Welcome to the sixth edition of The ChILLness Chronicles — your monthly dose of community, care, and chronically chill energy.

This July, we’re turning the volume all the way up in honor of Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate our identities, advocate louder, and remind the world that disability isn’t a flaw, it’s a fact of life. And yes, we’re still thriving. The disabled life chose me (hello, multiple sclerosis) but I love it here.

In this issue, we’re spotlighting a true difference-maker: Tiffany Yu — disability rights advocate, founder of Diversability, and the powerful voice behind The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. You’ve seen her on stages, in your feed, and in your local bookstores. Now meet her in our Thank God I’m Poppin’ feature.

This month’s vibe? Pride. Power. Possibility. Let’s get into it! But before we do …

Comment at the bottom of this newsletter or respond to the email and tell me: What does Disability Pride mean to you? Let us know how you’re celebrating your disabled identity, hyping up your homies, or pushing back against ableism this month. Your story deserves space, too.

July Love Note: For the One Who Sees Me Whole

Chronic illness can shift the dynamics of a relationship. There are doctor’s appointments instead of date nights. Fatigue where there used to be fireworks. Sometimes there’s a heaviness that love alone can’t lift. But somehow, love still rises.

And when it’s real — when it’s rooted in respect, patience, and care — it evolves.

Ours did. And it’s still evolving.

On July 15, we celebrated not just our wedding anniversary, but 12 whole years of choosing each other — through growth spurts, grief, new dreams, and the daily work of partnership. This journey with MS has been full of unexpected turns, but one constant has been Daryl’s presence: steady, soft, and strong.

If you’re living with a chronic illness and are lucky enough to have a partner who’s also your support partner, confidant, and hype person all in one, I encourage you to take a moment to honor that love this month.

Below are a few ways to celebrate them.

How to Honor the Partner Who Carries You Through

• Say it out loud: Don’t wait for a special moment. Let them know they matter today.

• Celebrate the quiet love: Light a candle. Cook together. Rewatch your favorite show. Find joy in the ordinary.

• Let them rest too: Support partners need space to exhale. Encourage it.

• Hold space for their feelings: It’s your illness, but it’s their journey too. Check in on them.

• Speak their love language: Even if energy is low, the little things count. Intentionality matters.

• Choose presence over perfection: You don’t have to get it all right. Just keep returning to one another.

Chronic illness may write a different love story, but it doesn’t make it any less beautiful. If anything, it teaches you what love actually looks like when life gets real.

So here’s to us, Daryl. Thank you for loving me with your whole heart — even when mine is overwhelmed, even when my legs feel tingly, even when my brain is foggy.

You are my home, my rest, and my rhythm. I’m forever grateful. I love you more than words can convey.

To all my chronically chill thrivers: Love looks different here, and that’s okay. Just don’t forget to notice it when it shows up.

Meet Tiffany Yu

@imtiffanyyu
https://tiffanyyu.com
Los Angeles, CA

Give us the highlights — who you are, what you’re into, and how does your disability fit into your story?

I’m a creative entrepreneur and author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto. I founded Diversability, an entirely disabled-run and led community business dedicated to elevating disability pride. I became disabled at 9 after a car accident that also took my dad’s life. My experiences as a disabled person fuel my work as an advocate, educator, and storyteller. Through my book, talks, and platforms, I’m committed to creating a world where disabled people are truly seen, heard, and valued. Along the way, I’m passionate about finding joy, building community, and fostering healing.

How does your disability manifest? What are your main symptoms?

My right arm is paralyzed, which means it doesn’t move or work like my left arm does. This happened because of a car accident when I was a kid. My right hand is smaller and can’t do all the things my left hand can, but it’s still part of me and I’m pretty good at figuring out ways to get stuff done one-handed, like climbing, typing, and even putting my hair up (sometimes it takes a little extra creativity!).

What’s your wellness mantra?

Rest is required.

What’s a small victory you’ve celebrated recently, and how did it make you feel?

I recently competed in my first international para climbing competition as part of Team USA’s Para Climbing National Development Team and placed in the top 10. I only started climbing regularly this January, so it felt incredible to see how much progress I’ve made in my disabled body. Now, I’m dreaming big, maybe even competing in the LA28 Paralympics!

What’s your “daily non-negotiable” for staying in tune with your health and happiness?

Getting enough sleep. During my investment banking days, I used to run on just a few hours a night, thinking hustle meant sacrificing rest. Now, I know that sleep is essential, not just for my health, but for my creativity, joy, and overall well-being. Prioritizing rest is my way of honoring both my body and my boundaries.

Who or what inspires you to keep going, even when things feel impossible?

My fellow disabled advocates and leaders, who continue to use their voices and platforms to push for change. We are creative, generative, and always reimagining what’s possible in a world that wasn’t built with us in mind.

What makes you poppin’?

I often think about 9-year-old Tiffany and try to embody and celebrate her sense of childlike wonder. I feel awe for the journey she’s been on over the past almost 30 years. To honor her, I intentionally make space for what I call P-F-J: play, fun, and joy. That’s actually part of why I moved to LA; it’s my real-life playground! When life feels heavy, I turn to the little joys: a perfect boba order, a view that stops me in my tracks, or saying yes to a spontaneous hangout. Joy keeps me poppin’.

🛍️ Product of the Month: Rare Breed Collection

Stand out in style — and in solidarity — with our Rare Breed Collection. This capsule celebrates the tenacity and spirit of those living with rare diseases through hand-crafted designs that spotlight strength and resilience. Rare ≠ alone.

We named this collection Rare Breed as a double entendre — to honor those with rare diseases and uplift the unmatched energy of the chronically ill community. This isn’t just fashion. It’s visibility, pride, and purpose.

Each piece (hoodie, crewneck, tee, crop top, unisex shorts, and women’s shorts) features butterflies in pink, green, blue, and purple — the official Rare Disease Day colors — spreading unity, awareness, and hope.

📚 Relevant Reads: July 2025

🎥 Currently Watching

📅 July 2025 Calendar

• ❤️💛🤍💙💚 Disability Pride Month

• 💙 International Alopecia Month for Women

• 🧘🏾‍♀️ National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

• 🎗️ Sarcoma Awareness Month

• 🍦 20: National Ice Cream Day

• 🧠 22: World Brain Day

• 💜 23: World Sjogren’s Day

• 🧖🏽‍♀️ 24: International Self-Care Day

• 👠 25: International Red Shoe Day

• 👫 26: National Aunt and Uncle Day

• ♿️ 26: National Disability Independence Day

• ☮️ 26: One Voice Day

• 💁🏾‍♀️ 27: National Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

• 🌳 27: National Tree Day

• 💚 28: World Hepatitis Day

• 🏞️ 28: World Nature Conservation Day

• 💄 29: National Lipstick Day

• 👯‍♀️ 30: International Day of Friendship

• 📖 30: Paperback Book Day

• 🥑 31: National Avocado Day

• 🎶 31: Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day

💌 Friendly Reminder

✨ The ChILLness Chronicles is a cozy corner of the internet, created with love for the chronically chill and their cherished ones. Every post is a gentle reminder that life doesn’t stop with a diagnosis — you can still create, dream, and thrive on your own terms. And, of course, community makes the journey lighter. If this space speaks to you, consider subscribing to receive new posts and support this work — then share this edition with a friend who could use a little extra ChILL in their life. 💛