Notice: Contest is closed for judging - November 1, 2005. If you have stumbled in after that, and do understand your loved one's limitations or illness, I welcome your comments. Who knows? I may decide to reward entries again after the first of the year.



I Get It!


After creating

ID: 1012792   (Rated: ASR) Yes, I Can Smile and Still Be in Pain!  Disabled? Chronic illness/chronic pain? Write a letter to friends and family. by Kenzie

– a contest strictly for those who are disabled or with chronic illnesses or chronic pain – I was asked whether or not a friend or relative who really understood his/her loved one’s pain could enter that contest. The answer was no, since the contest was created for a specific purpose – to explain our illnesses to friends and relatives.


However, I realized that some friends and relatives already do get it. So this contest is for anyone who is close to someone who is ill and who does understand.


If someone close to you is disabled or has a chronic illness, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, depression or any number of what can be "silent illnesses," then this contest is for you.



The rules are similar to the other contest:


1) You must be close to someone with a disability, chronic illness, chronic pain, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, chronic fatigue, or any other illness or syndrome that hampers life.


2) Your entry must be written in the form of a letter, but you have two choices in that letter:

It can be a letter to your loved one, explaining what you’ve learned about his/her illness and that you do understand.

Or, it can be a letter to the general population, explaining your loved one’s illness, so that they can understand better.


3) The first ten entries will receive 100 gift points just for entering.


4) The deadline for this contest is October 15, 2005.

Notice: Contest has been extended through November 1. Where are all those folks who wrote to me asking for this contest???


5) After submitting your own letter, please read at least five other submissions from this contest or from "Yes, I Can Smile and Still Be in Pain!" . Make another entry, indicating which other entries you’ve read and reviewed.


6) Please keep postings and submissions to E and ASR ratings.




Winners will be announced on December 1, 2005, giving me plenty of time to review this contest and "Yes, I Can Smile and Still Be in Pain!" .