I am attempting the Wego Health Activist Writers’ Month Challenge. A post each day in April. So, now that I told you I am going to do it, I oughta follow through, right? Today’s prompt is to write a recap of your experience. What was your favorite prompt? Least favorite? What have you learned?

Well, I can tell you that I wasn’t exactly sure that I could pull this off. I have tried (and failed) many times to write a post a day. And this wasn’t exactly the ideal month to go for it – I had major surgery scheduled for the middle of the month.

But I did it. And it made me get my act together (I never had a resources page before this challenge, can you believe it?!).

Here are the highlights:

• I shared why I write, and it was the first time I had stopped to really think about it. Plus, it was an excuse to share a Spice Girls music video.
• I talked openly and candidly about CRPS and my struggle with chronic pain – and not because I felt I had to defend myself (which is how I felt when I shared my disease the first time).
• I talked about living a life with a chronic condition and truths that apply to celiac sufferers, food allergy sufferers, CRPS sufferers, etc. And some secrets to living a full life despite your condition.
• I shared some aspirations and a letter to my future self (on the occasion of my 30th birthday) that might have been one of my most revealing posts.
• Sometimes I loosely interpreted the rules to suit me. I had a point though – I was sharing some bits about an upcoming project.
• I shared my personal philosophy.

All in all, I learned a lot about myself and a met community of bloggers that I don’t often include myself in – health activists. I might do it again next year, but if I do, I will plan in advance and not decide at 10pm on April 1st that I should take on a month of daily posts.

Particularly when I have other posts that need to be written that don’t match up with the prompts (like my Gluten-Free Jammie Dodgers and my Snack it to Me series. I wrote 36 posts in 30 days.

I guess I can do {almost} anything. Thanks for sticking around and learning about CRPS, chronic illness and a positive life.

This week we will return to regularly scheduled programming with some more gluten-free snack mixes and this month’s Relish!

I am attempting the Wego Health Activist Writers’ Month Challenge. A post each day in April. So, now that I told you I am going to do it, I oughta follow through, right? Today’s prompt is to create a must-follow list.

I am certain that this prompt intends for me to share people that I think you should follow. If that is what you are looking for, check out my resources page or previous posts from the challenge.

If you follow anything at all, consider following this

You could call it a philosophy or a manifesto of sorts. Words to live by. Maxims for a better life.

When your body throws you a curveball and reveals that it doesn’t work the same way as others, or that it has gone to war on itself, it is easy to get lost. To struggle. To lose sight of the big picture.

But darling, it is all about the big picture.

Abraham Lincoln said “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Consider your chronic life just a part of the big picture. How you spend it despite the hardships is what matters.

So, here goes:

You should fill your heart with good and then follow it to where you need to be. There is no other kind of must-follow. 

A much wiser woman than I can ever hope to be wrote these words, and they are rumored to have been painted on her wall.

“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

-Mother Teresa

For me, these words summarize my personal philosophy. My own manifesto for living a better life. If I never follow anything else, I hope to say that, when all is said and done, I have lived my life anyway.

That I created. That I did good. That I succeeded. That despite a million and two reasons not to, I was kind. That I filled my heart with good and let it lead me.

I am attempting the Wego Health Activist Writers’ Month Challenge. A post each day in April. So, now that I told you I am going to do it, I oughta follow through, right? Today’s prompt is to write about something ordinary that’s inspiring to you, something simple, perhaps overlooked, that fuels your activism.

I think that all you need is love. Truly. If I wasn’t for the love of my family and friends, I wouldn’t be writing, working or creating. Love gives me the strength to keep pushing on.

My love of life is what keeps me baking. Creating. Sharing.

And I hope that you can find the same love of life. And that it inspires you to reach for whatever it is that you want to do.