Happy 5th Birthday, People Hope!
We did it! Five years! Is it official? Does this make us best friends? Should we go out and buy matching charm bracelets or something?!
My enthusiasm for this milestone in our community is unmatched (just in case that wasn’t abundantly clear) because, dang it, I think us chronically ill folks need all the confetti and cake we can muster!
So today I’m celebrating you, reader friend, and the strides we’ve taken together this past year.
“I think us chronically ill folks need all the confetti and cake we can muster!”
(Pause here and go grab yourself a festive cup of tea or water with lemon or coffee or whatever your thing is, because if I was sitting there with you in person, this chat would obviously be conducted while sipping something cozy, as all good talks ought to be.)
Last year, on our fourth birthday, I promised that the best was yet to come, and then watched as hundreds of you signed up for this brand new type of monthly program called the Focus Fix. You signed up without fully knowing what to expect or what it would become, and I eagerly watched with delight and anticipation and a handful of full-blown “is this dumb?!” kind of moments. I was thrilled and terrified and excited, but sure enough…together, we made this our best year yet.
This year, more than any other, I’ve had the privilege of watching you grow. I’ve now seen over 900 of you boldly tell your chronic illness that it doesn’t get to have the final say in your life anymore. I’ve watched you shed false “less than” identities that once defined you by your symptoms and challenges and limitations. And I’ve watched you choose to embrace the life you have and begin to live it with intention rather than to keep waiting for your circumstances to change.
“I’ve watched you shed false ‘less than’ identities that once defined you by your symptoms and challenges and limitations.”
For many of you it was your first step towards growth since you started battling your symptoms, and make no mistake, it was a challenging and dignified first step. And with each courageous step you grew, keeping your promises to yourself, making progress that was more about getting back up than it was about perfection, and flourishing against all odds.
I know it can be easy to look back over a year and think “I’m not where I want to be in life.” In fact, I can almost hear you murmuring something about how you’re behind where you think you “should be.”
But friend, on our fifth birthday that we’re sharing together, I want to grab you by the hand and remind you that you and I are right on time—stretching and expanding with each passing day into the people we were designed to be. You and I are are works in progress; masterpieces in motion. And it is an honor to grow alongside you.
“...you and I are right on time—stretching and expanding with each passing day into the people we were designed to be.”
How could I ever thank you for the gift of this past year? Perhaps the best way to show my gratitude is to share with you the same thing I did last year. Friend, I don’t know fully what the year ahead will hold, but I know it will be our best one yet.
Happy 5th Birthday, People Hope!
All my love,
Anna
p.s. did someone say “birthday magic?!”
If you’ve ever been around for our birthdays before, you know we have a long-standing birthday tradition around here! Each year on our birthday we give YOU a gift because you are truly what makes People Hope so special.
Take a peek at the video below to discover this year’s big gift! Happy birthday to us, friends!
Written by: Anna Kowlessar, Founder of People Hope
After many years of dealing with her own chronic illness, Anna founded People Hope to fill a much-needed void that so many people are looking for today - a genuine community, somewhere to belong regardless of diagnosis, and the practical tools to know how to live with purpose through chronic illness. You can read more about Anna’s journey here. Or you can keep reading this to learn that a few of her obsessions include cuddling with her dog, Walter Norman, singing ridiculous made-up songs with her husband, Randy, and snacking on salty-sweet treats! She loves Christmas, hates the color lavender, and adores her amazing Fam!
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