pelled to defend yourself or correct
their misconceptions at every
turn. People around you are always
going to try and identify
with your situation. How well you
learn to accept and view those
attempts will improve your relationships
and make communicating
about Lupus that much easier.
Dump the Day
A friend of mine came up with a
relaxing, meditative routine,
fondly referred to as “Dump the
Day.” During the worst of my
days with Lupus, I performed it
religiously each evening. Now, I
call upon it from time to time
when I’m in special need of relief
or renewal. Here’s how it goes:
Step 1: Before you retire for the
night, find a comfortable spot in
your favorite chair or on your bed
where you can sit for 5 or 10
minutes without disruption. Step
2: Sit quietly with your eyes
closed, letting the thoughts of the
day swirl in your head. The most
troublesome highlights of the day
may surface more quickly, but
allow all the events of the past 12
-24 hours to come into your
mind. Step 3: Slowly, let those
thoughts, troubles, and anxieties
trickle away, “dumping” them
out of your mind. Step 4: Continue
until all the worries of the day
have been eliminated from your
mind, even if only semipermanently.
At least it will be
long enough for your mind, body
and spirit to experience relief and
for you to get some much needed
rest.
Eliminate ‘Should’ From
Your Vocabulary
Every time you think about
something that should happen or
that you must do, rethink it for a
moment. Does it really have to
happen, or do you just want it to?
I agree, many things on your
plate have to get done, but I’d be
willing to bet the list that you
deem obligatory could be cut in
half if you take a good, hard look
at your “should's.” Instead of
wasting time running that one
last errand that could wait until
tomorrow, choose to do something
that will make you feel
good about yourself. Stop for a
relaxing cup of coffee, find a quiet
spot to browse through a book
or magazine, or just take a moment
to breathe. Taking care of
yourself is the first step to living
well with Lupus!
Advocate
Sara Gorman was diagnosed
with systemic lupus at the age of
26. Determined not to let lupus
rewrite her plans for the future,
she fought to maintain her demanding
work schedule, busy
social life, and invincible attitude.
But after four years of running
her body into the ground,
she realized she was fighting life,
not living it. Committed to working
with the disease rather than
against it, she made it her top
priority to start living well, despite
lupus. Her book, "Despite
Lupus: How to Live Well with a
Chronic Illness", details the steps
it took to reach that goal.
In 2012, Sara also launched Sara
Gorman’s Pillbags – a line of
fun, fashionable pill organizers.
The stylish, fabric pillbags can be
found at retail stores across the
country, on Amazon.com, and on
her website at www.pillfold.com.
A native of Indiana and graduate
of the University of Notre Dame,
Sara resides in Northern Virginia
with her husband and two young
daughters.
18—iPain Living Magazine
/Amazon.com
/www.pillfold.com