It has been an action-packed past few weeks.  Just last week I had the opportunity to accompany everyone's favorite Real Housewife, Jill Zarin, to the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade conference in Washington, D.C.  Jill was the closing luncheon's keynote speaker.  She talked about being the mom of a daughter with arthritis, as well as having a stepson battling Still's disease.

It was great to watch her relate to everyone and have a very meaningful conversation about raising the profile of arthritis among the general population.  Even though I wrote a few notes ahead of time for her to reference, she didn't look at her notes once -- she didn't need to.  Instead, she spoke from the heart about arthritis in her household.

I had the chance to introduce her and say a few words up front about CreakyJoints and our opinion of what advocacy should mean.  Addressing an audience of about 300 people from 60 countries around the world humbled me quite a bit, and re-emphasized the global nature of arthritis and bone disease.  It was kind of like the United Nations for arthritis -- there were doctors and advocates from all around the world, including every continent -- coming together with a singular mission.

Even though the Bone and Joint Decade -- originally created as a 10-year push to raise awareness about, pool resources for, and elevate the profile of arthritis -- is nearly completed, the future is bright for all of us living with these conditions.

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