Dear Person That Just Wants to Help
Dear Person That “Just Wants to Help,”
You’ve seen my social media posts about the food journey I’ve been on. The beautifully plated dishes and the snacks I love.
I wasn’t asking for your advice, but you decided to mention that I should be eating all plant-based foods, that I eat too much, and that I really need to start on the fashion diet you’ve been on.
I wanted to let you know that I’m ignoring your comment, and that I find it biased and full of wellness myths that only bring us down. I work really hard to keep myself healthy, and my diet is a discussion between myself and my care team. I’ll have ice cream if I want to.
I wish you had shown some empathy instead, or said nothing at all.
Normalization. Or Lack Thereof.
Image description: Photo of a pink lined post-it note against a wood grain backdrop. The post-it is titled “To Do” and lists three items: shower, groceries, and try not to spiral.
I had a bit of a profound thinking moment earlier this week. It happened in conjunction with another moment in which I realized I hadn’t fully thought through a situation and, as a result, I had to last minute scramble to find an alternate way to approach what I needed to do.
how the hell did I get here?
Image Description: Black and white selfie/headshot of myself with a bald head from chemotherapy.
Today is day number 281 since my stem cell transplant in January of this year. It’s a number I could tell you on any given day. It’s a number that comes up at most of my oncology appointments. I’ve been tied to this number for a long time. And I’ve been invested in the numbers of my cancer friends as well.