My name is Evie, I’m 24 years old, and I suffer from M.E and chronic Lyme.

The last time I left the house was 29th November 2016. You’re probably wondering why, and while I could go into the details of the diagnosis, I’m going to keep it simple and say I suffer from severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E) and chronic Lyme’s disease. It’s hard to articulate precisely what those chronic illnesses entail in general, as it is different for every single person. But for me, more than anything, it involves crushing and incurable fatigue.

My body does not produce enough energy. If you imagine your energy like a battery charge, each day a healthy person would start the day at 100% charge whereas I would start the day with 10–20%. This results in me barely having enough energy to get through the day. Other symptoms I suffer from as a result of M.E and chronic Lyme, include pain, migraines, an inability to regulate body temperature, and severe noise and light sensitivity.

Despite only being twenty-four, despite not leaving the house for over three years, and despite not being well enough to see my friends and family, I can honestly say I have never been happier. These last few years of being completely housebound, and at the time of writing this, bedbound, have been the catalyst of a journey of personal discovery and growth, going beyond depths I could have ever imagined. I have learnt more about myself in these past few years than ever before. I have learnt more about this world, and everything and everyone in it than ever before.

When I first sat down and created my ‘Mindfully Evie’ blog and social media accounts, four months into being housebound, I had no idea what I was going to be writing about or if anyone (besides my mum) would read it. Putting that pen to paper for the first time, having the freedom to write whatever was inside of me, I would soon find became a complete love, passion, and addiction of mine.

Always writing from a place of happiness and positivity, I wrote about the things I had learnt and the things I was still learning. I offered advice and insight to others into how we can be happy and at peace within ourselves in a world full of suffering. I found that the more I wrote, the more I grew, and the more I grew, the more I wrote. The response I got was incredible. No words can describe how it feels when people tell you that your words pulled them out of a bad day, that your post was everything they needed in that moment, that your writing has inspired them and become a light in their life.

I never set out to be inspirational or wise, and I still don’t. I didn’t become happy or find peace within these four walls for other people; I did it all for myself. When I write, I simply write what’s inside of me. I transfer all of it onto paper, and for some reason or another, it connects to people. It speaks to them. And I’ve come to learn that’s the beauty of being open and vulnerable; you create this open connection to everyone you come across.

So many people ask me how I do it, how I stay so positive, how I can be so happy, especially when I’m so young and ill. It’s tough to answer why in one sentence, but I hope my blog will help answer that. And I hope by sharing my story and imparting my thoughts, it may help you in some small way or another, whatever path you find yourself.

Note: I will always finish my posts with “Metta”. Metta is a Buddhist concept meaning “loving-kindness”, but you don’t have to be a Buddhist to use it. If you’re sending someone Metta, this means you are sending them thoughts of love and kindness.

Metta, E xx