One Year In

A year ago today, I received my diagnosis of lupus. It was a pretty scary time for me, not knowing what to expect and wondering if my symptoms would get worse. But now, one year in to this diagnosis, there is great news to celebrate.

First of all, my symptoms haven't progressed. I haven't had to take steroids and I haven't had any organ involvement. That is a reason to celebrate.

And so is the second thing: I feel pretty darn good. Not 100% and not good ALL the time, but I feel considerably better than I did a year ago at this time. I'm still achy some days and it is annoying that I have an old lady pill box when I'm hardly even middle aged yet. But when I look back at where I was, I know there is NO comparison. I'm a different person today than I was a year ago.

The third thing is that I have reorganized my life somewhat in the last year. I haven't totally pared things down as much as I would like (I AM an overachiever, in case you didn't know that already), but I have tried to put more pleasure in my life and lessened the "have-to" duties a bit. I'm trying to recognize when I'm pushing myself too hard and I'm learning to say no.

Fourth? I've had a pretty freaking amazing year in so many ways. I went to Jamaica with The Love of My Life and some of our best friends.

I lost 20 pounds (and I'm still working on more).

I went skydiving. And I felt so alive!

I did silly things with my kids.

I went to my family reunion and laughed with my crazy relatives.

I found a new passion.

I rode thrill rides.

I laughed a lot.

I fell more deeply in love.

I spent a week caring for Grandmother and truly bonding with her before she died.

I trained for and completed a half marathon.

I got baptized.

And I learned that the only limits I have are the ones I put on myself. Lupus hasn't limited me. It might change my day by making me feel like crud, but I can limit the impact it has on me by choosing to focus on something else. And that's what I plan to keep doing.