Last week I highlighted some of my favorite passages from part one of Michelle Obama’s The Light We Carry.

This week, it’s one sentence I want to highlight. One sentence I cannot stop thinking about.

“We only hurt ourselves when we hide our realness away.”

In many areas of my life, I am unapologetically real. I don’t color my hair. I allow my definitely-non-brown strands to commingle with my very-brown strands.

I don’t wear make-up. What you see is what you get.

If my purse ever matches my shoes, it was purely coincidental. I don’t have enough purses, or shoes for that matter, to make that particular accessory match happen on a regular basis.

I do, however, change my necklace and earrings each day, and do my best to match those with the top I’m wearing. 

I realize most people don’t wear nine rings on eight fingers. But I do. And I’m okay with not being like everyone else.

Aside from all that; however, I do hide my realness away. 

Often. 

And, if you’re chronically ill, a.k.a a “spoonie,” you probably do, too.

(If you missed it, you can click here to read my blog, “Trying to Figure Out This Spoonie Life.”)

Because when you’re chronically ill and experiencing chronic pain, you have learned to put on, what I call, your “game-face.” Living with a chronic illness is sometimes like being in a high-stakes poker game that doesn’t end. You can’t let on how bad the pain is. For a number of reasons you mask your pain so you look “fine.”

Sometimes I do that because I don’t want any more suggestions about medicinal cannabis or green smoothies or compression socks. 

Sometimes I wear my game face because it’s just easier. Showing my pain often makes those around me uncomfortable. And if I’m already feeling bad, I don’t need to add to the situation by making those around me feel bad, too. 

There are more reasons. But I’ll stop there, because it brings me back to Mrs. Obama’s statement:  “We only hurt ourselves when we hide our realness away.”

That’s the part I haven’t completely figured out. I’m certainly not trying to hurt myself. Yet I am very much trying to protect my near and dear ones. 

The work on myself continues.

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.