Dating and Chronic Illness: A Match Made in Heaven

dating is like a full time job---you are out there interviewing and playing the field. There is the anxiety about looking good, knowing the right thing to say, going to the right place and doing the right thing. You want to put your best foot forward when it coming to dating and being attractive to the other person. When you add a chronic illness to dating, it's an entirely different game to play.

So how do you date and manage a chronic illness at the same time? Let me share my story and what I do in my life.

As a single woman in my 30s, I am both a cancer and arthritis survivor. With my dating over the past several years, I wondered, when should I mention about my chronic illness. Do I keep quiet and say nothing or do I let it all out and say, "take me as I am!" It's all about decisions and how you feel at the moment. Decisions play an important role in managing your dating life and here are some actions to take:

Apply the EAT IT UP solution:

E - Educate yourself and others about your chronic illness

A - Accept your chronic illness and become comfortable with yourself

T- Talk about it freely and openly

I - Innovate ways to manage your chronic illness in your dating life

T - Toss out your feelings to the world

U - Unleash your awesome self

P - Persevere no matter what

Here are some things you can do in everyday life to get to know another person and break the ice with chronic illness:

1. Watch an inspirational documentary about a person with a chronic illness
2. Go to a fundraiser in support of a specific health related cause
3. Include the date in your everyday routine i.e. Exercise
4. Ask your date what obstacles and challenges they have overcome and then share your own

The reality is when you share yourself fully with others, you put yourself at risk and be vunerable. One of the keys to feeling and sharing love is the act of vunerability. When someone feels you, gets you and understands you, a deep connection happens. Vunerability leads to either acceptance or rejection.

Remember if someone rejects you, the rejection has nothing to do with you, it has to do, with the other person. If they see illness as an imperfection in you, ultimately, they are rejecting the imperfections in themselves and are not ready to receive your love.

Keep in mind, you were designed perfect, whole and complete as is. When you are truly grounded in yourself and feel completely comfortable, another person will see the divinity in you. It's time to go out there and be on the court dating! What are you waiting for? The time is now.

This article is brought to you by Relationships Advice Blog.