Message from Jamie Holloway
For eleven years I have been learning to live well with chronic illness. It hasn’t been perfect. I haven’t always been successful at achieving my goals. It has been a chaotic, messy, learning experience that has made my life adventurous. I have learned a lot about how complicated, dangerous & even emotionally, spiritually & mentally draining living with several diagnoses is.
I am asked by my many doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends, family, strangers & store clerks how I have maintained my good attitude despite the many medical adventures, I have lived through, that might have left me feeling bitter, angry, broken & unforgiving. All I can say is, I made decisions & I followed through. One decision was to fight for me. Jesus fought for me so why shouldn’t I?
I also realized, I didn’t want my crawl through lifelong sickness, just for my own benefit. I wanted to be a wellness advocate & help those who are in the same predicament. I wanted to be one of the helpers that Mr. Roger’s speaks about. I do this by reminding myself that my attitude can help me navigate through the dark channels of chronic illness.
I am determined to say thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregivers, anyone who helps me. Showing gratitude reminds you that your life is not over just because you are sick. I say thank you & I mean it. I also decided that I didn’t want to become idle. I want to actually accomplish something, so I started writing.
I believe communicating my pain, needs, & being willing to listen as part of communication allows me to be able to be in a good relationship with my team. I have a good support system of family, friends, doctors, nurses, & caregivers who allow me to achieve many of the goals I have made. I am able to live in my home & able to keep on breathing, writing, reading & loving on my boy, Nicholas.
Since 2017 I have been an owner of Wellness Works NW. I serve as the Research Manager. I am a lead writer & my column is called Chasing Wellness.
Book Reviews
I love reading. This is one thing that keeps me busy and not feeling sorry for myself because I sometimes feel useless in my condition. I have enjoyed every book I have read, even if some of them weren’t my favorite. I enjoy the process of reading and reviewing books.
Read Jamie’s Latest Blog Posts…
Book Review: Here For It
“Here for It” by Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston, a book about friendship. Authentic, complicated, and beautiful friendships. I was not sure if I was going to like this book, but it had a great Queso recipe. I am glad I read it. I like how the chapters were structured...
Book Review: Devotions
When I first read Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese” I fell in love with her work. I was 25 at the time and living a painful life. Her poems, balm to my soul during painful moments in my life. For my birthday, my sister/friend Summer gifted me “Devotions”. Her latest...
Book Review: The Ark and The Dove
Jill Eileen Smith's latest novel is on Noah’s Ark but done through Noah’s Wife, daughter in laws, and son's perspective. I enjoyed this novel, like I have of the others Smith has written on Bible stories done through the woman’s perspective. I can tell Smith did a lot...
Book Review: The Seamstress of Acadie
I usually love historical novels and I was excited when I first received “The Seamstress of Acadie” by Laura Frantz. I just could not get into this book. I hate speaking unkindly about a book. I am not sure if it was the story or the writing. It just didn’t...
Wellness Focus Word For 2024
Happy New Year! A new year has begun and it is time for me to pick a new focus word for this year. I chose the word Wellness! Last year at this time I was still in the hospital fighting an infection in my right leg that started from a wound I got. They still didn’t...
Focus Word 2023: Healing and Peace
Whoa! I never thought 2023 would never end. This year has been the most challenging, most life changing chapter of my life. During Christmas and New Year’s I was in the hospital fighting an infection in my right leg. Got out, then ended up going back in, in March...
Book Review: Shadows at Dusk
I enjoyed reading Shadows at Dusk by Elizabeth Goddard. For one, it is a mystery set in Alaska and Montana. Second, it had a close sibling relationship, where a brother looked for his lost sister. I will let you discover what happened to her. You will not be...
Book Review: Against the Wind
I enjoy reading books with strong women characters. Again the Wind by Amanda Cabot is one of these books. Louisa, is a doctor during a time period when women were not respected or valued or even had jobs outside of the home. The storyline is really good and it...
Book Review: On Moonberry Lake
“On Moonberry Lake” by Holly Varni is about a woman named Cora who does not have a good relationship with her mother. Her mom dies and leaves her, she believes her grandparents lodge at Moonberry Lake with condition that she has to live there for a year. Turns...
Book Review: Lost and Found
“Lost and Found” is about a man name Micah who is head over heels in love with a girl who runs away from their Amish community. And another girl who is in love with Micah. The two girls are sisters. This story is a love triangle that is painful and has a good...