Despite the enormous negative impact chronic illness keeps having on my life, it has, however, opened up incredible opportunities for me to speak on podcasts, interviews and events about my lived experience and how I have turned my pain into power.
There is a pressing need for more awareness and education about rare cancers like sarcomas. The lack of understanding has resulted in high rates of misdiagnosis. At present, it can take an average of 6 months to be diagnosed, which is dangerous and can be fatal.
It's not that people do not have a voice; everyone has a voice. The question is, who is willing to listen to those voices? So if my voice, relatively speaking, is heard more, then I have to be able to signpost and amplify the concerns of those that society likes to push further into the margins.
At the age of 10, I was introduced to the world of neurodivergence. In the past, I would have said I was "diagnosed" as if it were a condition that would prevent me from living a wildly wonderful and creative life.
For a really long time, I longed for someone to represent me, my experiences and what I cared about until I concluded that I was the only one who could represent and speak about all of those things truthfully.
Navigating a world that wasn't built for people who can only use one arm has led me to think more creatively, be innovative, adapt and be resilient.
Living with chronic pain, in menopause and an invisible disability, I have faced many challenges, but the biggest one is people not understanding that conditions like endometriosis are incredibly serious and something we should be aware of.
We are excited to announce our partnership with KALM: Mindfulness Coach, a mindfulness and well-being app that offers guided breathing exercises, daily affirmations, and mindfulness tips to help users manage stress and anxiety and find balance in their daily lives.
My journey as a Nigerian-British woman in the world of classical music has often felt like a lonely one. It often feels like a rarified space with closed doors and no available seats at the table. Just like the road, I’m building my door, and I am building my own table.
