A Spoonie's Guide to Self-Acceptance, by Kelly Esparza

Poetry, chapbook, 28 pages, from Bottlecap Features.

How do you live life to the fullest when you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness in your twenties? In this grief-inspired poetry chapbook, Kelly Esparza chronicles her experience with living with a chronic illness by cycling through what it means to grieve over a diagnosis and find self-acceptance in a completely life-altering experience.

From debilitating fatigue to joint pain that makes one feel elderly, how does one cope over the loss of what used to be? Kelly strives to show the difficulties of living with a chronic illness, but as with all her poetry, she also finds the beauty and the hope to keep moving on and make the most of what she lives with on a daily basis. Her life may have changed, but she has come out stronger than ever.

Kelly Esparza (she/her) is a chronically ill writer and freelance editor who holds BAs in English and Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Her poetry, essays, and short fiction have been published in various literary journals and anthologies. Her short story, “Destiny Says,” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and she co-wrote a screenplay for a feature film at a production company. She is also the editor-in-chief of FLARE Magazine, a literary journal that publishes literature and art about chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mental health. Find out more on her website: kellyesparza.wordpress.com and connect with her on:

Twitter: @Kelly_Esparza7
Bluesky: @kellyesparza.bsky.social
Instagram: @kelwritesbooks2