Naperville Sun Blog Log Article

Some of you are already aware that a journalist from the Naperville Sun contacted me about a month after I began this blog asking if I would participate in an interview for an article for the Blog Log part of the newspaper. I gladly accepted! One of my main goals in writing in a public forum is to increase awareness about Behcet's Disease. In addition, I want to utilize my combined skills as a doctor of clinical psychologist and my experiences living witha chronic illness to reach out and assist others. I really want to get involved in motivational speaking, although I am not sure how to go about getting started with this. If anyone has any information regarding ways to start motivational speaking, please contact me and let me know! Given the prevalence of social media and the way our lives revolve around it presently, I believe blogging has the potential to reach large amounts of people in a quick and easy manner.

I am thrilled that the article will run in the Naperville Sun tomorrow, January 18th, 2013. It can currently be located online by clicking on the following link:

http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/lifestyles/17612654-423/blog-log-the-dragonfly-project-by-mandi.html

The previous title of the article was "Overcoming Adversity with a Positive Spin," but it was recently changed to the name of my blog. I really liked the title that the wonderful journalist, Joy Davis, had come up with!

I am excited that things are starting to look up for me. This is a significant springboard for me to begin finding a purpose in my life that includes becoming an advocate and a voice for people with rare diseases and other myriad challenges that people navigate on a daily basis. As with my passion for helping others by being a doctor of psychology, I want to inspire others to remain positive even when faced with difficult life situations. In addition to the blog, the article, and motivational speaking, I have a strong desire to write a book that details my experiences and life story. Everyone has an important story to tell and you never know how that story may influence the lives of others.

I want to personally thank everyone of you who takes time out of your busy day to read this blog. It is very important to me and to my identity. When my entire identity was removed since the onset of this disease, I am now forced to find a new identity and new meaning in my life. I appreciate your ability to keep your minds open to learn new things. Learning about rare diseases and passing the information on to people you know is important. Knowledge is important and can have power when utilized in the right way. Again, thank you for reading and if there are any questions you want me to answer or specific information you ar einterested in knowing, please do not hesitate to comment on here. Should you want to contact me privately, please email me at mandifessler@gmail.com and I will get back to you in a timely fashion. Have a wonderful day, and STAY POSITIVE!