03/10/2026
I truly hope this lands where it needs to ❤️🫶🏻
Some days it is harder to smile than others and I love this shirt (I wear it often and I know you’ve seen it a number of times 😆)! It’s a GREAT reminder! I bought it a couple of years ago because it has a pretty powerful message on the back as well, that is directed at whoever might be standing behind me reading it. I love having the ability to make an impact in someone else’s life in such a simple way, always have. Those who truly know me, know this about me 🥰
I have spent a good part of my life trying to make a difference in the life of others, to empower, inspire, motivate, and make others feel heard/seen and help them to see that they have a purpose in life, that they are enough, that they matter. It is something that has always given me life and filled my cup. Unfortunately, over the past 1.5yrs, I have not had the physical or mental ability to show up for others the way I always have. Even with my transparency of where I am at in life currently, it often feels that for some, maintenance was one sided, and that can be a heavy feeling to carry at times. I’ve often said I feel like I used to be 110% in everything and now I feel like I’m giving 25%. You’re trying your best, but nobody sees the 25% you’re giving to 10 places, they only see that you’re giving less to them than you used to.
Living life with chronic illness is SO tough, which IS talked about a lot, but is also shrugged off regularly. That’s a big part of why I’m doing what I’m doing. While I’ve battled chronic health issues for years, I never really understood the depth of the isolation and disheartening side of it until I started getting sick to a point I couldn’t just ignore or push through it. It changed me before I ever even realized it was happening. I remember over the years hearing people say, you learn who your people are when you become ill, or pregnant, etc., but I never truly understood it. You will have the few who continie to show up, who understand you’re going through a rough season, that you’re still you but struggling, and support you through recovery…and you will have others who only see that you’ve changed and aren’t showing up like you used to for them…and unfortunately over time, those relationships fade completely. It is a hard pill to swallow, because ultimately (even though you hate it), you blame yourself because they didn’t change, you did.
I don’t say this to cause anyone worry, I’m doing ok, working diligently to get back to me, and I have a support system…I say it because there are days that are harder than others mentally (I’m an empath and have always been socially outgoing), there are days I feel a little lost trying to figure out the next step, days where I am working to figure out where I need to pick up or with who that I feel I haven’t put enough energy into, days it’s harder to understand why interactions with people you have always cared hard for can change so much…and I know there are others out there who need to know they are NOT alone in these feelings and emotions.
These posts are raw, they are vulnerable, and I never know how anyone will interpret them. All I know is my heart and my intention, and if I can help one person, that’s a win for me. And someday when I am more recovered, healthy, and feeling more like me again, I’ll be able to reflect back on the process and all of the growth…hell maybe I’ll even write a book on it 😅
I’m glad you are here, for whatever reason you showed up. We will all get through whatever tough season we are in, together. That is literally the purpose of my page. So, if this resonates with you, stick around…and as always…I see you. I believe you. You are not alone.
