Written by: Nicole Benish

Hey! My name is Nicole and I live by the motto:

You and your body against the disease, not you against your body.

It’s working so hard to fight the illness(es), it’s doing everything in its power for your benefit. Can you say that about any other living thing on this planet?

Yes, your body isn’t “healthy”, the cards you were dealt are difficult, even unbearable at times. You can’t hide from yourself—the sheer volume of symptoms will not be silenced in your own skin.

It’s never black and white. One day you think you know why everything hurts, and the next flare-up is unexplainable.

Be kind. You’re a beautiful pearl being shaped by sand and spit.

Share who you are. You’re lovable, beautiful, and valuable as you are. Even like this—especially like this.

Break free. Speak the truth. Stop the stigma of suffering in silence.

I am so proud of you. You have survived every single day of your life.

There IS beauty in pain—but not in the way society wants to think. Without pain, we cannot experience great joy.

If living in pain every single moment of every day has taught me anything, it’s that I have had some incredible moments of joy in my life.

We are warriors.