The amount of times people have told me that I need to be out in the field not working from home. And the amount of times people have suggested other jobs, and asked me if I actually like working from home, as if I’m not successful as if they are judging me.
I’ve been working from home for over a year now, and whilst my Social Work degree has no use for my work from home role, I love working from home. As a chronic illness and chronic pain sufferer, this has been the best thing for me. Its absolutely okay to work from home.
Do I wish sometimes that I can work in the field, absolutely. Do I hate the fact that my health limits my abilities of what I’m capable to do, fuck yes. But if I were to have a full time job as a Social Worker, I would make myself sick, to the point where I wouldn’t be able to work at all.
I hate the fact that I’m unwell, I don’t deserve it, I have done absolutely nothing in my whole life where I should deserve it. But that doesn’t mean I can’t follow a different path. Working from home allows me to manage my REAL full time job.
Yes I classify my chronic illness’ as a full time job. Why you ask? because it’s a job in itself managing my symptoms and avoiding triggers, its not easy. People don’t realise that us spoonies already have a job, a job that doesn’t pay. So why on earth would I want a full time job, yes I need to live, but I can live comfortably working part time at the moment, and things are only going to get better, so eventually I will work more in the future.
Its so important for people to realise that working from home, or part time is not a failure but more so a success. There is no need for judgement, or being told what we should or shouldn’t do. Because there’s no way in hell someone who doesn’t experience the pain I do would be able to keep up if they all of a sudden started experiencing my pain. I fight, I will keep fighting, I am a success, and I am strong.
Chronically Bittersweet 