisabledlife.com
September 18, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Your doctor will tell you the positives of # StomaSurgery — but they won't tell you everything. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life shares the honest, patient-perspective advice she wishes she'd had before going under the knife.
buff.ly/CCgdab7
buff.ly/CCgdab7
#ChronicPain isn't just physical — P also stands for pacing, payback, poor sleep, priorities, problematic digestion, and the very real financial price of it all. Liz at Despite Pain breaks down everything that comes along for the ride in this honest post for Pain Awareness Month.
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What's it Like to Live With Pain — With a Capital P - Despite Pain
In this post, I explain what it's really like to live with pain. It's more than the physical pain because pain brings a lot of other issues.
despitepain.com
September 17, 2026 at 2:05 PM
#ChronicPain isn't just physical — P also stands for pacing, payback, poor sleep, priorities, problematic digestion, and the very real financial price of it all. Liz at Despite Pain breaks down everything that comes along for the ride in this honest post for Pain Awareness Month.
buff.ly/1y3vLML
buff.ly/1y3vLML
#BedRest sounds restful until you're actually in it for months. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life goes beyond "watch TV" with practical ideas for staying sane and entertained during post-surgery recovery or high pain days — from blogging to podcasts to learning a new skill.
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What To Do When You Are Stuck In Bed
Disabled and chronically ill people often spend more time in bed than someone who is not disabled, because sometimes we need a lot of surgeries to manage our health or live with chronic pain, and a…
myrockindisabledlife.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
#BedRest sounds restful until you're actually in it for months. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life goes beyond "watch TV" with practical ideas for staying sane and entertained during post-surgery recovery or high pain days — from blogging to podcasts to learning a new skill.
buff.ly/iGBK6uH
buff.ly/iGBK6uH
"Just do what you love" assumes your interests and your energy are two separate things. Chronic illness makes that untrue. New post on why finding identity outside your diagnosis is so hard, and small ways to start anyway:
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/who-are-you-...
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/who-are-you-...
Who Are You Outside Chronic Illness? Finding Identity
Chronic illness changes what you can do, not who you are. Here's why finding identity outside your diagnosis is so hard.
www.thethrivingspoonie.com
September 15, 2026 at 12:54 PM
"Just do what you love" assumes your interests and your energy are two separate things. Chronic illness makes that untrue. New post on why finding identity outside your diagnosis is so hard, and small ways to start anyway:
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/who-are-you-...
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/who-are-you-...
The September #WritingPrompts are live at A Chronic Voice! This month's themes — asking, overthinking, humbling, valuing, and reclaiming — feel especially fitting for life with chronic illness. Come share your story with the community.
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September Writing Prompts for People with Chronic Illness & Disability (2026 Edition)
Join us in the 2026 September writing prompts, where people with chronic illness and disability share about their lives using 5 shared prompts.
achronicvoice.com
September 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The September #WritingPrompts are live at A Chronic Voice! This month's themes — asking, overthinking, humbling, valuing, and reclaiming — feel especially fitting for life with chronic illness. Come share your story with the community.
buff.ly/YMqXRxy
buff.ly/YMqXRxy
#HipReplacement surgery is a big deal — and it comes with real risks and a tough recovery. But this post from My Rockin' Disabled Life looks at the other side: the genuine positives that made it worth it for her, written from lived experience rather than a medical brochure.
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What Are The Positives Of Hip Replacement Surgery?
Hip replacement surgery is one of the hardest surgeries I have ever had to go through, which is saying a lot because I have had dozens of surgeries, but sometimes it is necessary for less pain. Whe…
myrockindisabledlife.com
September 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
#HipReplacement surgery is a big deal — and it comes with real risks and a tough recovery. But this post from My Rockin' Disabled Life looks at the other side: the genuine positives that made it worth it for her, written from lived experience rather than a medical brochure.
buff.ly/1f1BTWa
buff.ly/1f1BTWa
18 practical tips for living with #ChronicIllness and pain — from someone who actually lives it. Caz at Invisibly Me covers everything from pacing and rest to self-advocacy and managing the emotional side of it all. A solid bookmark for the hard days and the okay ones too.
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18 Tips For Living With Chronic Illness, Pain & Disability - Invisibly Me
Living with chronic illness, pain or other disability is an ongoing learning curve. Here are 18 tips for life with chronic conditions.
invisiblyme.com
September 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
18 practical tips for living with #ChronicIllness and pain — from someone who actually lives it. Caz at Invisibly Me covers everything from pacing and rest to self-advocacy and managing the emotional side of it all. A solid bookmark for the hard days and the okay ones too.
buff.ly/D6J5rlq
buff.ly/D6J5rlq
Knee surgery recovery comes with a to-do list nobody prepares you for — including figuring out how to get dressed. Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice shares what #WoundCare actually looked like day to day, and the clothing solutions that made the hardest weeks a little more manageable.
