Holiday Reflections: Chronic Illness and the Unseen Family We Choose in Hardship

Speaker 1
0:03

Welcome

to

Indobattery
,

where

I

share

about

my

endometriosis

and

adenomyosis

story

and

continue

learning

along

the

way
.

This

podcast

is

not

a

substitute

for

professional

medical

advice

or

diagnosis
,

but

a

place

to

equip

you

with

information

and

a

sense

of

community
,

ensuring

you

never

have

to

face

this

journey

alone
.

Join

me

as

I

navigate

the

ups

and

downs

and

share

stories

of

strength
,

resilience

and

hope
.

While

navigating

the

world

of

endometriosis

and

adenomyosis
,

from

personal

experience

to

expert

insights
,

I'm

your

host
,

elana
,

and

this

is

Indobattery

charging

our

lives

when

endometriosis

drains

us
.

Welcome

back

to

Indobattery
.

Thanks

for

joining

me

today

at

the

table
.

Grab

a

cup

of

coffee

or

cup

of

tea

or

something

that

just

suits

your

soul
.

Recently

I

heard

a

message

and

it

was

talking

about

family

and

it

had

quoted

this

article

from

Psychology

Today
.

In

the

article

said

this

Close

family

relationships

afford

a

person

better

health

and

well-being
,

as

well

as

lower

rates

of

depression

and

disease

throughout

a

lifetime
.

Speaker 1
1:12

But

in

many

families
,

getting

along

isn't

a

given
.

The

interaction

between

various

members

is

at

the

core

of

these

complicated

dynamics
.

We

may

joke

about

the

stereotypical

sources

of

disharmony

the

obnoxious

uncle

and

the

newer

due

well

son

but

factors

like

environment

and

sibling

rivalries

do

emerge

when

considering

the

viability

and

stability

of

family

networks
.

Nowadays
,

society

accepts

and

condones

the

many

types

and

forms

of

family
.

The

single

parent

household
,

for

example
,

was

frowned

upon

as

a

travesty

of

civil

society
,

but

22

million

children

live

with

a

single

parent
,

more

of

whom

are

women
.

The

only

child

family

was

also

seen

as

a

sad

and

lonely

configuration
.

However
,

these

children

are

hailed

as

creative

and

resilient

and

doing

just

fine
.

We

also

have

blended

households
,

with

a

mashup

of

step

relatives

and

brothers
,

sisters
,

fathers
,

mothers

and

whoever

else

comes

with

them
.

The

amygrelination

of

relations

is

not

easy

on

these

members
.

The

question

of

discipline

and

bias

and

rules

come

into

play

with

more

heartache

than

simplicity
.

In

addition
,

there

are

families

that

we

choose
.

A

grandparent

or

an

aunt

may

be

the

head

of

the

household
,

or

perhaps

a

couple

chooses

not

to

have

children
,

and

they

have

the

right

to

call

themselves

a

family

as

well
.

And

don't

forget

close

friends

are

sometimes

way

closer

to

us

than

any

family

members

can

ever

be
.

Speaker 1
2:41

In

the

journey

of

life
,

we

often

find

ourselves

surrounded

by

different

forms

of

family
.

Unlike

the

article

said
,

in

Psychology

Today
,

family

can

look

different

for

everyone
.

It

can

be

biological
,

chosen
,

messy
,

and

sometimes

you

may

not

even

like

the

certain

members

of

your

family
,

but

what

holds

it

all

together

is

the

deep

love

and

connection

that

outweighs

the

differences
,

and

the

same

can

be

said

for

the

Indo

family
.

We

are

a

diverse

group

brought

together

by

a

common

thread

the

shared

experience

of

endometriosis
.

Our

family

is

filled

with

warriors

who

face

challenges

and

triumphs

in

everything

in

between
.

It's

a

community

where

our

support

knows

no

bounds

and

understanding

is

a

language

we

all

speak

fluently
.

Family

in

the

endometriosis

community

goes

beyond

blood

ties
.

