chronic pain – Surprised By Joy

“What a good day to be proud of all the progress you made.” – unknown

Last week, my six-year-old son, Mr. D accidentally stepped on a bee and got stung. “Oh, my life is over,” he repeatedly moaned as I struggled to pick out the stinger. And he’s my less dramatic child. Yowsa – those stings hurt.

But most of the pain was gone in an hour and while the swelling and itchiness lasted about four days, there was a clearly an end in sight. How do you still show up when the pain is chronic? What does it mean to keep showing up when life asks more of you than seems possible?

In this episode of The Life of Try, I talk with Kathryn M. B. Johnson, author of Invisible, Until I’m Not, a memoir-in-essays about chronic illness, caregiving, grief, and resilience. Together, we explore what it means to live with fibromyalgia and invisible illness, how caregiving reshapes identity, and why being seen matters so deeply when pain is hard to explain.

Our conversation offers honest insight, emotional validation, and hope for anyone navigating chronic pain, caregiver burnout, loss, or the daily work of endurance.

Key Takeaways:

Chronic illness can reshape identity, relationships, and daily life in ways that are often invisible to others.
Caregiving is an act of love, but it also carries grief, exhaustion, and the need for self-compassion.
Writing can become a lifeline—a way to process pain, preserve connection, and reclaim a sense of self.
Being believed and truly seen matters deeply for people living with chronic pain or complex health conditions.
Rest is not laziness; caring for yourself is part of being able to care for others.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful podcast episode about chronic illness, caregiving, trauma, faith, and finding strength in difficult seasons, this episode is for you.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch Liza’s amazing journey:

The podcast player embedded below
Click this link to watch in a browser: How Writing Helps Save Us From Chronic Illness and Loss
Subscribe to The Life of Try on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
Subscribe to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeoftry

Stop Hustling For Your Worth: A Better Way to Grow – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

What separates healthy ambition from hustling for your worth?In this motivational episode of Life of Try, Wynne Leon explores the hidden connection between hustle culture, perfectionism, productivity, and self-worth.A baseball camp “hustle” award sparks an honest reflection on why we try—and how effort driven by curiosity and courage feels different from striving for approval.Through personal stories and insights inspired by Brené Brown and Dr. Vicki Atkinson, Wynne shares how to recognize fear-driven productivity, step away from the pressure to prove yourself, and choose a more wholehearted path to personalgrowth.You will learn how to:· Recognize when achievement is tied to self-worth· Distinguish purposeful effort from approval-seeking· Replace perfectionism with curiosity and courage· Use two simple questions to reconnect with gratitude and meaningListen next to Art of Meaningful Conversation with Dr. Vicki Atkinson, celebrating 200 episodes. Follow Life of Try on Spotify for more episodes about courage, resilience, mindset, self-worth, and beginning before you feel ready.