Protecting Your Peace

I know it’s been a minute since I’ve written anything, forgive me. Life is getting the best of me! Ha!!!

But, this blog has really been on my heart for the past couple of days, and it’s about protecting your peace.

A popular page that I follow on twitter posted a question a few days ago asking, “What is something you’ve taught yourself?” and I responded with “Saying ‘no’ to protect my peace”. My mother use to always tell me growing up that I was a people pleaser. Although, a lot of my actions I did, I thought they were because I was doing it out of the kindness of my heart. Now that I'm grown, I’m starting to think, “Was I only doing things to please other people, and not myself?” I think we all sometime in our life subject ourselves to doing something for someone else, even when we didn’t want to, but because this was someone we cared about, it was hard to say no. But is that really people pleasing?

Since being diagnosed with lupus, saying NO is starting to become second nature to me now. Foolish me! I thought people I’ve done things for in the past would understand my position now when I say that I literally can’t do what I use to do. Side note: Ooooweeee, people will get mad if you tell them ‘no’, especially when you use to always say ‘yes’ to them. *ahem* Now, anywho…. But since now I am literally incapable of doing things I use to do, saying ‘no’ use to make me feel guilty. I felt like I was being unreliable or rude. Truth be told, sometimes I said ‘no’ just because I knew I had to protect my peace. Rather I was feeling sick or not, protecting my peace has become a priority to me now.

When I say protecting my peace, I mean avoiding things or situations that could possibly deter me from being productive. When I say productive I mean using my time to cultivate the dreams, goals, gifts, talents and abilities that I have to serve myself… in a positive way!!  This could mean, saying ‘no’ to attend a social gathering, or ‘no’ to helping someone out that you really care about. I’m learning that putting myself first is not selfish, it’s NEEDED.

Sometimes, I shut down. Don't log on social media, put on a playlist, grab a book and just kick my feet up, and enjoy me. It's funny because when my husband comes home, and if the house has music blasting through the windows before he pulls up, he already knows I'm in one of my moods. He'll kiss me on the cheek and let me be. When the music go off, he'll return with a "So, how was your day?" Ha!!! (That's why I love that man!)

I'm taking baby steps. I didn’t just jump in saying ‘no’ to any and everything, because it really is hard to do. It’s STILL very hard to do. I say ‘no’ and then turn around and second guess myself. Like, “Maybe I should go ahead and go to so and so, maybe it won’t be so bad!” or "Maybe I should do this for so and so, it won't take much of my time"… but every day is a learning experience and I’m determining which things and people I should say ‘no’ to. It's all a growth process. 

Because if you don’t protect your peace, then who will?

Working Chronically...

Not too long ago, I posted on twitter that Lupus patients are all super heroes. I said that because we are able to do things that “normal” healthy people do all while fighting a disease that is trying to keep us down.  One of those things are… working!!

There is a large percentage of people with chronic illness that is unable to work. My heart goes to those people because believe it or not, there is nothing a chronically ill person wants more than to be able to take care of themselves. Make their own money, have a sense of independence. Since being diagnosed, I have had my fair share of days being off work due to my illness. I’ve had to take breaks in between and because of that I sometimes feel like I could’ve been further along than I currently am. Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed to be able to hold down a full-time job (as of now), but majority of my lupus family isn’t so lucky.  What MOST people may mistake for lazy, really have no clue what a chronically ill person is going through.

Chronically ill workers may have problems in meeting job demands, they may experience physical, cognitive or sensory limitations, have fatigue or pain complaints or other disease symptoms. Psychological distress, depressive feelings, feelings of shame or guilt, lack of coping or communicative skills, and non-supportive colleagues and supervisors may add to work-related problems. It’s hard!!! But, I’m doing it. I feel a sense of pride when I actually make it through a full 8 hour work day, 40 hour week schedule without having to call in or crashing at the end of the week.

Here's a few tips that I use to make it through the work week:

1. Decorate your workspace with positive affirmations and pictures of people and things that motivate you.
2. Make your feelings aware to your co-workers & manager. You may have to sit with them and explain exactly what lupus is. Print out literature to share with your team about your disease if you need to.
3. Prioritize sleep. Make it number one. I usually try to give myself 7 hours or more of sleep. (That sometimes don’t happen, but hey.. I try!!)
4. Keep energizing snacks at your desk.
5. After you clock out, BE FINISHED!!! Leave work at work and when you’re off take that time to rejuvenate your mind and body.
6. Know when to step away and take a break. Go to the bathroom, step outside for a second.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations. Most companies (and a lot by law) are willing to help you succeed in your position and if that means you need a stool for your swelling feet, back support for your lower back, a certain keyboard for your computer because you have joint issues… then ASK!!!!!