It

includes

friends

who

understand

your

pain

without

words
,

partners

who

hold

your

hand

through

the

toughest

of

times
,

and

healthcare

professionals

who

tirelessly

work

together

for

better

solutions
.

It's

a

family

where

empathy

is

our

common

ground

and

messy
,

complicated

moments

are

met

with

unwavering

support
.

Speaker 1
3:44

Just

like

any

other

family
,

the

Indo

family

isn't

always

perfect
.

We

may

not

always

agree
,

and

there

might

be

moments

when

frustrations

and

fatigue

set

in
,

but

what

remains

consistent

is

the

profound

bond

that

bonds

us

together
,

a

bond

formed

through

shared

experiences
,

struggles

and

the

indomitable

spirit

to

keep

us

going
.

As

we

approach

the

holiday

season
,

we

want

to

take

a

moment

to

express

our

heartfelt

gratitude

to

each

other

and

every

member

of

the

Indo

family
.

Thank

you

for

being

there

for

one

another
,

for

sharing

your

stories

and

for

standing

strong

in

the

face

of

adversity
.

You've

made

this

community

a

haven

of

warmth

and

understanding
.

Speaker 1
4:24

My

hope

for

you

this

holiday

season

is

that

you

can

find

some

time

to

spend

with

those

who

truly

fuel

you

and

fill

your

cup
,

those

who

charge

your

battery

and

give

you

grace

when

you

need

it

the

most
.

My

hope

for

you

in

this

coming

year

and

for

this

season

is

that

you

can

give

your

body

the

rest

that

it

needs
.

Take

some

time

to

have

a

drink
,

just

laxadasically

sitting

around

a

fire
.

My

wish

for

you

this

holiday

season

is

that

you

can

find

joy

even

in

the

painful
,

hard

times
,

and

there

are

plenty

of

those
.

Life

is

not

easy
,

nor

is

living

with

a

life

within

the

Demetriosis
,

adnomiosis

or

PCOS
,

but

together
,

because

we

are

a

family
,

it's

so

much

better

and

it's

so

much

sweeter
.

So

to

all

my

listeners
,

whether

you're

a

seasoned

warrior

or

someone

newly

navigating

this

journey
,

we

wish

you

a

holiday

season

filled

with

love
,

comfort

and

moments

of

respite
.

May

you

find

the

strength

in

the

company

of

your

Indo

family

and

take

solace

in

the

fact

that

you're

not

alone
.

Speaker 1
5:27

Thank

you

for

being

part

of

the

Indo

battery

family

this

year
.

It's

been

an

amazing

year
,

full

of

triumphs
,

tears

and

sometimes

struggle

and
,

if

I'm

being

really

honest
,

there

have

been

times

where

I

wanted

to

give

up
.

But

this

family

has

propelled

me
,

just

in

those

moments

where

I

wanted

to

give

up
,

I

would

get

a

message

of

someone

saying

thank

you

so

much

for

this

episode
,

thank

you

so

much

for

what

you're

doing
,

because

it's

really

helped

me

and

those

messages

really

encouraged

me

and

pulled

me

through

some

of

the

moments

that

have

been

really

challenging
.

Thank

you

to

all

the

doctors

and

all

the

practitioners

and

all

the

people

that

have

joined

me

at

this

table
.

This

table

has

been

met

with

many

stories
,

a

lot

of

education

and

some

tears
,

and

I'm

grateful

for

those
.

It

has

formed

me

in

a

way

that

I

didn't

expect

or

know

I

needed
.

So

thank

you
.

Speaker 1
6:19

Thank

you

to

everyone

in

this

Demetriosis

family
.

This

world

is

better

because

we

do

it

together
.

It's

not

perfect

and
,

yes
,

it's

very

messy

at

times
,

but

we

do

it

together
.

Thank

you

for

being

part

of

this

Indo

battery

family

this

year
.

Until

next

time
,

keep

shining

your

light
,

supporting

one

another
,

and

remember

you

are

not

defined

by

your

struggles
,

but

by

the

strength

with

which

you

face

them
.

From

my

table

to

yours
,

happy

holidays
.