Hi everyone,
I hope you are all keeping wrapped up warm as the weather gets icy. 🌨️🥶 I know I am bundled up in many layers!
As we move closer and closer to the holidays it is great to see so many of our community members spreading seasonal cheer and sharing beautiful photographs, memories and general merriment. 🎄🔔☃️
We do not discourage this but would like to gently remind everyone that many come to this forum to discuss the ins and outs of living with RA and JIA, who may find it difficult to find relevant content with lots of "off topic posts".
This is why we ask that everyone posting unrelated content please state "Off topic" in their post titles so that anyone looking for health specific content can skim past.
Please and thank you!
Wishing you ALL the best this winter,
NRAS Admin team
Off topic or fun thoughts
Off topic but its wonderful !
Off Topic. Freeeeeee!
Back at work off topic
Off topic - Sleepy days. 
My last off topic- today suitably reprimanded !However I do feel that people in our position, often isolated and alone need to have an outlet where we can laugh, cry and discuss our pain too. Life is more than pain ,drugs and hospital appointments. It is about the sum-total of our shared experiences.
I actually find it difficult to distinguish between topics that are off topic and those that aren't.
If you accept that everyone has SPIES....spiritual , physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs (arguably more heightened for those with chronic illnesses) then writing about our pets, family occasions, nature....the list goes on....fulfills many of these needs. Perhaps photos of Christmas decorations, the very seasonal weather approaching Christmas and the spirituality these bring is on topic ?
Christmas can be a very lonely time for some people, the spiritual type posts can provide a lifeline for some people.
Due to ill health I was not intending to decorate my large house plant in lieu of a Christmas Tree this year, but sylvi's posts inspired me to get on with it. I was going to post a photo of it later, to perhaps cheer up and inspire others in a similar frame of mind to me.
what a wonderful ,inspirational and honest post. We all need SPIES in our lives. 🎄So glad you have decorated your plantytree
What is more on topic than singing and songs ? The health benefits are immense, which are well researched and documented by medical and psychological researchers alike.
At this time of year particularly, the spirituality of Christmas songs is immense both for those who follow organised religions or those who acknowledge the cultural and historical aspects of Christmas; the physical effort is good for the lungs; the intellectual stimulation of remembering words / titles to be welcomed; the emotions whether happy or sad can bring about a welcome release; and the social aspects of engaging online reduces a feeling of being alone, rather it brings about a feeling of being part of a community.
Goodness I feel as if I'm back in the classroom again with the introduction to childcare students. I would give them a topic and set them a task to find the SPIES within the topic which enabled good childhood development 🤶🎄❄🛷🦌☃️🎅 .... hohoho.
Absolutely! The warmth and friendliness on this site, between participants and always extended to newcomers, is surely as important as RA specific issues.
I live alone and really feel part of the RA community of people who have similuar experiences and understand what it is like to live with difficult to control RA. It's not just about meds.
That is something not everyone realises about some people being on their own so thank you for making that point. 💗
I’d love to see your photo please. 💗(off topic’d!)
Thank you for saying i inspired you to deck your house plant i am sure t will look festive and i and others will look forward to you posting it darling. xxxx
I will sylvi
Your 'off topics' have been most welcome.I haven't been feeling good for ages and am now stuck indoors due to the heavy snow, so have really appreciated the distraction of your Christmas song posts🤗
Thank you,MadBunny. I hope that you gain health strength and happiness as important gifts this year. 🎄
Thank you for your kind wishes 🤗
Huge hugs to you, MB 💗