Now of course, everyone’s situation Is different. Some of us work in environments that aren’t so accommodating and work with people who are just flat out cruel. For those of you that do work in situations like that, I strongly encourage you to find another job. Work somewhere where you are appreciated and won’t have to feel guilty for having a chronic illness that YOU didn’t ask for any ways. Because let’s be honest, if something was to happen to you today, your company would go about their day and have your position posted on the HR board the following day. 

You’re the important factor here… put yourself first!

*For my chronically ill people who are unable to work… Don’t feel any less of a person because of a disease that has disabled you. During my times when I was unemployed I found other things that made me happy to confiscate for the loss of my job (whether it was reading, volunteering somewhere, advocating lupus online, etc.) I strongly encourage you all to do the same and to remain positive because you’re still the important factor here, and I’m rooting for you!

Am I Easy To Love?

We all know that being in a relationship is hard work. Both parties have to put in the work, to make it work. Not only are you learning to love someone else, but you’re also learning to love the baggage that come with them. In my case, my baggage is lupus. With lupus comes depression, insecurities, fatigue, doubtfulness, a sense of loneliness, and feeling like you’re unable to be loved. (That’s a lot to deal with right?)

So, my question to my husband is… With all this baggage I have.... Am I Easy to Love?

One thing that is the most difficult when you’re chronically ill and married is still having to cater to someone else besides yourself ALL WHILE dealing with the negative impact of your chronic illness. You have to fulfill your partner’s needs (both physically and mentally), be able to take care of your home & children, making sure that you are available to them when they need you to be. (And don’t add the extra responsibilities such as school, work, etc. on top of that)  All of this…. It’s very difficult to maintain it all because every day I’m already busy trying to fight for my life.

Sometimes, I feel like I’d be better off by myself, not subject my husband to the stuff that I go through. Because it’s a lot. It takes a toll out on me and him, and it just seems like my illness holds us both back from so much. We are both still young, I feel like newlyweds are supposed to be traveling, experiencing new things, taking random dates to exotic places, going on double dates with friends, planning a family, etc.  NOT always in a hospital room, or doctor’s office being worried that my test results are going to come back good or bad… NO WAY! That’s not newlywed life!!!! Our lives are not normal.

Every day it’s something, and each day we struggle through it and sadly, in the midst of all of this, the relationship takes some trying times because eventually, something has got to give. Someone is going to become mentally or physically tired. It’s draining. To always deal with the fact that tomorrow,  I may be unable to fulfill my partner’s needs. That tomorrow, I may not be able to go to work and earn the income we need. That tomorrow I may not even want him to touch me because I may be flaring up. That tomorrow, I may not be the Sharnae he married and fell in love with.

Every human being wants love (you’ll be lying if you say you didn’t) and I have that with my husband, I really love him. But am I easy to love back? I just don’t know.

Can Lupus Define My Purpose?

The dictionary defines the word purpose as “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists”.

As a person with a chronic illness, I struggle with what my purpose really is in life. Why am I here? And to do what? Every day when I wake up in pain, every time I receive bad news from the doctor, OR every time I have to limit myself, What the heck could my purpose be living like this?

I believe when a person is diagnosed with an chronic illness, they immediately try to think about “Okay, what did I do to deserve this?” and “Why me?” and that’s normal. We’re human. However, what we all have to remind ourselves is that we didn’t do anything to “deserve” what we are going through. Some way, and some how this illness is apart of our purpose.

I read somewhere that, “From the perspective of spiritual reality, illness is a step toward wholeness.” Let’s face it, whether you’re a lupus survivor, cancer, AIDS/HIV, Fibromyalgia, etc survivor, we didn’t consciously choose to go through this pain or deal with an incurable illness, however being diagnosed, the experience of dealing with these challenges can lead us on a journey that ultimately delivers great rewards. (This is me being optimistic, okay?!)

Living with a life-threatening disease forced me to completely reshuffle priorities and pursue new paths that have actually brought me profound fulfillment. Let me put it this way, Lupus gave me permission to make choices that I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. I know it sounds weird reading, lupus "gave me permission" but let me explain. For instance, I feel like I need to travel more, try new foods, create experiences that I would have never tried to pursue, all because I don’t want lupus to feel like it is winning. It changed my way of thinking, forcing me to make choices that would only make ME happy. 

I’m not saying my life is all “beautiful” and “lovely” because it gets hard. Every day, it gets harder. But I’ve got to get to a point in my life where I can accept this and make the best of it. Make the best of my life!

Friends, How Many of Us Have Them?

When you're chronically ill, relationships are often tested. Especially with your friends.

The saddest thing that a chronically ill person could experience is losing friends over something that is completely out of their control.

Since being diagnosed, I have lost my share of friendships, mostly because I have become this "unreliable", "sick" friend that no one wants to "bother". Truthfully, I have been absent for a lot of special events, dates, or ceremonies, and it's not because I don't want to be there. It's just physically, I can't make it.

Eventually, your friends get tired of asking you to come places when they know it's a huge possibility that you probably can't make it anyways so eventually, the invitations either slow down or they stop altogether.

