If not you, then who?

Such a provocative title isn't it?!

I'm not meaning that you need to suffer for the cause. I mean education and advocating for each other.

If not you; then who?

That's something I've had running through and through my brain on a constant loop. It has almost become my motto.

If not me; then who?

Feeling overwhelmed or disempowered to advocate

Sometimes I get lost in life with all the other stuff. And I feel overwhelmed and disempowered to have to educate, facilitate, or advocate for my fellow peers. I get in my own head of self-depreciation and insecurities. I think I'm not good enough. I feel like to be so loud and posting so much is too arrogant and self-righteous. I feel like everyone must be sick of hearing the same thing and I probably sound like I'm a whiney baby.

I've been told I am too much for my whole life. I've been told I have no filter and should learn to keep some stuff to myself. It's hard to move past those words and the impact.

But, if not me/you; then who?

Have you ever wanted to speak up and teach others about what life is really like and remove some of the negative prejudices? Have you ever shut down those thoughts because you didn't want to rock the boat or embarrass yourself?

I had no choice but to advocate for myself and others

As loud and inappropriate as people may think I am, I do it because I feel that it is all above me and my insecurities. I do it because it's for the greater good; for those who don't have a voice of their own. I do it because I couldn't find someone else to be my voice when I needed one. I had to learn to be loud, expressive, and rock the boat or get swallowed up by my sadness and isolation.

Maybe that's my superpower?! My son will be so excited that his mama has a superpower! haha

Unfortunately, I am just human. I have faults and flaws.

Life is difficult enough without adding fuel to the emotional fire.

I've had other writers and bloggers try to put me down, manipulate, and passive-aggressively give a few sharp digs - all over insecurities and jealousy.

But there is good news for us all wanting/wishing to change the world; were all on the same team.

There's that good ol' saying:

"It's not pie."

We can always use more support and advocacy

There's never enough people out there supporting, advocating, and educating those who judge or live with negativity.

So how do you even start?! You don't have to start telling every_single_person_every_single_detail but you start with you.

What do I mean? You start by loving, accepting or feeling confident in who you are as an entirety. No one would believe me, but life isn't as bad as it's played out to be. Living with an ostomy bag would be worse if I didn't deliver it with confidence. That's the trick ;)

Accepting myself and my condition

It's that acceptance of myself and who I am (but not giving in to being swallowed up by my disease), that I learned what I felt and how to express my feelings.

Start with building yourself up and slowly step by step, you will naturally find the ability to help others understand, feel and see the confidence.

We are not our disease.