Happy Wednesday x2!
It is just me today.
Samantha is being amazing and preparing for her upcoming lupus fundraiser.
Check out The Lubbock Lupus Group’s event, Power of Purple Walk for Lupus on May 21, 2022!
Power of Purple Walk for Lupus | Facebook
I want to take a moment and speak to the important mental health technique of saying “no.” If you are like me, and Samantha, you probably feel some type of way when you feel you let someone down. You likely say yes to things you did not want to simply because you care about the person asking. You may say yes because you originally wanted to, but other priorities are piling up.
My website and blog are a recent venture thanks to a class I completed at Southern New Hampshire University. They shared with me the value of starting to build your platform even if you do not have any published content for viewers/readers. I asked Samantha pretty last minute about helping me with lupus awareness blog posts. Samantha is a mom to four, a wife, the President of the Lubbock Lupus Group, an employee, and so many other roles.
After being as dramatic as possible about whatever ailment, my body is currently fighting, I checked in with Samantha about this week’s post. She shared she had much to do to prepare for her upcoming event and simply was feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully, she shared she was not up for a post this week! How amazing is that?!
My hope in sharing this little bit of information is for it to be read by someone who struggles setting boundaries for fear of how other’s will respond. It is absolutely okay for you to set boundaries and you have no obligation to explain why they are being set. It is absolutely okay for you to say yes one day and then say no the next. We do not know how we are going to be feeling or what we are going to be experiencing each day.
Not only is it important for everyone to practice setting boundaries, but it is also important for everyone to be receptive of the one who is setting boundaries. I know people will find some sort of example to throw out about how people can be flaky, disrespectful, and blow people off but you will more than likely always find an example when you are trying to justify your feelings. Take a person’s response at its face value and move on. If you feel comfortable enough having a conversation about the experience later, then you likely have a positive relationship with that person, and they are a safe person to hear your feelings.
Lupus is the perfect example to help explain why respecting boundaries is important. Many people have uttered the words, “You don’t look sick,” to Samantha. Those who are unfamiliar with lupus expect for her to have some sort of visible physical symptom of the disease. That is not the case with every person who is diagnosed. That is not the case for many diagnosed with several different diseases.
The point is, if a person is stating “I don’t feel well,” “my body hurts,” “I’m not feeling up for this today,” etc., believe them. Only that person knows how they feel, and they do not have to have a visible symptom to make those around them believe or respect their response.
Samantha was at work with me one day, looked stunning as usual, appeared perfectly healthy, and was induced into a coma the next day due to a lupus flare up. Samantha knew something was off with her body, shared with those she loved, and sought out medical recommendations to address the problem. If people doubted her reports, who knows where she would be if she did not seek help.
Please support the ones you love when they share with you what they need.
Please speak up about what it is you need.
If someone you love has a chronic illness, speak with them about what symptoms you should be looking out for in case they may not be able to advocate for themselves.
Samantha is using the hashtags #lupusawarenessmonth and #lupuswarrior within her Facebook group posts. Use these hashtags and help her spread awareness for lupus!
Ariel Pierce 