I have been blessed enough to have some friends that send me text messages inviting me out ALL the time or even dropping by my house to just check on me every now and then, but in the midst of my illness, I've noticed that people I thought were down for me, aren't. (and that's okay, it hurts but... it's all apart of life, right?)

Me, hubby, & friends going to see Black Panther

It's quite heartbreaking to lose people you've known for years, who you've grown up with and have literally shared everything with, all because your illness keeps you from getting out being who you use to be. I think a lot of the time, people assume I'm"changing" and let me just put it out there, when you have a chronic illness... guess what??

I HAVE CHANGED!! Everything about me has changed. My way of thinking, being, acting, EVERYTHING!!!

I fight for my life every day so things that used to matter, can't matter as much anymore because every day I have to persevere the energy I have just so I can make it. So excuse me if I can't make it to some of your events, or if I have to cancel at the last minute, or I'm not always available when you try to hang with me. Believe me, this is not the life I wanted. It's not the life that any chronically ill person wants.

But my friends though, my real friends, who have literally never judged me, always make themselves available for me (whether it's a ride to chemo, or holding my hand after surgery or a biopsy, or dropping off food when I'm sick) I appreciate ya'll! No words, or no actions can truly describe how much having a support system really means.

So when it comes to friends, I definitely have them... and they mean the world to me.

The Good People in the World...

With everything that's going on in the world, believe it or not, there are still some good people in the world.

So, my husband and I went out on a date, BUT before we went out, I had a flare-up. Feeling guilty that I haven't been able to go out on a date with my husband for a while, I pushed on through my flare up and decided to go out for dinner.

So, we get to the restaurant, sadly all the handicap spots were taking so we ended up parking far from the building. I'm walking with my cane, huffing, and puffing, barely making it. I finally get to the door and the waiting room is PACKED! Nowhere to sit. So, I stood there for a while and finally, a young lady offers a sit next to her because she notices me leaning over barely standing.

I thank her.

We have a brief convo.... and then....

Host: Sanders party of 2!!!!!!

(So here's where the good in people happened)

I ended up getting stuck in the chair I was sitting in. Like my legs literally gave out. Not only that, but my right arm has gone completely numb from walking with a cane so hard. My husband is trying to hold our coats, and my purse aka my suitcase AND help get me out the chair all at the same time, mind you.... I am NOT skinny or lightweight. (bless his heart!)

So the lady that offered the seat next to her and another complete stranger ends up helping me out the chair. I'm not talking about a slight lift, they HELPED ME OUT THE CHAIR and fixed my clothes on the way up. Helping pull down my shirt cause I'm pretty sure I was flashing the innocent. 😡

Now, I know it doesn't seem like much, but being disabled in America is NOT EASY. We lack so much support from not only the government, but some of us face neglect from our jobs, family, and friends, so the fact that two complete strangers went out of there way to assist me, it meant a lot.

I couldn't thank them enough, and I probably thanked them more than they wanted, but I just appreciate people that can help people like myself because I know if I was able-bodied, I would do the exact same thing.

Am I there yet?

*this picture is hilarious, and it's so true!*

Why make an appointment when what's really going to happen is that you're going to be waiting at least a hour past your appointment time in the waiting room?

What's worst is that, when you're finally out of the waiting room... the nurse will just slide you into another room, and you end up waiting ANOTHER 30 minutes or so.  

This seems to happen to me every time I go to a doctor's office. What makes it even more disappointing is when you FINALLY see the doctor, they're rushing you out the room like they've been waiting for you for the past 2 hours.

The whole situation just makes me sick to my stomach. I honestly think that on down the line, that doctor's tend to loose their humanity in their profession. They begin to look at their patients as dollar signs and not regular people. (I can only imagine how doctor's treat patients that are uninsured.)

I can remember when I was first diagnosed with lupus. I had questions. I was scared. I wanted to know how this disease would affect my life. When I finally got to talk to a doctor about it, she was rude and so inconsiderate. I could barely get any questions out before she decided to end the appointment herself and walk out the room.

I was hurt and angry.

I never like to wish bad upon people, but I honestly think that people don't understand what you're going through until they have to go through it themselves. If doctor's would put themselves in our shoes, and relate to us a little, I can bet that waiting room times would be shorter, and appointments with patients wouldn't be rushed and signed off as just some other patient.

Now....

Is it just me or do any of you guys see what the receptionist will do after your appointment? They overbook appointments, causing a huge delay between patients. (Which is very inconvenient for us lupies who schedule appointments during our lunch break because you can't take off work *ahem*) and they rarely have times available that are good for you. Don't ask me what would be a good day and time for me, and when I tell you, you're always booked? What's even the point!?!?

But anyways...

The whole fact of the matter is that getting to actually SEE the doctor and discuss symptoms and progress is a total journey within itself... so as I journey from waiting room, to another room, to another, I just have one question....

Am I there yet?