Customer Reviews

Chronically Happy: Joyful Living In Spite Of Chronic Illness

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a student working to finish a university degree while dealing with a chronic illness (indeterminate IBD with myalgia and fatigue) Ms Hartwell's experiences of living a successful and joy-filled life despite her illness has been an inspiration and source of hope for me. Her humor despite trials is motivating, her wisdom is an amazing resource.
I especially enjoyed her chapter on overcoming the "Damaged Goods Syndrome". A tendency for those with Chronic Illness is to have negative thoughts and self-esteem challenges when we compare ourselves to other more healthy people. I often find myself viewing myself as "not good enough" and am frustrated by how disabling my illness can be in acheiving my goals.
While the mind can work destructively, it can also be employed to build joy, humor, and a positive attitude that helps achieve goals. Learning to identify and work through cognitive distortions gives you a new lens in which to see your life.
Hartwell quote in her book Helen Keller as saying "We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world."

As a social worker on a dialysis unit I have found this book extremely helpful in my own education of what new dialysis patients face, but also what patients deal with as a long time dialysis patient. The author leaves no stone unturned and not sugar coating a thing- she's going to tell you how to deal with failure and success each with a bit of unique humor and empathy. She has suggestions how to handle you illness in professional situations as well as how to not get bored if re-hospitalized. Bottom line she is an inspiration and a beneficial read to all!

Lori's book Chronically Happy is very insightful and inspirational. She shares her first hand experience about her own personal life and what she has had to face in her life in regards to having a chronic illness. She really has many helpful tools for everyday living whether you have a chronic illness or not. She helps bring gratitude into daily life and keeping up a good sense of humor inspite of everything.

I highly recommend this book for everyday reading and also
for those with a chronic illness.

Thanks Lori!!!! You continue to inspire us everyday!!

Sincerely,

Lora Benson
Graduate Student-Antioch University Los Angeles

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I was very inspired by Lori's thoughts on chronic disease. The book also had very good resources on ways to go about our everyday life. I would highly recommend this to anyone with a chronic disease.

Chronically Happy is a must read for everyone - whether you have a chronic illness or not.

Author Lori Hartwell offers readily available advice that we can all apply to our daily lives. Hartwell provides tips on how to look on the bright side, no matter your condition or situation. From strategic dating advice to discovering your joy instinct - there is an inspirational message for absolutely everyone. Chronically Happy is the perfect gift for anyone who is in need of a little 'pick-me-up.'

If you've ever had a conversation with Lori Hartwell, you know three things about her. She's a wordsmith. She knows what's she's talking about and she delivers her message with humor, grace and style.

Hartwell's book, Chronically Happy: Joyful Living In Spite Of Chronic Illness, incorporates these attributes. With skillful and easy precision, Hartwell's first five chapters take the reader through the complex hurdles of living with chronic illness. But she doesn't stop there. Like the author herself, Hartwell wants her readers to learn how to live chronically happy. Including a chapter on each of her four principles of chronically happy living, Hartwell offers practical, sage and upbeat information-and inspiration. Unique, direct and courageous, this book is a winner!

Pauline Salvucci is a Personal Life Coach living with chronic illness, and author of
Self-Care Now! 30 Tips to Help You Take Care of Yourself When Chronic Illness Turns Your Life Upside Down

She has a lot of good advice and makes you feel empowered, but really there's nothing new in this book and she didn't really offer solutions other than the obvious.

I work for a dialysis company which gave us "Tuesdays with Morrie" as an inspiration. This book contains the nuts and bolts of inspiration and is equally pertainable to everyone with or without a chronic disease. This book I will take to the unit and share, particularly with the teens who are on dialysis.

Chronically Happy is one of the most useful chronic illness books I have ever read. It can be quite difficult to understand all the info that is being thrown at you. Lori's inspiring words and sound advice have helped me better communicate with my loved ones and healthcare providers. The added humor helps make this book impossible to put down.

Chronically Happy is one of the most useful chronic illness books I have ever read. It can be quite difficult to understand all the info that is being thrown at you. Lori's inspiring words and sound advice have helped me better communicate with my loved ones and healthcare providers. The added humor helps make this book impossible to put down.