I’ve co-published a book! “The chronically ill person and the organisation” is out

In our organizations, many people work with – often invisible – chronic illnesses. This short story provides an initial insight into the issues that determine exclusion and inclusion. It shows that organizations benefit from close cooperation: where people affected by illness are involved, healthy working conditions emerge for everyone.

Monia’s story

This is a labour of love and a co-production with Monia Ben Larbi, a kindred soul and author or the book. Monia’s life is deeply shaped by her chronic illness. Since 2007, she has been officially classified as unfit for work, which mainly triggered an intense search for alternative solutions. In books like Einfach Arbeiten (“Working Simply”) and Minimalistisch Arbeiten (“Working Minimally”), as well as on her platform Gesunde Kranke (“Healthy Sick”), she shares her insights on working with chronic illness through a wide range of formats—including in this book.

About this work
Creating the visuals for Monia’s story was more than an illustration process—it was a journey into a space where vulnerability, strength, and quiet resistance coexist. From the beginning, I felt the weight and tenderness of what Monia shared. Her way of telling a story that is both personal and profoundly systemic called for an approach that was equally layered and intuitive.

Finding the right colours and forms was not immediate—it asked for stillness, for listening, for trying things that didn’t work before arriving at what felt emotionally and energetically true. I wanted the illustrations to be soft enough to invite people in, yet grounded enough to hold the complex reality of living and working with chronic illness. It was about making space for recognition—beyond language—and offering images that allow others to feel seen.

This work also deepened my own understanding of what it means to be in a body, in an organization, in a society that often overlooks invisible experiences. Working in close dialogue with Monia was an act of co-creation; her clarity and courage shaped not only the narrative but the very visual tone of the project.

This project reminded me—again—how powerful images can be when they are created not to explain, but to accompany. And how much beauty can emerge when we allow ourselves to stay with what’s not yet clear.

Holding the whole
This book was made possible thanks to my amazing SOCIUS-colleagues Nicola Kriesel and Joana Ebbinghaus who host regular digital salons on the topic of working with a chronic illness (in German) and are building a community space for more conversations around the topic of chronic illness in our (working) lives. More here.
Kudos for the graphic design go to Anne Wilhelm.
And a big shout-out to Faezeh Shakoori, in whose workshops the character of the “Chronically Ill Person” found its form.

Get the book
The book “The chronically ill person and the organisation” is published by SOCIUS Publishing in German. You can order it here.