My journey with the Arthritis Foundation and how my love of art has inspired me to help others

These last couple of months have been amazing for me. But throughout this whole journey I have learned that my dream isn't about opening my boutique. I have learned that my dream is about helping others. It's of helping the people who can't yet seem to even think about there ever being a light at the end of the tunnel.

So look around today. Have you been blessed? You may not feel that you have. But let's think of it this way...Were you able to dress yourself today? Were you able to open your own bottles of medication? Were you even able to open your eyes without crying out in pain? If you answered any of these questions with a "yes", then you HAVE been blessed. For there are others out there suffering with the same pain we have all experienced who aren't yet able to dress themselves, or open their own bottles of medication. You may say "How can I help, I wouldn't even know where to start." So here's what you do...Go to the Arthritis Foundations website and find your local chapter. They always have things you can do to help. Besides, if I am able to even open my eyes without crying out in pain I feel blessed. We too often forget about the pain of those less fortunate than us because it is too easy to feel sorry for ourselves for the things we can no longer do. What we can do though is help. Together we can make a difference, even if it is helping someone get the diagnosis they have desperately been searching for, or raising money by doing a walk with the arthritis foundation. So look around today and ask yourselves "Have I been blessed?" And if you can answer that with a yes, then help the ones around you. You might just find that the one thing that helps you the most in your fight with rheumatoid arthritis, is helping others. In my case, it's been the best medicine I could ever ask for! Good luck and best wishes!