Hello Dazzle! Thanks for coming and hanging out with me today, I’m glad that you are here. Today I am going to be talking about what makes a human life “good” or worth living. This topic raises the question of quantity vs quality of life. It also asks that we define the terms of health and wellness. Whenever the topic of the quality of life, health and wellness arise there is at least a brushing upon the topic of chronic illness. I want to talk about these ideas while diving head first into the topic of chronic illness and disability. Is it possible to have a good human life and have disability?
The short, immediate and simple answer is: “Yes.” I absolutely believe that it is possible to have a good life while you have chronic illness and disability. But that idea challenges many of the ablest views that our society clings to. I want to really look at those more closely. I want to give you the long and complicated answer. I want to give you the real answer, which is: “Maybe. It depends” and “That’s a deeply personal question.” So, today, let’s get deeply personal.
The first thing that I want to mention is that as American medical care has improved, more people have become chronically ill and have lived longer. Diseases that once caused people to die are now causing them to have chronic illnesses instead. So this topic is fundamentally a question of quality vs quantity of life. Is it better to live fewer years without having chronic illness or is it better to live longer with the challenges that chronic illnesses force upon us? When we talk about chronic illnesses and disabilities there is an understanding that there is a loss of quality of life. This is the assumption that has been made and is long standing in our culture. It is difficult to know how much of this is generated from the ableism bias and how much is truly a decreased quality of life.
We often talk about the debate of quantity vs quality of life as though it were only a personal value set and something of personal choice. But the health care system is much more complex than that. Health care providers are ethically charged with doing no harm. Generally speaking, saving a person’s life is considered the ideal outcome. Yet, there are times that this shifts to a focus of comfort care. This shift is often made when the available treatments are deemed to have no appreciable benefit or are unlikely to improve the person’s condition.
This brings us to the core of the conversation: what does it mean to have a life worth living, especially when chronic illness or disability is involved? The answer, as I mentioned, isn’t simple. It depends on the person, their values, and their perspective on what makes life meaningful. Society tends to place a high value on independence, physical ability, and productivity—qualities that many with chronic illness or disabilities may find harder to maintain in traditional ways. But this doesn’t mean that life becomes less valuable or enjoyable; it just means that we need to rethink what “quality of life” truly means.
For many people with chronic illness or disabilities, the notion that their life is inherently of lesser quality is not only false but also harmful. It ignores the rich, fulfilling experiences they have despite—or even because of—their conditions. It’s important to understand that people find joy, connection, and purpose in so many ways that aren’t tied to physical health or typical societal standards of “wellness.”
This is where the conversation becomes deeply personal. For some, chronic illness brings limitations, yes, but also a profound sense of gratitude, resilience, and empathy. It’s a shift in how one experiences the world, not necessarily a loss of value in that experience. For others, the pain and limitations can be overwhelming, making it difficult to see beyond the daily struggles. Both perspectives are valid, and both contribute to the broader conversation about what makes a life “good.”
The truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. A good life can be defined by so many things: relationships, passion, creativity, love, spiritual growth, or even just small moments of peace. What might seem like a low-quality life from the outside could, in reality, be filled with moments of meaning and connection for the person living it.
Of course, that’s not to say that living with chronic illness or disability is easy. It’s not. It often requires navigating a healthcare system that can be indifferent or even hostile, dealing with physical and emotional pain, and facing societal stigma. But we must challenge the idea that hardship automatically equates to a life of lesser value. Difficulty and richness can coexist. People with chronic illness and disabilities are living proof of that.
Ultimately, the question of whether a life with chronic illness or disability is worth living isn’t really about health at all. It’s about how we view humanity. Are we only worthy if we are “productive,” healthy, or able-bodied? Or do we have inherent worth just by existing, by being ourselves, in whatever form that takes? I would argue it’s the latter.
So, can you live a good life with chronic illness or disability? Absolutely. But it’s a question that each person has to answer for themselves, based on their own experiences, values, and what they find meaningful. There’s no universal answer, and that’s okay. What matters is that we respect each person’s journey, their struggles, and their triumphs—no matter what form they take.
Thanks for sticking with me through this conversation. Remember, your life is valuable and worth living just as it is, even if it doesn’t look like the traditional picture of health. Be kind to yourselves and others, and keep pushing back against the narratives that try to define your life for you. You’ve got the power to write your own story.
Well, that’s about it for my rambling today. Thanks for coming and spending some time with me. If you like my rambling then click on that like button. It really does help! Until we talk again, you take care of yourselves!
Zebra Pig 
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