As this month of awareness-building winds down for skin cancer, fibromyalgia, lupus, etc., we being to ponder the question: now what?
Being informed or aware of lupus gives us a sense of camaraderie- sharing the challenges in our lives with other silent soldiers. We spend a great deal of energy (energy we don’t always have available) in trying to educate and console each other as our way of trying to make things better. We speak of the life-altering symptoms, the sheer numbers of those who live with lupus, the goals and hopes that our lives are not just to suffer – they are to survive. We continue our vigils with a strong sense of personal pride tempered constantly by an inner surrender knowing that a positive attitude can’t always ease the pain. Just as it is with our current environmental situation, there is a lot of information available if you’re interested, yet it takes action to implement any changes. Knowing about the difficulties lupus brings to our days just isn’t enough – we need to actively care about our own lupus environments.
In June, we will be exploring some core-strengthening resources stemming from research, media, authors, local professionals in social services and organizations. From these resources, we will begin to study tools and strategies that we can actively apply to our lives with lupus. Our goal at MLWT is to recognize the knowledge and experiences so many of you already have and encourage you to share that energy you use in educating and helping others by directing it inward as well. Caring for ourselves ultimately helps those around us to try to understand, to respect us enough to listen and to encourage nurturing our own selves by celebrating in the strengths we truly possess. A common theme found in my research here in Oregon is that those who don’t seek support from others have a tendency to spend a great deal of time caring more for others’ needs than they do for themselves. In the long run, that can’t be good for anyone.
We have recently started the revision of our bulletin board to make it into a stronger resource. We are also in the process of revamping our blog to become a more solid instrument from which you will be able to navigate and draw from to get what you need-when you need it. This opening month of May has been a time for us here at MLWT to step back and watch, listen and learn from you out there. Common themes have emerged allowing us to create a foundation – but it will ultimately be the contributions from you as local participants, and a thriving lupus community, to make your lives here – with lupus-strong.
So beginning in June, join us as we start exploring what goes on inside-not just in terms of having an illness, but also the inner-connections that affect our lives living with illness. Consider yourself one of those rapidly melting icebergs we hear so much about these days – those proud tops emerging from the surface, yet only showing a portion of the life they actually offer. MLWT is designed to slow that melting process by strengthening that resource hidden below – and to help you preserve it so that it will offer ‘life’ to so many- including yourselves- for years to come.
Sending our best to all of you~
Maria
