Tag: support

Sexual Assault is Everybody’s Problem

The More Things Change…

We all know how this ends. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This can be applied to so many things going on in our world today. For now, I’m going to focus on the issue brought to the forefront by Harvey Weinstein. The subject of these latest headlines, the sexual assault and harassment of women, particularly by powerful men, remains a problem for us all.

I say a problem for all of us because this is not and should not be a “woman’s problem”. This is a human problem and affects women, men, young children and the elderly. It needs to be addressed by every single one of us. I’m saddened by the fact that this problem still needs to be addressed and the behavior still enabled by some. As evidenced in the news these days, it appears that we’ve made little progress on a number of issues. Continue reading “Sexual Assault is Everybody’s Problem”

Lupus Society of Illinois

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest, support, and encouragement.  This is an important cause and is very much appreciated.

This weekend, our team will be participating in the Illinois Lupus Walk.   If you are interested in supporting the Lupus Society of Illinois, you are welcome to view our team page here: Lupus Won’t Dupe Us

 

 

 

Lupus Awareness Month

lupus_awareness
lupus awareness

I’d like to talk about something close to my heart this month.  As some of my readers are aware, I live with a few autoimmune diseases, as do many other people.  Most of these diseases are not easily diagnosed and they are not well-known to the majority of people.   I think most of us have heard the name lupus, but don’t know too much more than that.  This is one reason that it is so critically underfunded.  We need to raise awareness of the symptoms so that more people are diagnosed earlier and are able to seek medical help.  I’d like to have more of us become aware of the impact that lupus and other autoimmune diseases can have on our friends, our family, and our co-workers and how you can help to support them.  This is why I’d like to devote some of my posts this month to the issue.  You will find these (and previously posted) articles under the category of “Chronic Illness”.

There is no cure for lupus.  Many of the medications that are being used to treat the symptoms create significant problems in their own right.  We need awareness and support to find a cure and better treatment options.

By posting a few informational articles, I’m hoping to increase awareness, to inspire support, and to raise interest in the subject.  I am fully aware that this is just one of many causes that we’re all provided information on and we certainly can’t support everything.  In addition to lupus and others, I always support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Heart Association for personal reasons.  It is my hope that you will learn more about lupus and autoimmune disease in order to provide support as well as to help increase awareness.

Thank you for your understanding.

If you read any of the literature and would like to send me a personal question or comment, please contact me from the site (top right corner/contact me) or email me directly at debsordinarylife@gmail.com.

I always love hearing from you and appreciate the comments that you post!

I’m a Fixer; What Are You?

You know how, in a group of people, each person takes kind of an unofficial role?  Some of us are planners, some of us are followers, some of us are easy-going and some not so much.  Some in our group work really hard and struggle to get ahead and others seem to carry a horseshoe in their pocket.  It takes all kinds of people to make up our world and each one serves their purpose.  Well, I’m a fixer.  I have a compulsion to have to fix everything.  I know that idea is outdated.  All the FB posts, pins, and articles that I read nowadays say things like “sometimes you just need someone to listen” or “sometimes you just want somebody to say it’s ok”. Well, that’s not me.

I try, really hard, to just listen and to not offer input or advice unless I’m asked.  I fully realize that not everybody wants my opinion or wants me to try to fix something, but I can’t help it!  It appears that my brain believes that my life goal is to fix everything for everybody!  I do my best work when I have a mission, a goal, a cause to fight for.  It can be a huge, important one or something inconsequential and meaningless.  The point is that if I see something that, in my opinion, can or should be different, it energizes me.  It gives me something to focus on and something that makes me feel like I make a difference. Continue reading “I’m a Fixer; What Are You?”