Welcome back to the Inspire to Rise and Shine podcast, where we explore the power of resilience, the beauty of giving back and the human spirit's ability to thrive in the face of the greatest challenges.

I'm Tracey, your host, and today's episode is very close to my heart.

Today I want to share a story, not just any story, but my story.

It's my journey of hardship, triumph and unwavering hope.

It's a story that's still unfolding every single day as I continue to fight my own health battles.

Yet in the midst of it all, I find strength and keep moving forward, not just for myself, but for others too.

This is a story about how high and how, no matter the challenges, we all have the ability to rise, shine and inspire.

This is my fight against chronic health issues.

For those of you who don't know, I've been battling chronic health conditions, including having a urostomy and dealing with the unpredictable pains of fibromyalgia the fatigue, the pain and the mount-submountable symptoms that come with fibromyalgia, on top of obviously being a cancer survivor and a chronic health warrior.

And many other things going on, but too many to just mention here.

Anyway, today, some days it feels like life has stacked the odds against me.

There have been moments when my pain has been unbearable, when exhaustion from the simplest task becomes overwhelming and when the weight of those conditions feels too much to carry.

But despite this, I wake up every single morning with a purpose, because these conditions are part of my life, because if it wasn't for me having these conditions, I wouldn't be here to tell you this story and, hopefully, inspire and help others.

Of course, these don't define me.

What defines me is how I choose to respond, and I choose to keep moving forward with love, determination and the firm belief that I can make a difference in this world.

So inspire to rise and shine is the heart of my mission.

It's my new found.

Well, when I say new, it's been ongoing within me all my life, but it's my new heart of the mission right now, and that's where my foundation, inspire to Rise and Shine, comes in.

I found this with a vision of creating a community where kindness reigns supreme, where people can come together to support one another and where those facing their own battles, whether with health, personal challenges or mental wellness, can come and find a beacon of hope.

This foundation has been my anchor.

It's the reason I keep marching forward with gusto and even when my body tells me to stop, which is every single day, and through this work I've been able to reach out to others who, like me, are facing obstacles that feel insurmountable, and we've shown them that together we can lift each other up through random acts of kindness, fundraising events, creating spaces for support, being there for one another.

It's all part of the mission.

It's all about spreading the love in this world and, as you probably all know aware of me now if you followed my podcast and my story I love to give back, and if there's one thing I've learned from this journey is that giving back can be the most powerful medicine.

For years, I've lived to support others, whether through my charity work, my random acts of kindness or just being there for someone in the darkest hour, and in doing so, I found that the energy of kindness is a cycle.

What we give returns to us tenfold.

I've seen the faces of people I've helped right, light up with hope, and that light is enough to fuel my spirit, even on the darkest and the hardest days for me.

The ongoing battle whoo, why do I start?

But make no mistake, this journey isn't easy.

My health challenges are real and the toll they take on me is a constant.

Chronic conditions like mine don't just go away.

There are times when I've had to stop and recharge and to admit that I am only human and that I need to rest too, but what matters is that I keep going.

I found my strength in vulnerability and the courage to keep moving, even when I don't have all the answers.

I keep moving Because if I can help just one person if not many more which is obviously why my foundation is growing and created If I can help one person to become the person they should be and don't let chronic and serious illnesses stand in the way, that is my job right now.

That is my purpose in life, and as I continue this journey journey I'm reminded daily of the strength within us all.

Every person has their own battles.

We all know that and, whether visible or invisible, it's not how we face them that defines our story.

But my story is one of rising despite the pain, shining despite the challenge and lifting others.

As I climb to anybody out there listening who is struggling, I want you to know you are not alone.

We rise by lifting others and together we can rise even brighter.

The work of in spite of rise and shine is just beginning, and I'm grateful to every one of you who has been part of this journey with me.

Let's keep going Together.

We can face whatever life throws at us, still find ways to spread love and hope and kindness.

After all, no matter what, we will rise and shine.

Thank you for listening and I hope to make sure that I have a special little conclusion for you.

Hopefully this comes from me with my caring touch.

It's about rising and shining together.

Obviously, we need to keep going together.

We can face whatever life throws at us and still find ways to spread love, hope and kindness.

After all, that's no matter what, we will rise and shine.

As I continue this journey, I'm reminded dearly of the strength within us all.

Every person has their own battles within us, so anybody out there is struggling.

You're not In this world.

Every day is a new chapter chapter, should I say.

Some days, the weight of us feels too much and it's easy to lose sight of the beauty that exists within us all, in a smile, a helping hand or simply in the act of being kind.

But I want to leave you with this thought it is okay to stop, it is okay to breathe, it is okay to take five or ten minutes out or whatever long time you need to have that little cuppa, to have that little pampering session, to have that moment, it's okay to go to a show, an event, a theatre, your local coffee shop.

Give yourself that, just get yourself ready whenever you get through the strength.

That's what I do now, not every day because it's impossible for me, but for many days because, guess what, once you've done that, the happiness hormones do flow through.

It's all about keeping the brain focused and active and having a purpose.

It's all about keeping the brain focused and active and having a purpose.

But what if, instead of seeing our struggles as obstacles, we saw them as invitations.

Invitations to connect with others, to find meaning in the mess and to share our stories so that everybody and someone else may find hope in theirs?

Life can be heavy.

We all know it's very hard some days, especially when the pain and the fatigue is there.

But when we carry the weight together, we make it lighter.

By sharing kindness we create ripples that extend far beyond our pain.

So as we step away from the episode, ask yourself what can I do to make the world a little brighter today?

It doesn't have to be grand.

It could be a small gesture, a kind word or just making a moment to care for yourself.

In these simple acts, we rise and we shine, and in these moments of grace, we shine and inspire.

Thank you for walking this path with me.

I'm here with you, cheering you on.

Believe in you, in your and in your strength.

I remind you that, no matter what you're facing, there's always light to be found.

Let's rise together, let's shine together.

Let's keep inspiring, caring and supporting one another, because that's how we change the world.

Until the next time, remember, you are enough, you are loved and you have the power to create a ripple of kindness that reaches further than you will ever know.

Thank you for listening, thank you for taking the time out of your day, and I hope you can feel inspired to rise and shine.

Have a wonderful day.