Invisible Illness Awareness Week 2013: I Choose to Be Bold.

Flawless selfie. Aww yeah.

I can get up on a stage and spill my guts.

I can put my original writings up to the judgement of random audience members.

I can blog candidly about living with diabetes.

I can pull off bright lipstick.

I can wear stripes even though I'm over a size 16.

I can confess to you that I wear over a size 16.

I can go out with no makeup.

I can use my skin as a canvas.

I can love whomever I choose.

I can crack jokes about having chronic illness.

I can make one hell of a baked ziti.

I can be an administrative assistant.

I can be a writer.

I can be an artist.

I can be a communications professional.

I can have friends across the massive spectrum of shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, tattoo patterns, hair colors, genders and sexualities, and they are all awesome.

I can hug with the best of 'em.

I can give myself an injection in a moving vehicle.

I can prick my finger and test my blood sugar at the table in the restaurant, because I'm prepared with a statement if somebody is uncomfortable.

I can often do better.

I can acknowledge that I'm only human.

I can live just as well, and possibly just as long, as someone without invisible illness.

I can do this on my own terms.

I choose to be bold.