Welcome to Chronic Candor: My Story, My Truth, My Voice

Hi, I’m Michelle (aka Meeche)—and this is *Chronic Candor*.

Honestly? I never thought I’d be here. Sharing my story with the world, launching a blog and podcast, creating a platform rooted in transparency, resilience, and a little neurospicy magic. But life, especially life with chronic illness, has a way of redirecting you in the most unexpected (and sometimes painfully honest) ways.

My Diagnosis Wasn’t the Beginning, But It Changed Everything

I live with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Two things that, for me, carry more weight than most people realize. They’ve meant swollen joints, overwhelming fatigue, brain fog, missed moments, and hospital visits I’ve lost count of. They’ve meant being gaslit by doctors, misunderstood by coworkers, and forced into survival mode more times than I care to admit.

But they’ve also meant awakening.

Because when your body starts to betray you, you either collapse—or you get radically honest about who you are, what you need, and what no longer serves you.

That’s where *Chronic Candor* was born.

Why I Created Chronic Candor

I needed a space to tell the truth.

Not the sanitized, sugar-coated version of chronic illness that makes people comfortable—but the raw, layered, inconvenient version that so many of us live every single day. The version where grief and joy coexist. Where we celebrate the small wins and survive the flare days. Where advocacy isn’t just about awareness—it’s about reclaiming your power.

I wanted a space for people like me. People living with illness, navigating life with a body that doesn’t always cooperate, and still trying to show up—for themselves, their families, and their purpose.

Chronic Candor isn’t just my blog—it’s my offering. It’s my way of saying: "I see you. I get it. And you’re not alone."

What We’re Here to Do

At Chronic Candor, we’re leading with truth. Our mission is to:

*Bring awareness to the real-life challenges (and triumphs) of chronic illness

*Create honest conversations around disability, neurodivergence, and healthcare inequality

*Introduce healing practices that support our nervous systems, minds, and spirits

*Advocate for joy, boundaries, and rest as radical forms of resistance

*Build community with those who get it—and those willing to learn

This isn’t a space for pity. It’s a space for power. Messy, sacred, evolving power.

Also introducing: *Not So Random Rants*

Alongside this blog, I’m launching a podcast called *Not So Random Rants*—because sometimes I have *a lot* to say, and the thoughts don’t always come out in a linear fashion (shoutout to my fellow neurodivergent folks who feel me on this).

The podcast is where we’ll unpack everything from inaccessible healthcare systems to relationship challenges to late-night shower thoughts about purpose, pain, and peace. Nothing is off limits. And everything is said with love, frustration, and a commitment to truth.

What’s Next?

This is just the beginning.

I have so much planned—interviews, personal essays, wellness tools, spiritual guidance, rants that turn into revelations, and reminders that rest is holy. I’m building this space not just for me, but for all of us navigating invisible battles while still trying to thrive.

To those who’ve supported me up to this point—thank you. Your love has kept me afloat during some of the hardest seasons of my life.

To those just joining—welcome. I hope you stay a while. I hope you find your own truth mirrored in these words. I hope you know that your story is valid, even if it’s still being written.

Let’s Do This, Together

So here we are—raw, real, and ready. Chronic Candor is live. *Not So Random Rants* is coming in hot. And I’m more grateful than ever to be here, using my voice and my experience to create something meaningful.

I don’t promise perfection. But I do promise honesty. Always.

With love and candor,

Michelle

Founder of *Chronic Candor*

Host of *Not So Random Rants*