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Wound Care & What to Wear After Knee Surgery (Part 5/6)
Resources and tips on how and what to wear after knee surgery, as well as wound care. Part of a series on my knee injury recovery process.
achronicvoice.com
September 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Knee surgery recovery comes with a to-do list nobody prepares you for — including figuring out how to get dressed. Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice shares what #WoundCare actually looked like day to day, and the clothing solutions that made the hardest weeks a little more manageable.
buff.ly/iV7qALd
buff.ly/iV7qALd
No packing. No passport. No jetlag. And the dog gets to come too. 🐾 When #ChronicPain makes real travel impossible, Liz at Despite Pain has found a surprisingly lovely alternative — and this post might just inspire your next rainy afternoon adventure.
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Travel Without the Hassle...No Packing Required - Despite Pain
Summer is upon us here in sunny Scotland. Except, it’s not very sunny. There’s been a heatwave south of the border, but most days it’s actually quite wet, and dreich here in Scotland. Perhaps it’s…
despitepain.com
August 11, 2026 at 2:05 PM
No packing. No passport. No jetlag. And the dog gets to come too. 🐾 When #ChronicPain makes real travel impossible, Liz at Despite Pain has found a surprisingly lovely alternative — and this post might just inspire your next rainy afternoon adventure.
buff.ly/7K2gUwa
buff.ly/7K2gUwa
What if the #Odyssey isn't just an ancient epic — but a mirror for everyone navigating chronic illness? After seeing the movie, Zebras Underground wrote about the striking parallels between Odysseus's journey and the one so many zebras live every day. Free and open to all.
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Every Zebra Has an Odyssey. More Than a Movie, A Mirror
Sometimes the longest journey isn’t across oceans. It’s finding your way back to yourself after illness, trauma, and the stories you’ve come to believe about who you are.
zebras.substack.com
August 7, 2026 at 2:05 PM
What if the #Odyssey isn't just an ancient epic — but a mirror for everyone navigating chronic illness? After seeing the movie, Zebras Underground wrote about the striking parallels between Odysseus's journey and the one so many zebras live every day. Free and open to all.
buff.ly/pm3sqSR
buff.ly/pm3sqSR
When you're disabled or chronically ill, hospital stays aren't a rare occurrence — they're part of life. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life shares exactly what she packs for an overnight #HospitalStay, informed by years of surgeries and long admissions.
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What Is In My Hospital Bag?
When you are disabled or chronically ill, sometimes you have to go to the doctor or hospital more often than non-disabled people because sometimes you have health issues that require a surgery or t…
myrockindisabledlife.com
August 6, 2026 at 2:05 PM
When you're disabled or chronically ill, hospital stays aren't a rare occurrence — they're part of life. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life shares exactly what she packs for an overnight #HospitalStay, informed by years of surgeries and long admissions.
buff.ly/BVN0tkJ
buff.ly/BVN0tkJ
Every August, the internet tells you to fix your #morningroutine.
Most morning routine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #Chronicillness doesn't work that way.
What does your actual morning look like?
Most morning routine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #Chronicillness doesn't work that way.
What does your actual morning look like?
August 5, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Every August, the internet tells you to fix your #morningroutine.
Most morning routine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #Chronicillness doesn't work that way.
What does your actual morning look like?
Most morning routine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #Chronicillness doesn't work that way.
What does your actual morning look like?
The August prompts are live in this post from Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice — this month's theme is #Pacing & self-care. "What was the most recent big change in your life? How did it impact your life journey subsequently?"
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365 Mindfulness Journaling Prompts for Self-Improvement
Here are 365 mindfulness journaling prompts for self-improvement, self-care and personal growth. Plus some bonus journal prompts as well!
achronicvoice.com
August 4, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The August prompts are live in this post from Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice — this month's theme is #Pacing & self-care. "What was the most recent big change in your life? How did it impact your life journey subsequently?"
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Most #morningroutine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #chronicillness doesn't work that way.
New post on what actually helps instead: www.thethrivingspoonie.com/you-dont-nee...
New post on what actually helps instead: www.thethrivingspoonie.com/you-dont-nee...
Why Standard Morning Routines Don't Work With Chronic Illness
Most morning routine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. Here's why that model doesn't fit chronic illness.
www.thethrivingspoonie.com
August 4, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Most #morningroutine advice assumes a body that gets to choose what happens next. #chronicillness doesn't work that way.
New post on what actually helps instead: www.thethrivingspoonie.com/you-dont-nee...
New post on what actually helps instead: www.thethrivingspoonie.com/you-dont-nee...
Do non-disabled people truly have #DisabilityPride, or do they just think they do? This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life makes the case that pride isn't something you claim because you know a disabled person. It shows up in how you treat disabled people every day.
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Do You Have Disability Pride?
July is Disability Pride Month. During the month of July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, which is an opportunity to break barriers, educate people on ableism, and celebrate the uniqueness and…
myrockindisabledlife.com
July 21, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Do non-disabled people truly have #DisabilityPride, or do they just think they do? This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life makes the case that pride isn't something you claim because you know a disabled person. It shows up in how you treat disabled people every day.
