To read part 1 of Laurie’s #NewYearNewYou goals, click here.

I recently became a state chapter leader for the Dysautonomia Support Network.

I love it and it’s really helped me to refocus my life and to help others to do the same. We’re kicking off a New Year, New You campaign focusing around empowerment, inspiration and strength for 2016. We’re also switching over from being solely based on Facebook to the health focused social media outlet Inspire. From Inspire’s website:

“Inspire was created with the belief that patients and caregivers need a safe and secure place to support and connect with one another. We help Inspire members find relevant clinical trials by inviting them to connect with researchers seeking qualified participants. We offer health-focused research services to companies that wish to learn about patients and their experiences with medical conditions and treatments.”

This transition, we believe, will help our members thrive in more ways than one. We will still have our state chapter support groups on Facebook so you will always be able to connect locally. It’s so important to have face to face meetings and socialization.

Being ill can be very isolating, So I am honored to pay it forward and help others.

If you’re looking for a group to meet up within your state please visit the Dysautonomia Support Network for more information and to find a chapter nearest you. We recently held a Mingle and Jingle event and it was a blast!

I got to tell Santa that all I wanted for Christmas this year was a cure for Dysautonomia!

Another issue I’m tackling this year that really messes with my self-confidence is the inability to work.

I feel horrible about it and like less of a person because of the way I’m treated. I have always been extremely independent and not being able to work takes a toll on me. I’ve tried to apply for disability and have been denied three times because Dysautonomia is so misunderstood.

It’s heartbreaking and feels like a slap in the face when people ask:

“Why can’t you just get a job?”

Because I don’t have a paying “job”, society deems that I’m lazy. In reality, I am far from it. I advocate, volunteer as much as I can and I am always helping others. I work my butt off trying to spread awareness and making change for Dysautonomia.

I’ve been looking at different ways I could earn money and work from home throughout the years but nothing really jumped out at me until just a couple days ago.

A friend of mine had a party that she invited me to via Facebook. I have to admit I was hesitant to look at first. The number of events and parties on Facebook gets overwhelming at times, especially when money is tight. I gave in, looked at the products and was wowed.

Before I became too ill to work long hours, I started my dream business as an event planner and made custom invitations. Most anyone that knows me calls me Martha Stewart or Betty Crocker because I live and breathe it, or as they say “I sweat glitter”. I’m all about customization, organization and I love creating things.

When I saw the products on the website for the party, I knew instantly that I could do this and thrive at it. I also loved what the company stands for. The company is Thirty-One Gifts and is derived from Proverbs 31, which describes the attributes and the importance of a “Virtuous Woman.”

Their mission is simple. To celebrate others for who they are, giving them the support and self-esteem needed to lead a purposeful, thriving life. They also give back and help with their amazing charity Thirty-One Gives.

I’m so excited to start this new journey and take back some control over my life. I’m also donating a portion of all my commissions to Dysautonomia! Please check out My Thirty-one page and read about me for more information and how you can help fight Dysautonomia with me.

I hope that my goals for the New Year give hope to my fellow spoonies out there, and inspire them to make a change needed in their life.

Never give up on yourself. Follow your dreams no matter how big or small, and take steps to make it happen. You are not your illness, you’re beautiful and so much more than it!

Till next time and always remember to #thinkB4Ujudge. Laurie

What are your goals for 2016? Find us on Twitter with the #NewYearNewYou hashtag and don’t forget to share!

Stay tuned for more articles to come by Laurie who is struggling with Postural Orthostatic Tachyardia (POTS), Hypovolemia, Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS) and Orthostatic Hypotension (OH). She is very involved in the Dysautonomia community through The Dysautonomia Project, Standing Up to POTS, the Dysautonomia Advocacy Foundation and the Dysautonomia Support Network, to name a few!