In my own words
The Health Journey That Changed How I Live and Work
My health story has shaped the way I care for myself, show up for others, and build my work. I’m sharing the parts I’m ready to tell, with honesty and room for what remains private.
“Telling my health story isn’t about having every answer. It’s about being honest about what I’ve learned, respecting the parts I keep private, and hoping someone else feels a little less alone.”
Joanne Swadling
The Moments That Shaped My Path
These chapters trace how my understanding of health grew alongside my work. I’m sharing the turning points and lessons that matter to me, without disclosing more than I choose.
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Noticing the Need for Change
I began paying closer attention to how I felt day to day. It was the start of asking what support and balance might look like for me.
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Making Space to Recover
As life and work shifted, I learned to take my limits seriously. Slowing down wasn’t easy, but it helped me make more thoughtful choices.
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Building Work Around Wellbeing
I started shaping my business journey around the energy I had, rather than the pace I thought I had to keep. That change made my work feel more sustainable.
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Sharing What I’ve Learned
Today, I’m telling this part of my story on my own terms. I hope it offers a little understanding while leaving room for each person’s experience to be different.
When Health Asked Me to Slow Down
Some parts of my health journey have been difficult to put into words. There have been days when I have had to reconsider what I could manage and how much of myself I could give to my work and the people around me. Not having every answer made those decisions harder. I am sharing this without trying to turn it into a neat story of struggle and triumph; I want to make room for the uncertainty, the adjustments and the care it takes to keep going.
Finding My Way Forward
Noticing What I Needed
A turning point was giving myself permission to pay attention to how I was feeling, rather than measuring each day against what I thought I should be able to do.
Making Room for Support
I began to see that I did not have to carry every question alone. Being open to support made space for conversations I might otherwise have avoided.
Choosing a Different Pace
Moving forward has not meant rushing back to an old version of my life. It has meant making decisions with more care for my energy, my priorities and what matters to me.
Lessons From My Health Story
There Is No Single Right Way to Move Through It
If there is one thing I hope you take from my story, it is that your experience does not have to look a certain way to deserve care. I have learned to be gentler with the questions I cannot answer and to recognise that a change of plans is not a personal failure. Listening to myself has become part of how I make choices, including choices about my work.
I also want to leave room for the parts of life that exist alongside a health challenge: connection, ambition, uncertainty and hope. I cannot tell anyone else what their path should be. I can only share what has mattered to me: asking for support when I need it, respecting my limits and allowing my priorities to evolve. If these words help someone feel less alone, sharing them has been worthwhile.
Questions You May Have
I share this part of my life with care. Here are a few answers about what I’ve chosen to tell, and why.
Why have you chosen to share your health story?
I hope that speaking honestly about a difficult part of my life helps someone else feel less alone. I’m sharing my experience, not offering a blueprint for anyone else’s.
Are you sharing every detail of what happened?
No. Some moments belong to me and the people close to me. I’ve chosen to share what feels helpful while keeping the rest private.
Is this page intended as health advice?
No. This is my personal story, not medical guidance. If you have concerns about your health, please speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
Has your experience changed how you approach your work?
It has reminded me to make room for what matters, to listen more closely, and to recognise that people often carry challenges we cannot see.
What helped you through the harder moments?
There was no single answer. Support, patience, and taking things one step at a time mattered to me. What helps another person may look very different.
Can I contact you about something this story brought up?
Yes, you’re welcome to reach out if you’d like to connect. I may not be able to respond to every message, and I’m not able to offer personal health advice.