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#DisabilityPride isn't about loving your disability, it's about understanding your body, adapting when you need to, and remembering that your worth isn't measured by your productivity. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness writes about what pride has looked like for her in this post.
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July 17, 2026 at 2:05 PM
#DisabilityPride isn't about loving your disability, it's about understanding your body, adapting when you need to, and remembering that your worth isn't measured by your productivity. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness writes about what pride has looked like for her in this post.
buff.ly/g8qWoBj
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The July prompts are live in this post from Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice — this month's theme is #Freedom, creativity & self-expression. "What is one creative way you can practise self-care today?" is just one of the prompts waiting for you.
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365 Mindfulness Journaling Prompts for Self-Improvement
Here are 365 mindfulness journaling prompts for self-improvement, self-care and personal growth. Plus some bonus journal prompts as well!
achronicvoice.com
July 16, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The July prompts are live in this post from Sheryl Chan at A Chronic Voice — this month's theme is #Freedom, creativity & self-expression. "What is one creative way you can practise self-care today?" is just one of the prompts waiting for you.
buff.ly/vundMqd
buff.ly/vundMqd
Nobody warns you that being chronically ill comes with an unpaid second job: tracking your own history, translating it between providers, chasing results nobody sends. New post on why that administrative and emotional load is so exhausting, and why it's not in your head:
The Exhausting Math of Managing Your Own Chronic Illness
The Exhausting Math of Managing Your Own Chronic Illness Care
www.thethrivingspoonie.com
July 14, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Nobody warns you that being chronically ill comes with an unpaid second job: tracking your own history, translating it between providers, chasing results nobody sends. New post on why that administrative and emotional load is so exhausting, and why it's not in your head:
#ParentGuilt over a child's disability is real. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life offers a perspective you don't often hear: what a disabled person actually wishes their parents knew, and how to start letting go of blame and focusing on what matters most.
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How Parents Can Feel Less Guilty About Their Child’s Disability
Disabled people sometimes struggle to accept their disability because we live in a society where disability is something bad that needs to be fixed. Disability acceptance isn’t something only…
myrockindisabledlife.com
July 14, 2026 at 2:05 PM
#ParentGuilt over a child's disability is real. This post from My Rockin' Disabled Life offers a perspective you don't often hear: what a disabled person actually wishes their parents knew, and how to start letting go of blame and focusing on what matters most.
buff.ly/60W4RyL
buff.ly/60W4RyL
most.
1:47 PM
#Routines are supposed to make life easier — but when you live with chronic illness, they can quietly become another energy drain. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness shares how she's learned to adapt routines to work with her body instead of against it.
buff.ly/H1miRvi
1:47 PM
#Routines are supposed to make life easier — but when you live with chronic illness, they can quietly become another energy drain. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness shares how she's learned to adapt routines to work with her body instead of against it.
buff.ly/H1miRvi
Changing Routines So They Don't Tire You Out -
I love routine and having set things at set times but changing routines so they don’t tire you out is important too.
bloomingmindfulness.co.uk
July 10, 2026 at 2:05 PM
most.
1:47 PM
#Routines are supposed to make life easier — but when you live with chronic illness, they can quietly become another energy drain. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness shares how she's learned to adapt routines to work with her body instead of against it.
buff.ly/H1miRvi
1:47 PM
#Routines are supposed to make life easier — but when you live with chronic illness, they can quietly become another energy drain. Beverley at Blooming Mindfulness shares how she's learned to adapt routines to work with her body instead of against it.
buff.ly/H1miRvi
Men with #fibromyalgia wait an average of 6.5 years for a diagnosis — and face a double stigma on top of it. Stephen White shares his story in this guest post on A Chronic Voice, and it's exactly the kind of male voice the #chronicillness community needs more of.
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Men with Fibromyalgia & the Unique Challenges They Face
Read as Stephen White shares more about the unique challenges that men with fibromyalgia face, in addition to being undiagnosed as a young adult.
achronicvoice.com
July 9, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Men with #fibromyalgia wait an average of 6.5 years for a diagnosis — and face a double stigma on top of it. Stephen White shares his story in this guest post on A Chronic Voice, and it's exactly the kind of male voice the #chronicillness community needs more of.
buff.ly/vcE1QMI
buff.ly/vcE1QMI
Advocating for yourself at appointments isn't one task, it's several running at once. New post on why that's exhausting even when it "looks like" a normal conversation, and how to spend less of yourself doing it.
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/chronic-illn...
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/chronic-illn...
Chronic Illness: How to Advocate for Yourself & Not Burnout
Speaking up at appointments costs real energy. Here's how to advocate for yourself without losing the rest of your week to recovery.
www.thethrivingspoonie.com
July 8, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Advocating for yourself at appointments isn't one task, it's several running at once. New post on why that's exhausting even when it "looks like" a normal conversation, and how to spend less of yourself doing it.
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/chronic-illn...
www.thethrivingspoonie.com/chronic-illn...