I Appreciate You!

I don’t think about doom and gloom every day when I wake up in the morning.

Finding light even in difficult times

As advocates, we do have to talk about those things that impact us who have sickle cell and all the other forms it takes. If we look at nature, we will see the perceived good and bad in everything. We have the clouds that block the sunlight on any given day.

When you are dealing with a chronic health condition, you must find some light in your day or week. I have lost a few associates to sickle cell disease, and I appreciated those relationships. I’m still dealing with their passing. I don’t know if it will ever get better, but I find peace knowing they have found all their answers and are no longer in excruciating discomfort.

Furthermore, I appreciate the sunrise every morning because it gives me hope, and I take it as a greeting from those that have left us.

Appreciating those I can

Likewise, I do appreciate the CNA’s and medical assistants that are usually very nice and understanding to me and I never had an issue with them. My last visit to my cardiologist the medical assistant made me feel comfortable and saw when it was difficult for me to get off the table hurried to help me up. I think putting in a good word for someone for making you feel human is just as important as putting in a complaint.

Finding our voices

Of course I would like to acknowledge those who are trying to give us a voice, in whatever form they may come in. The other part of nature, our nature, is to get offended, argue, debate, and anything else that will grow our egos, but when we evaporate our clouds we can come together in unity and appreciate one another because we all can bring something to the community and shine in our own way.

Cherishing our community

I also cherish the late night and early morning conversations just to check in with one another. I don’t think we realize how much that helps. Just by concentrating on being thankful can be helpful. I value this community at Sickle Cell.com/ Health-Union for this platform as a medium for our voices. I am learning new things every day. I can’t leave out Rhedd Maya for her compassion and listening; you don’t know how much you give me added sunlight and strength, I appreciate you!

A prayer and a thank you

This little article I have written has acted as a prayer for me, I’m expressing gratitude for the benefits of being in this community and the relationships I eventually formed.

You see, we are not always talking about “doom and gloom” and our pain all day. Don’t get me wrong, we do want relief, but we do have other sides to ourselves we may keep private or not. Nobody knows how difficult life can be like those human beings who have to fight every hour and day to dissipate our clouds.

We may not say it every day but let someone know you recognize their worth, just because… we don’t know when the next time they can hear it.