Whew … my heart is still full from We Are ILL’s Wellness Week(end) in Atlanta earlier this month. Being in a room created for my people — Black women living with chronic illnesses like MS, lupus, NMOSD — felt like stepping into a warm, familiar hug. That kind of affirmation is rare, and I don’t take a second of it for granted.

I also was able to sell my clothing and accessories at the event. Watching the women I had in mind when I designed every Poppy + Monarch piece shop, smile, and see themselves in the products was its own quiet blessing. They showed up, and the products showed out.

What I keep circling back to is this simple truth: When we make space for one another, we create space for possibility. And when we honor our bodies — however they move, heal, flare, or rest — we open the door for joy to find us. If you are reading this from your couch, your bed, your infusion chair, or anywhere your body needs you to be … I hope you carry this reminder into the month: You deserve softness, spaciousness, and community that sees you fully.

And I’ll say it with love. Keep pouring into your dreams the way you pour into everyone else. I’m holding you accountable right along with me.

Finish Lines and Fresh Starts

Not because everything went smoothly. Not because I had unlimited energy. Not because I wasn’t scared of messing it up. It’s here because I refused to let go of the thing I knew I was called to create.

Perseverance isn’t loud. It’s consistent. Living with chronic illness teaches you that the finish line rarely arrives as fast as you want it to. Our bodies have opinions. Our symptoms take detours. Our energy checks out early. And yet … somehow, we still rise, plot, pivot, and return to the work that matters to us.

This isn’t about proving anything. This isn’t about competition. This is about fulfilling a promise to yourself.

I want you to feel that. I want you to claim that. Because every step you take toward your vision — whether that’s writing a book, launching a business, setting boundaries, healing your relationship with your body, or simply getting through the week — is a declaration that you are worth the effort.

Make yourself proud. That’s the whole assignment. No scoreboard. No comparison. No pressure to explain your pace. Just you, honoring what you carry, and walking it all the way home.

Practical Ways to Persevere When You’re Chronically Ill

1. Break It Way Down. Big goals can feel overwhelming when you’re navigating illness. Break them into micro-steps. Celebrate each one.

2. Honor the Fluctuations. Some days you’ll have energy, some days you won’t. Plan for both. Flexibility is strategy, not failure.

3. Create Progress Rituals. Light a candle, play a certain playlist, wear your comfiest loungewear. Whatever helps signal “this is my time to focus.”

4. Document the Journey. Voice notes, journal entries, photo dumps. Track your progress so you can look back and witness your growth.

5. Design for Dips. Have a go-to action for flare or no-spoon days. Write one sentence, send one email, rest guilt-free. Progress doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

6. Build a “Finish Line” Folder. Collect notes, screenshots, inspiration, and kind words to remind you why you started, and why you’re not stopping.

7. Make Pride the Goal. The end result isn’t always the product. Sometimes it’s the pride of showing up for yourself, even when no one else sees it.

If you needed a sign to pick that dream back up, this is it. Finish lines don’t mean you’re done. They mean you’re ready for your next beginning. You’re building something sacred, even if the world can’t see it yet. And when that moment finally arrives? When the thing you’ve carried for so long steps into the light? Whew. You’re going to be so proud of yourself.

What have you been putting off that your future self will thank you for finishing?
Tell us in the comments below or respond to this email. I’m rooting for you. Always.

Meet Zenovia Wright

@zenoviawright
www.zenoviawright.com
Washington, DC

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

I help women create sustainable success while navigating some of life’s more challenging transitions — whether that’s a chronic illness diagnosis, a breakup, or a disruption to income — by offering strategy that’s rooted in our power to rebuild after our most broken moments and centering ourselves in the process.

Multiple Sclerosis didn’t stop my life — it showed me an opportunity to reframe it. Living with a chronic illness taught me to lead with compassion for my body, to hold firm boundaries in relationships, and to start each day with gratefulness. The shift wasn’t just personal — it became the foundation of my coaching work: The PrettyLife.

The PrettyLife isn’t about perfection — it’s about remembering who you are while rebuilding a life that feels aligned, nourishing, and true-to-you. It’s the life you define for yourself, rooted in your values, pace, capacity, and goals. It honors your healing, ambition, and need for rest.

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

Imagine two phone charging cords — one is new with no damage or exposed wires. The other is old and frayed, with wires showing.

Your nervous system — the wires in your brain and spine — is supposed to work sort of like that new phone charger. The nervous system sends messages from your brain to the rest of your body: letting you know when you’re hot, hungry, tired, or need the bathroom. When everything’s working, the message gets through without a problem. Just like a phone that charges when you plug it in.

But with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), some of those “wires” — or nerves — are damaged. That protective coating is missing in places, like on the damaged charging cord. So when my brain sends a signal, it doesn’t always make it where it’s supposed to. It might move slowly, get mixed up, or not go through at all — just like a phone connected to the damaged cord may not charge.

MS can look like a lot of different things. For me, it often means I need a lot of rest — and even after a full day of rest, I can still feel exhausted. Heat makes my symptoms worse. Some people with MS may have trouble walking or lose the ability to move completely. It really depends on how much damage there is, and where it happens.

