Investing in Yourself

Earlier today I saw a list a friend had posted of best ways to invest in yourself. It was a lovely, yet so completely without a clue. The list presumes you're an upper middle class or better white American without a thing wrong with you. I looked at that list and just laughed, because it's pretty laughable for anyone with a chronic illness. I rewrote the list from the perspective of someone with chronic illness like Mast Cell. I'm not going to rewrite it to address the white privilege because I am no qualified.  Here it goes.

Ways to Invest in Your Chronically Ill Self

1 – Watch television on your bad days if you feel like it. Don't let anyone shame you for your choices.
2 – Read on your bad days if you feel like it, or any time. Don't let anyone shame you for your choices.
3 – Try not to worry about money on your bad days. Chances are there's not much you can do in the moment anyway. Money will wait until another day.
4 – Know that every day you are not required to do more than you can actually physically do. Tell anyone insisting otherwise to go away.
5 – It's okay not to feel upbeat, bright, perky and chipper. Your emotions are your own, own them completely, acknowledge what's going on and do not allow others to try and guilt you into 'thinking positively'.
6 – Take all the time you need in your day because life is more than a race, a measuring chart or a checklist. Chances are good that those things will still be waiting for you tomorrow, or the next day.
7 – Put your own needs, physical, mental, emotional, first because no one else will. Ignore those that would say it is selfish. Self care is not selfish.
8 – Don't worry about achieving your goals on bad days. Your goals will be there when you're better, you're accomplish them eventually and again, life is more than a race, a measuring chart or a to do list.
9 – Move as little or as much as you want to, are capable of and need. Don't let anyone else determine what that amount is.
10 – Eat the things you can tolerate during your flares. Don't worry about diet, or what others think you should eat.
11 – Most importantly!! Do not allow others to try and shame you for you doing you, taking care of yourself in whatever manner works for you. They aren't you. They don't live with your condition. They should have no say in your own self care.

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