{"id":1976,"date":"2016-02-20T20:37:11","date_gmt":"2016-02-20T20:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=1976"},"modified":"2016-02-20T20:39:48","modified_gmt":"2016-02-20T20:39:48","slug":"chronic-illness-sharing-the-look","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2016\/02\/chronic-illness-sharing-the-look.html","title":{"rendered":"Chronic Illness: Sharing the Look"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Second<\/a>Now that the weather is more moderate, many of us with chronic illness are going outside, to stores, parks and other public venues. Of course, we take with us our “stuff,” whether mobility assistance devices, oxygen, or, in my case, sun protective clothing, head to toe.<\/p>\n

After a cooped-up winter, it might feel a little unnerving to be more exposed, in public where “healthy people” abound. So, I think, it is a good idea to keep an eye out for one another and share “the look.”<\/p>\n

I became aware of “the look” a few years ago when, in a store, I with my shopping cart encountered someone in a motorized scooter. We had both turned down the same aisle, but therewasn’t much room to maneuver. After both of us going this way and that, we just looked at each other and smiled, knowingly and appreciatively. He knew it was a challenge for me, I knew it was a challenge for him, and so we shared a moment of acknowledgment and humor. “The look.” It helped unite us in compassion for one another, and it helped make the rest of the trudge through the store, when “able-bodied” people were not so kind, easier.<\/p>\n

Most recently, I shared “the look” with a woman who got into the same elevator I did, at another store. I had my hat, dark glasses, long-sleeved shirt, pants, and sun-protective gloves on. She had a wheeled walker and oxygen. Both of us gave a little sigh of fatigue as the elevator doors began to close. Then, we exchanged a smile of understanding.<\/p>\n

I said, “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”<\/p>\n

She replied, “Oh, yes, it is.”<\/p>\n

I said, “I couldn’t wait to get out.”<\/p>\n

She paused and smiled more broadly. “Neither could I.”<\/p>\n

The elevator doors opened. We went our separate ways, lighter in heart.<\/p>\n

Once again, “the look” had woven its effect of encouragement!<\/p>\n

Joy and peace,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Now that the weather is more moderate, many of us with chronic illness are going outside, to stores, parks and other public venues. Of course, we take with us our “stuff,” whether mobility assistance devices, oxygen, or, in my case, sun protective clothing, head to toe. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. Through the blog, she hopes to bring issues of health, wellness, and spirit into focus and, especially, inspire others that, no matter what health challenges, illness, or hardships they endure, each person can find a good way to realize the wonderful potential God has placed within each heart and soul.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.maureenpratt.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/author\/mpratt"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/548"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1977,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1976\/revisions\/1977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}