A Little Cute Goes A Long Way
It’s hard to feel attractive when contending with a disease like rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. This chronic condition can be …
Tamara Haag
Where It Doesn’t Hurt
In recent months I’ve been meditating, and this practice has helped me shift my brain’s focus from the pain in …
Pain is Relative
We’re all familiar with that common and oh-so-subjective medical tool, the pain rating scale. “On a scale of 1 to …
“How Are You Today?” and Other Hard Questions
Each time I encounter another person I face a choice: should I pretend to be the person I think I’m …
Too Close for Comfort
There are many things to hate about rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. There’s the pain, immobility, and crippling fatigue. There’s the …
Yes, I CAN Meditate!
It’s funny how powerful our mental blocks can be. I’ve long heard about the powerful benefits of meditation. For instance, …
RA Snapshot: A Cold Day
On a cold morning, leaving the refuge of my soft bed and heated mattress pad is all the harder. Having …
The Miracle of a Well-Timed Good Day
The unpredictable nature of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) is an incredibly frustrating aspect of living with this disease. While I’d …
Saying Yes, to Myself
Many Americans have shared how hard it is to say “no.” In our always-on-the-go society, filled with stores open twenty-four …
RA Snapshot: End of a Workday
With relief, I finally make it to the end of my workday. All day long I have tried to focus …
The Things You Cannot See
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) are called “invisible disabilities” because most people who have them do not have …
The Art of Stepping Down
The past few months have been a rough go. Living with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) always includes uncertainty. This is …
You Might Have a Chronic Illness If . . .
Many people experience generally good health and their concept of being sick means having a cold or perhaps catching the …
Movement Can Be Joy
There’s a podcast I’ve been listening to in which the host interviews a guest each week and asks three questions: …
Every Step I Take
Many people walk through the world without thought. They may notice a crack in the sidewalk or a large root …
The RA Battery Drain
I’ve been working to restructure the expectations I set for myself. Living with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) means that pain …
RA Daydreams: The Distance Shrinker
Living with rheumatoid arthritis can feel like a nightmare, which sometimes leads me to daydream about things that would make …
The Pain Brain Drain
I was recently talking to a friend, who mentioned her daughter’s golf lessons. “She’s taking golf?” I asked. She replied, …
I Am Enough
Every once in a while I come across a string of words that rocks me to my core. A few …
The Travel Hangover
Those of us living with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) are familiar with the interplay of activity, rest, and pain levels. …