It’s unpredictable — so I’ve had to learn to be flexible and take care of myself in new ways. Even when my body doesn’t work the way I want, I try to find ways to do the things that matter to me.

What’s your wellness mantra?

My wellness mantra centers around self-love. “Boundaries are essential to protecting peace, preserving power, and practicing self-care.”

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

A small victory I celebrated recently was saying yes to a Wellness Weekend retreat for Black women living with MS — and going solo. I didn’t know what to expect, who I’d meet, or if I’d feel at ease in the space. What I did know was that I wanted to be around others who “get it” and I needed to push myself outside my comfort zone to make that happen.

What I found was more than just information and inspiration (though there was plenty of that!). I made new friendships, expanded my village, and learned targeted strategies to support my patient journey — not just as someone living with MS, but as a whole person with a range of needs.

What’s the most unexpected lesson your chronic illness/disability has taught you?

I used to pride myself on having multiple “hustles,” getting less than six hours of sleep a night, and working constantly — for myself and an employer. Rest felt like a luxury I hadn’t earned, and slowing down definitely wasn’t on my bingo card — especially not before 40.

Being diagnosed with MS forced me to re-evaluate what was truly necessary to achieve my goals. One of the most unexpected lessons my chronic illness has taught me is the power of rest — not as a reward, but as a requirement. I’ve learned to protect my peace and prioritize self-care without guilt, while still showing up for my passions and purpose.

That shift has changed everything: how I show up in relationships, how I set boundaries, and how I manage life’s demands while doing my best to keep overwhelm at bay.

This version of me — centered, strategic, and empowered — is the result of learning to choose myself, again and again.

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

I’ve got a few non-negotiables that keep me going. My mornings start in devotion — scripture, prayer, meditation, and gratitude. Before emails, texts, and the day start pulling at me, I make space to get grounded.

If my energy allows, I’ll follow that with a workout to move my body and support my health. My evening non-negotiable is about slowing down and having sacred time with my husband — talking, watching a show, or just being still together.

These rituals remind me that rest, balance, and peace aren’t luxuries. They’re how I stay well and keep showing up for the life I’m building.

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

When things feel impossible, I think of my grandmother. She always pushed me to show up as the best version of myself — not for perfection, but with pride in who I am and belief in the gifts I have to offer the world. Her life lessons still shape how I work and how I lead.

I think of my niece, who watches me closely. She’s part cheerleader, part reality check, and 100% inspiration. Knowing she looks up to me reminds me to keep modeling what it means to move forward with honesty, care, and confidence.

I think of my parents — my biggest supporters and part of the reason I work so hard to build something lasting. Their love and belief in me keep me motivated to create a life where I can support them in the ways they’ve always supported me.

And I think of my husband — whose quiet strength, deep respect, and steady presence make space for me to be fully myself, even in the hard moments.

They’re my reminder that even on the hard days, I never walk alone.

What makes you poppin’?

What makes me poppin’ is that I’m a go-getter, period. If there’s a wall, I’m finding a way over it, around it, or through it, no matter how long it takes. I’ve proven that to myself over and over — through an MS diagnosis, healing after a toxic relationship, and walking away from a job I once prayed for. I don’t just bounce back. I build forward.

I believe in better — better seasons, better beginnings, better ways of being. I’m loyal, direct, and funny as hell when you need it most. I’ll pray with you, ride with you, and tell you the truth even when it’s uncomfortable.

Being ride-or-die and getting it done while seeing the humor in it all is what makes me poppin’.

🛍️ Product of the Month: This Is My MRI Sweater Crewneck

The This Is My MRI Sweater Crewneck is an extension of our MRISWTR™ product line. When you slip on this MRISWTR™, you’re giving yourself permission to smile through the scan. That phrase says, “Yes, I’m walking into that machine, but I’m bringing my own style, my own strength, and a sprinkle of sass.” ChILL One, you’ll love this sweater because it has sleeve openings on both arms, which mean seamless access to your “good” veins — no cold room frostbite, no awkward exposure, no bare-skin blues.

And, most importantly, it is metal‑free and medically safe for MRI use. This crewneck, and all products in The MRISWTR™ Collection, is crafted without any metal fasteners, zippers, snaps or metallic threads, so you can wear it confidently during your MRI — including when contrast dye is being injected into your vein. Wearing This Is My MRI Sweater means, “I’m showing up. I’m seen. And I’m still me.” Let your wardrobe do some of the heavy lifting while you focus on your strength.

📚 Relevant Reads: November 2025

🎥 Currently Watching

📅 November 2025 Calendar

• 🫂 Caregivers Appreciation Month

• ❤️‍🩹 Diabetes Awareness Month

• 🧠 National Alzheimers Disease Month

• 🤗 National Gratitude Month

• 👩🏾‍💻 National Novel Writing Month

• 🥜 National Peanut Butter Lovers Month

• 🪶 Native American Heritage Month

• 🎖️ Military Family Month

• 💜 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

• 👋🏾 21: World Hello Day

• 🚗 22: Go For a Ride Day

• 🍰 26: National Cake Day

• 🦃 27: Thanksgiving Day

• 🖤 28: Black Friday

• 🛍️ 29: Small Business Saturday

• ✝️ 30: Advent Begins

💌 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. 💛