Thank goodness for the interwebs, for without them I never would have crossed paths with Jo. A client urged me to check out her website. I was instantly captivated. Jo’s writing can only come from a place of experience with being an injured athlete with chronic pain. How she has translated her experience of learning to dance with chronic pain into tools others can use leads me to calling her the Yoda of chronic pain. We are all so lucky to have a guru leading us through the landmines of chronic pain.

Jo and I talked about guest blogging for one another, and she suggested I write about social isolation, something most people with chronic pain and injury face. As prevalent as it is, our tendency is to sweep it under the rug. It’s too painful and difficult to talk about honestly through the cloud of shame and blame.

Talking about social isolation is heavy stuff, but if I’m not honest with you, there’d be little purpose for the words that follow. So, I’ve chosen to face this topic head on, with candor, followed by practical guidance.

In part 1 we’ll talk about the origins of social isolation. When we understand why something is happening, we can take steps to make it better–which is what part 2 is about.

swimming

Finding a different, injury-friendly way to move connected me with wonderful people. In the top photo, I’m swimming in the cold, crystal clear waters of the San Marcos River with my dear friend, Cate (I’m on the left; she’s on the right). In the bottom photo, we’re hanging out at the ladder gathering steam to swim upstream again. Top to bottom: Tucker, me, Cate, Todd.

Forward>>>Heidi

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