Still: Finding Magic in Chronic Illness

Still is an invitation to slow down, honour your limits, and seek out the gentle magic that exists even on the hardest days.

Still: A Film on Chronic Illness and Magic is a deeply personal and reflective piece created by Jonathan and Sami Dunn. Inspired by Sami’s experience of living with chronic illness, the film explores the emotional weight of constant fatigue and pain, the grief of losing a former self, and the ongoing challenge of adapting to new limitations.

Sami’s diagnosis required a huge shift in how she lives, moving from a once highly active lifestyle to one shaped by pacing, rest and careful energy use. The film highlights the very real struggles of chronic illness — but also shines a light on the small, gentle moments of magic that can still be found when life slows down.

Read this love letter from Sami, written directly to others living with chronic illness.

“To my chronically ill friend,

Let me first say, I see you and I feel you. You are not alone.

Chronic illness comes with grief. Grieving the person you were before and the things you used to do and enjoy. It can be incredibly hard to find happiness when your mind wants to do what your body can’t. My world has, at times, been consumed with sadness, anger and frustration.

However, through all of those complex feelings I like to find what I call ‘magic’. Small moments of wonder in the day to day world. We cannot notice magic if we are caught up in a busy world. It relies on stillness.

When our bodies are forced to slow down we must adapt our hobbies to find different ways to bring us joy. In this film I venture out, something I’m not always able to do. I love the sea and being out in nature, when I need to stop to rest I look for something that will make me smile.  I love to craft, my energy and pain levels that day inform what kind of crafting I can do, I find crochet the gentlest. I love gardening. I can no longer while away the hours pottering around the garden on my own but asking for help brings my family together to share in something that brings me joy and creates lasting memories.

Don’t get me wrong, none of this was easy, it came with its associated pain and crashes. Jonathan actually wanted to film on a more picturesque bench a bit further away but I just couldn’t get there. No small activity will fix everything, but it can give us that little lift we need to be happy.

Chronically ill people can be the experts at finding magic. I hope you find some magic in your day today.

Love and solidarity

Sami xx”

Still offers an honest reflection on living with chronic illness, acknowledging the challenges it brings, while also discussing how small, meaningful moments can help manage those challenges by bringing comfort, hope and a sense of connection.

If you would like to read more about how crafting can help you manage life’s challenges and find joy in the everyday, visit Moments of fun and wonder – Hapus and Connect Back to Centre – Hapus