A Chronic Entrepreneur: Kat John
Kat John is an incredibly open, honest and vulnerable woman who we’re grateful to have crossed paths with. After a painful and traumatic childhood, that continued with Kat through her teens and early adulthood, Kat was diagnosed with Arnold-Chiari Malformation in 2009. After having brain surgery to manage the condition, Kat was in despair when she discovered that the surgery didn’t relieve the chronic pain. Living in that pain and that hurt for so long, Kat reached a place where she felt she couldn’t go on, but she did and she shares a little of her story with us today. With a background in nursing and pyschology, Kat now coaches individuals to help them move through pain, fear and doubt to achieve their potential. You can read more of Kat’s story here. She also runs live meditations every Sunday morning via Facebook and Instagram. You can find out more here.
What’s your Chronic?
Nerve pain. I was diagnosed with Arnold-Chiari Malformation, a brain condition where the brain is too big for the skull and begins to herniate down into the spine. It blocks cerebrospinal fluid, creates benign tumours in the spine and cuts off nerve conduction, eventually leading to paraplegia.
Where were you when you were diagnosed?
2009.
What makes you an Entrepreneur?
Getting up every day and doing what it takes for a dream only you can see.
What came first, the chronic or the entrepreneurism?
Chronic.
How did this path come to you?
Before I was diagnosed I had a lot of other stuff going on in my life. Stuff meaning that I hadn’t dealt with past pains and, as such, I hated life and who I was, mainly because I didn’t know who I was. I yearned for something to ‘save me’, to get me out of living inside a mind of hell. After the brain surgery in 2009, I thought that would ‘save me’ from chronic pain, but it didn’t. I quickly learned that nothing outside of me could give me the relief I needed on the inside and after a dark moment of choosing whether to live or die, I chose to live. From then on, I went on a quest to find me.
What do you wish you’d known before?
That I didn’t have to live in chronic pain forever. I believed that my life would be a life of chronic pain and it wasn’t the truth.
Did you go through any 12 stages of grief with the diagnosis or take it in its stride – how did the process manifest itself – did you immediately reassess your life?
I downplayed the experience and didn’t express how scared I was. I wanted to come across brave, therefore I denied a lot of feelings and emotions. When I first found out, I sucked it up really quickly and at the same time felt sorry for myself. I cried when I was alone and would joke about me having brain surgery to others to lighten the blow. I didn’t assess my life at the time, that came 12 months after the surgery when chronic pain was so bad that I wanted to end my life.
Did you seek out or join organisations representing your chronic for support or did you find comfort and answers elsewhere – what would you recommend in hindsight?
No, I didn’t. There wasn’t a lot of information on Arnold-Chiari as it’s not common. I googled the surgery and watched what they did. I wouldn’t have joined a group. If anything, I just wished I had leant on the people who were offering their support.
What would you say to your younger self?
The most important job on the planet is being who you are! Everything else comes second.
How have you changed, if at all, in your relationships, decisions and what you value?
The most significant change has been my relationship with myself. I actually like me. Prior to feeling that though, I was self-abusive, destructive and disrespectful.
What advice do you have for others?
You ARE the power to change your life. Period.
What is your life philosophy and has this changed?
Be who you were born to be.
Are you on any treatments?
Nope.
What is a ‘bad day’ for you?
Being mean to myself.
What do you do on a ‘bad day’?
I do what it takes to be nice to me.
How do you deal with stress?
Talk therapy, meditation and alone time.
Best bits of being A Chronic Entrepreneur?
I live on my terms.
Worst bits of being A Chronic Entrepreneur?
Dealing with my mind.
Are you a 5-year planner or are you winging it?
I like a good wing, however I am moving into planning out my life.
Dream weekend plans and have these changed?
Walking by the ocean, clean air, a picnic with scones, champagne, my man and puppy, and being happy.
Ultimate dinner party guests?
Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brene Brown.
What next?
Live life!
Where can we find you?
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/i.am.kat.john/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kat.john/
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-john-33154447/
Let us know what you think below and share your story with us on Instagram tagging @achronicentrepreneur and using the hashtag #achronicentrepreneur.
