Message from Jamie Holloway
For eleven years I have been learning to live well with chronic illness. It hasn’t been perfect. I haven’t always been successful at achieving my goals. It has been a chaotic, messy, learning experience that has made my life adventurous. I have learned a lot about how complicated, dangerous & even emotionally, spiritually & mentally draining living with several diagnoses is.
I am asked by my many doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends, family, strangers & store clerks how I have maintained my good attitude despite the many medical adventures, I have lived through, that might have left me feeling bitter, angry, broken & unforgiving. All I can say is, I made decisions & I followed through. One decision was to fight for me. Jesus fought for me so why shouldn’t I?
I also realized, I didn’t want my crawl through lifelong sickness, just for my own benefit. I wanted to be a wellness advocate & help those who are in the same predicament. I wanted to be one of the helpers that Mr. Roger’s speaks about. I do this by reminding myself that my attitude can help me navigate through the dark channels of chronic illness.
I am determined to say thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregivers, anyone who helps me. Showing gratitude reminds you that your life is not over just because you are sick. I say thank you & I mean it. I also decided that I didn’t want to become idle. I want to actually accomplish something, so I started writing.
I believe communicating my pain, needs, & being willing to listen as part of communication allows me to be able to be in a good relationship with my team. I have a good support system of family, friends, doctors, nurses, & caregivers who allow me to achieve many of the goals I have made. I am able to live in my home & able to keep on breathing, writing, reading & loving on my boy, Nicholas.
Since 2017 I have been an owner of Wellness Works NW. I serve as the Research Manager. I am a lead writer & my column is called Chasing Wellness.
Book Reviews
I love reading. This is one thing that keeps me busy and not feeling sorry for myself because I sometimes feel useless in my condition. I have enjoyed every book I have read, even if some of them weren’t my favorite. I enjoy the process of reading and reviewing books.
Read Jamie’s Latest Blog Posts…
Book Review: Find Your Unicorn Space
I have never seen myself as creative. I do not draw. I do not paint. I do not have unique clothes or dye my hair fun colors. I do not do any of the artistic things and unique things I have associated with being creative to. Reading “Find Your Unicorn Space” by...
Book Review: Believe It!
I listened to this book on Audible. A few months ago, I was part of Jamie Kern Lima’s book opening event on Facebook where she shared her book and other speakers on successfulness and self-care. I enjoyed it. I just finished reading her book. I must admit I...
Book Review: The Bookshop of Yesterdays
In 2021, one of my goals was to read more novel (fiction) instead of non-fiction. I had a habit of reading a ton of non-fiction books. I did not read very many fiction stories. The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson was a book that I purchased on Amazon,...
Book Review: Body Talk
I grew up hating my body. I was bigger than most girls. Not only did I weigh more but I was also taller. A lot of my friends felt that way about themselves. In Katie Sturino’s book Body Talk she talks about body shame and the unrealistic expectations from the...
Book Review: A Secret History of Witches
I have always been fascinating with researching the history of witches and the burnings they endured during the witch hunt times. Books whether fiction or non-fiction pique my interest. Louisa Morgan novel “A History of Witches” tells the story of 5 generations of...
Book Review: If the Shoe Fits
I enjoy reading serious novels when I choose to read one. In my latest, Once Upon a Book Club box I received a rom com novel that is written by Julie Murphy called If the Shoe Fits. She rewrites the Cinderella story. She has big curvy women as the romantic lead...
Book Review: Sunrise
One of the places on my travel bucket list is Alaska. I want to see the glaciers, the polar bears, the mountains, the mushing dogs, and the majestic scenery. I also want to see the whales and penguins. In Susan May Warren’s new book Sunrise, she takes you on an...
Book Review: The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
Warning: This book deals with sexual assault and molestation. These might be a trigger subject for a few readers. When I saw the title of this book I was intrigued and wanted to read. I bet you can see why I wanted to. This book is about a writer, who...
Book Review: a Heart Adrift
If you enjoy reading historical fiction, then A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz is a book for you. Set in the 1700’s and a lady chocolatier and a ship captain fall in love and go through heartache and redemption in this book. I like Frantz writing style and the...
Focus Word For 2022: Recovery
Happy New Year! It’s 10:30 New Years Eve as I am writing this post. I am having a quiet day. I slept a lot because I started CellCept yesterday and it has made my body tired. This is one of many side effects of this medication. The side effects list is huge and if I...