Challenge Completed.

Arms raised in success, I completed the challenge!

If you have been following my journey (via this blog) during April for the 2012 WEGO Health's Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge you know that I have been completing the challenges one post at a time.  There were days when I felt up to the task and more than a few when I felt like I should simply give up.

The WEGO Health #HAWMC was much like living with Lupus.  In the beginning, I had no idea how far I would go and in the end, I feel that I managed to accomplish my goal and share more of my Lupus story.  I had a lot of help along the way and want to play the "Thank You Game" now.  Without, Tiffany @TiffanyAndLupus http://www.tiffanyandlupus.com/ I would not have started the #HAWMC in the first place.  It is Tiffany who makes me strive to be a more active ePatient.  There were days when I wanted to give up.  Writer's block would creep in and my mind would begin to play tricks on me, the negative self-talk was almost impossible to overcome but with the help of @julianna12369 of http://whatthejules.com/ who some nights talked me through the more difficult prompts, I/we managed to succeed.

My favorite prompt from the second I saw the list of Challenges was the Theme Song post.  I liked the posts and prompts that accentuated the positive aspects of living with a health focus.  The post I liked the least, well the prompt I had the most trouble with was the "Miracle Cure" -- that prompt had me thinking about and facing my concern that what if they don't find a cure for Lupus.  My thoughts about the "Miracle Cure" prompt push me to fight now more than ever to support the Alliance for Lupus Research http://www.lupusresearch.org/, the ALR is the only global Lupus non-profit who donates 100% of every donation directly to Lupus Research. 

I spent a lot of time reading about many different conditions and health issues during April.  I truly enjoyed learning the ways people have of writing, sharing and exploring their "health focus".  I remember when 30 days seemed like an eternity.  One day at a time, with the help of my supportive team/community, I/we accomplished the goal of writing a post a day for 30 days.

Now, it is May and Lupus Awareness Month is here.  "Lupus Awareness is fun, Lupus is not."