Pave Your Way With Chronic Illness by Pippa Stacey

This was a wonderful book to read as someone who struggpes with multiple chronic illnesses it's often a comfort to find a book that engages you to rediscover yourself with your illness and not just let it take over and be your sole personality or identity as often can be considered to be by some people you encounter. The book encourages you to notice and remember qualities about yourself, hobbies you enjoy alongside how your illnesses do effect you undoubtedly in some way day to day. I particularly thought long and hard about the sections of how you feel being asked invasive questions as well all do over the course of our lives with illness and if it's not particularly a visible disability to some people you can face harsh judgement and feel very down over this, I know I have and reflecting back on it now I just hope it helped them educate themselves. There was a particularly handy meal plan chart as even simple things like needing our meds and making food ready to have can slip from memory until you realise it's hours later than you should have taken meds or eaten some food if in a bad flare one day, I know this has happened to me and some friends before as our brains wander on how we feel more than what we need right then. It was a nice touch to include pages of colouring and puzzles when a pain flare hits or fatigue and you feel trapped in bed it's nice if you're able enough to be able to pre occupy your mind away from how you feel and it makes for some great spoonie-friendly escapism.

Wake Up! by Chris Barez-Brown

All about embracing living in the now, this book presents fifty four ways to help you achieve just that.

The book talks of doing the normal day to day life stuff without you realizing, stuck doing bthe same everyday without a break or difference you soon become tuned to autopilot mode.

We lose awareness of who we are and the importance of what we love becomes hindered and buried under life admin, we need to learn and asses our growth with creativity and once we find our positive mindset and relax, we can allow change and growth to happen to us.

There's also creative pages to draw and scribble on as well as we are encouraged to take it around with us to reconnect with life at times when we either feel pressured or alone etc.

More points made in the book are about the topics of;
Spontaneity, rest and exercise, draw and plan, make time for family and friends as well as enjoy every moment!

This book is a great little creative book and is reminiscent of a more adult focused Wreck This Journal.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review it!