Having a chronic illness is probably one of the toughest things I have endured throughout my life. I never knew I would wake up one day with a non curable disease that constantly made me feel sick. It changed a lot of my plans. Especially what it was I wanted to do with my life.
I was a behavior therapist for a few years. I loved it. I loved working with kids and I really grew some amazing relationships with them and their families. They basically became my own family. I honestly thought that that was what I was going to do the rest of my life.
But my body and my health had other plans. My health started to take a turn (cue my endometriosis diagnosis). I felt sick daily. I was fatigued, throwing up, bloated, in pain and it was just not fun trying to do the job I was doing. My job was demanding, especially when I worked with tougher clients that would hit, run away, bite, throw things, etc. I just couldn't see myself doing it anymore. It wasn't fair to the kiddos and their families, and it wasn't fair to me. I couldn't provide the care and service they needed.
So I left. Not knowing what the heck I was going to do. Scared out of my mind that I was failing at life. That this was it, my illness was who I was going to become. And that made me spend many months depressed. I started spiraling latching on to anyone else who was suffering and just wanted to see the bad in everything. Because honestly, that was all I could see and wanted to see.
But it got me no where. And it certainly didn't cure me from my illness. I've always been a bit of a go-getter (even during that spiral time of mine). But one morning I woke up and I just knew, I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to build something so bad ass. But what was that going to be? Of course, it didn't come to be right away. I tried many things like, network marketing, opening an Etsy shop, selling close on Poshmark; all fun but wasn't my life long dream.
And then out of the blue, I had the chance to social media manage a small tea companies Instagram page. And when I started, I just knew, this was it. I want to build my own social media company and help other businesses out. God knew what he was doing all along and he delivered this to me, just when I needed it.
And here I am, 2 years later, continuing to build Life with Kimberli Social Corner & Co. My services have changed a few times throughout the years. I am learning what it is I absolutely love to do and what I am really good at. And it has been such an exciting experience. And you know what, I kind of have my chronic illness to thank for that.
If I never got sick, or was never diagnosed with endometriosis, I would probably still be a behavior therapist. And who knows, would I have been happy? I loved my job, but, I can't really say if I would be or not. I just know now I have something where if I am having a flare day or pain day, I can take the day off/time I need to rest without asking someone's permission. I have access to all the things I need if I am having a hard day; the bathroom (and can go when I need to, not wait for someone to say it's okay to go), medicine, foods, heating pad, etc.
Of course, that doesn't mean building a business is easy though. There are still many ups and downs and hard days. But I am grateful for it all. And even more grateful that I got to be on my amazing friend Rachel's YouTube! We had a very short Q+A all about running a business with a chronic illness.
You can check it out here! Be sure to comment and show some love. <3 XO And know this, if you are struggling with a chronic illness too, you are more than your illness. You can do whatever you set your mind to my friend. And I am here rooting for you.