The notion that one person is defined  by their medical diagnosis is simply offensive. You are not a disease, nor an illness. You are a person, that happens to be diagnosed with a “disease” of some sort, but that does not make you the disease. You are a person, with a personality, with strengths and weaknesses. YOU have a character, your circumstances might have influenced your character, but Oh Dear Lord never mistake that with who YOU are.

Growing up with Crohn’s disease, many people have defined me as the little sick girl, and that has offended me every single time. I never saw myself as “sick”. I am talkative and energetic, cocky at times, fun, persistent and can be annoying, some may consider me stubborn. I love life, and love to live, I share a love and hate relationship with food, and love watching shows.

I am Not the girl who has Crohn’s, and I am certainly Not the bag/pouch I have and wear. I have a name and personality, and that is who I am.

Every one of us has undoubtedly been through ups and downs in our lives, the ups gives us hope that everything is and will be alright, and the downs are always what teaches us lessons in life. We should embrace and accept every phase, and learn how to love and forgive ourselves, and accept every challenge we go through, knowing that there is light at the end of every tunnel. We should always remind ourselves that the grass is never greener on the other side, it is simply our perception of it that makes it greener, because every person has something they are dealing with that you may never know about.

I won’t deny that my illness has shaped a part of who I am today, and I’ve always considered it a blessing in disguise. I learnt how to become patient, and it certainly taught me how to never take anything for granted, I’ve learnt to have empathy instead of pity, and it undoubtedly has given me strength.

So please repeat this with me: I am Me, and Not my Disease!