This session, originally scheduled for June 23, has been moved to June 30 due to Keeper illness. If you signed up for June 23, you have automatically been signed up for the rescheduled session on June 30.

Some of us are navigating chronic illness, pain, or disability. Some of us are navigating sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or values that shape how we move through the world. Many of us are carrying those experiences at the same time.

This Space is for people living at those intersections.

We’ll make room for conversations about finding providers who understand illness and provide affirming care. We’ll talk about the cost of ongoing medical care and the barriers that can create. We’ll explore what it means to seek care in environments where safety and values are a concern.

We’ll also hold space for the realities of navigating systems that do not always respect our pronouns or relationships. For some, illness is already difficult for others to believe. Adding reactions to our SOGIE or values can create another layer to carry. For many, these experiences are shaped by multiple layers of marginalization.

Come as you are. Be seen, heard, and supported by people who understand the complexity of living at these intersections.

Vibe: Rest without apology. Truth without proof.

This Space is for people living with chronic pain, chronic illness, or the blurry in-between. It’s for when you’re tired of being doubted, tired of being strong, and just… tired. Here, you don’t have to convince anyone of what you live with. You don’t have to downplay it or over-perform to be believed.

🫂 THIS SPACE IS FOR YOU IF:

• You’ve lost jobs, friendships, or parts of yourself to pain or illness.
• You’re managing symptoms and managing the disbelief of others.
• You’re tired of suggestions. You want solidarity, not solutions.
• You want accommodations, and also don’t want to be seen as “less.”
• You say “I’m fine” when you’re not, because it’s easier.
• You follow every health routine—or ignore them—because both are survival.
• You’re stuck between wanting a diagnosis and fearing what it could mean.
• You’re just looking for one hour where you don’t have to pretend you’re OK.

In this Space, we honor boundaries, rest, rage, and contradiction. We don’t require “silver linings” or progress updates. We believe that grief, joy, shame, and relief all have room here.

💬 TOPICS WE MAY EXPLORE:

• Support Without Fixing
• Asking for Accommodations
• Grief for the “Before” Self
• Medical Trauma and Mistrust
• Invisible Illness
• Wellness Culture Disillusionment
• Coping Trade-offs
• Needing a Break From Illness Talk
• Being Seen Fully

💚 WHY THIS SPACE MATTERS:

Living with chronic illness or pain can make the world feel like it’s not built for you. You navigate every day carrying weight others can’t see—constantly adapting, advocating, and enduring. That’s why this Space matters. It gives you permission to just be.

You can join with your camera off, mid-flare, horizontal, silent. You can show up as you are: sick, uncertain, angry, lonely, laughing, grieving. This is your hour to not be productive. To not teach anyone. To not perform wellness. To be more than a diagnosis—and more than a body in pain.

This Space is held twice a month on Tuesday's. Tell a Spoonie. See ya'll soon!

Please reach out to Claire if you need any accomodations to participate in this Space: claire@totem.org.