Kat Elton
Slide background
Slide background

At the age of two, Kat’s life changed forever

Slide background

She was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Slide background

A disease that her parents were told had a prognosis of:

... chronic severe pain

... depression

... disfigurement

... and a steady decline in
   function

Slide background

Luckily for her, she never got the message

Slide background

Over the years her pain definitely slowed her down BUT...

Slide background

Never stopped her from trying new things...

Slide background

Chasing her dreams, and fulfilling her desire to be of service

Slide background

About her pain, Kat says:

"Pain is my biggest nemesis and greatest teacher. At times my pain has felt like a prison without walls, but it's also been vehicle to increase my compassion, gratitude, and ability to be humble."

Slide background

Join Kat and learn how she came to a deep understanding of what true health is

» Learn more «


True Health, The Inside Job, is a book that re-opens the question of what true health is. Health isn’t the absence of disease; it is not about subduing symptoms, waging wars, or conquering pain. Health is a way of life that is reflected in your attitudes, actions, and well-thought out beliefs. It takes daily practice, diligence, and the commitment to yourself that no matter what life hands you, you will never stop trying.  Learn more

Every minute of every day the decisions you make and the actions you take guide whether you continue to hurt or move into healing.

 Choose health!
“Health is found in the path of least resistance, learning to move towards what you want instead of against what it is that you don’t.”
- True Health, the Inside Job

Follow Kat

Keep up with Kat Elton, get notifications when new articles and resources are available as well as exclusive information from her.


Welcome to KatElton.com

Can you transfer your suffering into a life well lived?
Here is what Kat has to say....

“Be glad you are walking into my door instead of the cancer ward.”

Those were the words of Dr. Jacobs, my first rheumatologist, when he met my parents and I after I was diagnosed with JRA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in 1971. That fateful day changed the course of my life, and for forty years I was convinced that my painful disease was a gorilla on my back that prevented me from ever being healthy. 

I was wrong.

It took me forty years, and a flare up of my disease that stopped me in my tracks for years, to realize something that changed my life once again:

Health is not the absence of disease. Instead it is found in how you approach your life, the actions you take, the beliefs you choose, and the thoughts that consume you.

In the midst of my pain I decided to stop listening to the voices outside my head that were telling me how sick I was and focus on what I knew to be true. My pain and JRA are the greatest teachers in my life. They have taught me compassion, inner strength, gratitude, true love, how to be my own best friend, resilience, fortitude, and joy.

And I want to share what I’ve learned with you.

"I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade...And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party." – Ron White

Pain, Pain, Go Away!

Dec 1, 2015

When you live with pain, all you want is relief. It’s never far from the forefront of your thoughts,  and also preoccupies your unconscious. Pain changes the way you hold yourself, how...

It's my life and I'm going to live it - Live yours too!

Sep 1, 2015

This little guy was waiting for me; I just knew it. I had been scuba  diving every day during my trip to the Caribbean island of Bonaire  and I kept saying to myself, “ I sure...
Fear and Loathing in a Painful Body

Fear and Loathing in a Painful Body

Sep 8, 2015

I’m a firm believer in options. No matter what situation you find  yourself in, there are always at least two- the trick is to find two good  ones. As someone who lives with a...

Five Steps to being Your Best Self with Chronic Disease

Sep 8, 2015

A diagnosis of chronic disease is a game changer. Gone are  the days where you can feel carefree in your body. True  relaxation may be a thing of the past if pain is now your ...
Moving Away from Fear

Moving Away from Fear

Sep 9, 2015

Healthy Living with Chronic Disease The Fundamentals Part 1 “Plan your work and work your plan.” ~ Vince Lombardi “Gentlemen, this is a football.” This...

Kat Elton

Kat is an author, occupational therapist, and someone who has lived with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since age two. Her two books, A Resilient Life: Learning to thrive, not just survive with rheumatoid arthritis, and True Health, the Inside Job, pave the way for readers to move into health, regardless of their circumstances. [Read more]

"When I take the time to ponder the true meaning of health I realize that, surprisingly, my disease has made me healthier. With each challenge the disease has created for me, the opportunity has been there to transmute this challenge into a lesson on how to be a better person. The arthritis has made me wise. And I use this wisdom to create a healthy life." --Kat Elton

About Kat Elton

A Resilient Life

True Health