What does Lupus look like? #1

 

Lupus affects all aspects of life in many ways. It looks a little different for everyone, and a little different across days. 

This week, it looks like soaking in the experience of picking strawberries in the (cloudy, cool) morning (with SPF 50, a huge sunhat, and a long-sleeved sun shirt) with a good friend. I didn't know fresh strawberries were so delightful 😊

It also looks like spending a lot of time (that same day) on house cleaning and crocheting and crafting because it's SO FUN. And wait 'til you see the sweet panda toy face I made...

And then it looks like sore hands, feet, and neck the next day, and the feeling of inflammation in my body starting to take hold. Oops. I guess I overdid it. Time for an at-home work day and definitely show up for yoga.

One cool thing about yoga - it almost always does more for me than I expect it to, even alleviating the pain, clearing my mind, and giving me some clarity for the remainder of the day. I am SO grateful for yoga in general and for my favorite yoga teacher, Adriene. 

It also looks like watching a great webinar on Lupus and Nutrition from The Lupus Foundation of America, where I learned more about what nutrients and foods to include more of in my diet to help my body resist inflammation, alongside taking my lupus medications. 

It is also taking time to recognize and feel the privilege and gratitude that I can start working from home. I'm building a private practice as a Speech Language Pathologist, and I have the blessing of being able to build it at a pace that feels true and good to me. 

My dream is to build a practice that honors who I am and where I've been, holding space for all of it, and also provides exceptional service to my clients. 


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