Skip to main content

I Hate This.



It's taken me years to finally get the courage to address several areas of my own well-being. It all started with a trip to the doctor during the first week of January. I received so much insight into issues I've been experiencing and problems that I had been choosing to ignore. I've been on medications for over a month and I truly feel like a brand new version of me. 

Growing up, medication was something that was frowned upon and feared in our household. Once I became a parent, my entire perspective shifted. I knew that I would do anything in my power to give my children relief from whatever they may be experiencing. From everyday colds, to the flu, ear infections and even a journey into Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, we've overcome a lot....thanks to modern medicine. However, there is one particular person who was left behind in this journey. 

Me. 

How often have we kept ourselves on the back burner as moms? How many times have we made appointments for our kids, taken them to the dentist or went to buy them medicine, yet we neglect to do the same for ourselves? How often have we noticed an underlying problem or dealt with chronic pain while just hoping it would go away tomorrow? How often has the cost of living kept us from seeking treatment? How often have we told ourselves that what we are feeling is just a part of life and to suck it up?

Yeah. Me too. 

I'm not sure exactly what clicked for me in 2023, but I believe it's a combination of several factors. First, my children are getting older and more self-sufficient. With that comes the realization of just how fast time is flying by and I find myself wanting to do everything in my power to be here on this planet with them for as long as possible. Perhaps it's all of the sick time I've had to utilize due to chronic migraines throughout my career. Maybe I'm tired of walking around pretending that everything is okay. Maybe (just maybe) a conversation with you inspired me to take action steps toward overall well-being. 

With these new found discoveries and answers surrounding the majority of my symptoms, I have learned to embrace medication. If taking medication will allow me to live my best life, then it is 100% worth it. It's my new normal. I'm no longer afraid and definitely not ashamed of it. I've been complimented several times by those who have noticed a positive change...a "glow" as some have called it. I appreciate this so much. 

I don't want to lose this momentum on this journey to being the best version of me. I'm scared to death about the next steps in my wellness journey, but I'm facing fears head on.  

Next up? Addressing the dental work that I've been postponing out of crippling anxiety and fear. In addition, I've made my very first therapy appointment. 

Honestly though? I hate this process. 

I'm giving myself no choice. No excuses. With age, comes wisdom. These action steps are in my long-term best interest, as well as those I serve every single day. Here's to my new "glow" up! 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No One Prepared Me for This

This is the part of motherhood that I feel no one prepared me for. Perhaps you can't really be prepared at all. I didn't think it would happen as quickly as it did.  I'm talking about the day you wake up and your firstborn child is looking you in the eye and well on the way to surpassing your height. Can we not?  Seriously!  Sending Rhylan to middle school last year was a very tough concept to grasp. I've come to terms with being the mother of a middle schooler. I mean...what choice do I have? In doing so, I've had a front row seat to extraordinary growth (and I'm not just talking about physically). I've watched him overcome so much. Whether it was constant encounters with a bully (no one prepares you for that either), watching him navigate tough decisions, strengthening his sportsmanship or taking accountability... I'm constantly amazed by him. Last year was fifth grade. He seemed like a baby walking into that giant middle school. We're currently im...
Post a Comment
Read more

You, My Friend, Matter.

Are you someone who has put herself on the back burner? Maybe you're like me and you've neglected your healthcare needs for years? Today is the day that you make a change. Okay? Say it with me.  I matter. My health and well-being matters. How did that feel? Was it hard to say? Did it leave you with a pit in your stomach? That pit in your stomach is your body's way of telling you that you need to make a change. I decided that a new year was the perfect time to push myself to make an appointment and take the first steps toward medical wellness. Self-care is a topic that we hear about almost daily. We're told to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. Make time to rest. Eat well. Exercise. Have a good skincare routine. Declutter our spaces. Listen to our bodies. Meditate. Be mindful. The list goes on and on....and while I have mastered many of those things, I also realize that medical wellness also fits into the equation (whether I want to admit it or no...
Post a Comment
Read more

What I Learned from Frugal January

While I don't believe in new year resolutions, I do believe in goals, aspirations and dreams. As a society, we're made to feel that with each new year, we must make resolutions, which more often than not, fade by March or set us up for failure. The feeling of failure is never good for the spirit, so a couple of years ago, I decided to stop giving in to that societal pressure. I have found that self-reflection is an excellent place to begin a new year and set realistic goals. This year, I started by challenging myself to what I named Frugal January. It's exactly what it sounds like. I challenged myself to only spend on necessities. I gave up runs to the coffee shop and trips to TJ Maxx. I gave up frivolous, careless and impulse-based spending, no matter how big or small it was. I asked myself one question with every single purchase decision, "do I really need this?" If I could live without it, I declined it. Did this cause me physical pain at times? Yes! There were...
Post a Comment
Read more