Some days are hard, others are harder. Some days are so hard I consider them wasted.

I normally know when it’s going to be a wasted day, when I wake up feeling like every single nerve in my body is on fire and everything aches so much that I would honestly believe you if you told me I’d been hit by a bus. These are the days that I never make it out of bed.

My internal monologue likes to taunt me with a running commentary of all the things that I have had to miss; from birthday parties to school plays, family weddings to walks in the park, and everything else in between. It tells me that I am weak.

But I’m not.

Have you ever heard that saying about losing the battle, but winning the war? That’s what chronic illness and pain is; each day is a battle, sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But no matter what I will fight that same battle tomorrow, and the day after that.

I will keep fighting and that is why I know I will win the war.

T.