Month: April 2023

Chronic Illness & My Love Of Fashion

On By Windy J Cumberbatch, CPC4 Comments

This is a topic that I’ve struggled with for quite some time now. You see while I have been living with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Lyme Disease (to name a couple), I also have a great love for ALL things fashion. So what’s the big deal? Well, I’m so glad you asked.

HOW I SHOW UP VS. HOW OTHERS SHOW UP

My issue with this is in the way I show up. Most people you come across who live with some type of chronic illness may show up in lounge wear, no makeup and a comfy pair of socks. To be honest, that’s me whenever I’m at home resting. However, when it’s time to leave the house for a doctor appointment, church or one of my kids sporting events it’s hard for me to leave the house without putting forth some effort to look…good. For someone who has loved fashion for as long as I have and who has worked in the fashion industry for as long as I have, it’s hard to toss that part of me aside, even while struggling with my health.

Each day when I wake up, I thank God for another day then I lie in bed for at least an hour or more in order to a get sense of how my day will go…how I’m feeling and what I can and cannot do. Once I get my morning started I take a look at our family calendar and see if there are any appointments for the day that I need to attend. Once that’s all figured out I then think about what I am going to wear. It’s just a habit, and it’s the truth. It has been ingrained in me to care about my outward appearance when leaving the house from the time I was a young girl in North Texas. Sometimes I wonder what others think about me when I show up somewhat pulled together, I wonder if they think I’m not really sick because of my outward appearance. There’s this internal tug of war going on…do I wear makeup to cover all of the redness and swelling in my face? Should I wear my favorite jeans and graphic t-shirt along with my comfy shoes that just happens to be a luxury brand? What will people think? Do I dress down to make others ok with my condition while at the same time suppressing who I am and who God created me to be? Heck no! (You know I wanted to say something else right there)! Lol!

It has taken some time for me to get comfortable in this space. In the past I have felt bad (for lack of a better word) for pulling myself together when heading out of the house. I now know that this was all FEAR and INSECURITY! Thanks to a dear friend of mine who pointed this out to me in a loving way. She encouraged me to be myself and not concern myself with the thoughts of others. Not to be mean, but not to give any weight to the way others see me. What God says about me is what matters most and that’s what I will continue to draw courage and strength.

The Bible says in Jeremiah 1:5 ” I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart”…I love this verse because it gives me freedom to be me knowing that I am walking in who God has created me to be! I believe that God is using me and my love of fashion while in the midst of my health journey to be a living testimony that God can use the sick to minister HOPE to everyone I come in contact with. There may be someone that feels they would not be welcome in the house of God because they love luxury items and love to wear name brands. Everyone has a place in God’s family. We all deserve the space to be ALL that we created to be. If you love fashion you are who God says you are. Hold your head up high, carry that Gucci bag and get your praise on! I have to add…everything in moderation.

Here is a picture of me taken a few years ago. I love this look! I love the everything about it. I felt confident and strong, but what you can’t see is the intense pain my body is in. After this picture was taken, I went home to rest and ended up being in a Fibromyalgia flare up for over a week. But you know what? Even with that God is still good just as it says in Daniel 3:18!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe to our blog so you’re in the know when we have a new blogpost. You can also find Windy’s Journey podcast now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, AmazonMusic and Spotify! 

We need your support to help increase awareness about chronic illness and the negative impact it has on individuals and their families. Share this with someone who is chronically ill as it is my life’s goal to Empower | Encourage | Inspire others who are on this journey with me.

XO- Windy

And if not, He is still good!  Daniel 3:18

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The Power Of Intention Setting & Chronic Illness

On By Windy J Cumberbatch, CPCLeave a comment

Over the past several years, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s important to be intentional about the things I choose to do. It’s important to me to spend time with my family and my amazing friends, but oftentimes I don’t feel good and I’m not able to do as much as I would like to. I spend a lot of time at home alone while my husband is working and my daughter is in school. During the day I am usually in bed or on the couch resting, online doing some research about my illnesses so I can be a better advocate or spending time writing blog posts such as this. It usually takes a while to finish a post due to my illness. I have to take my time because my thoughts don’t come as easy nor as quickly as they used to so I write a little bit at a time until the blog post is complete.

WHAT DOES BEING INTENTIONAL LOOK LIKE?

Well I’m glad you asked! Lol! These are some of the things I put in place that helps me be intentional:

  • Resting: If I have advanced notice that I need to go somewhere like a doctor appointment, I will rest at home for at least 2 days leading up to the appointment do I have enough energy to make the car ride and the waiting in the lobby. Each of these things take a lot to time and energy so I have to be planful.
  • Communication: It is important that I communicate with my family why I am resting. I also ask for help when I need it which is sometimes hard for me. Communicate my needs during this time of rest. Be open and transparent and everything will be ok.
  • Keep It Simple: I try not to overcomplicate things. Communicate my intentions, share the why and move on.
  • Be Realistic: When attempting to be intentional, it’s important that I am realistic in what I want to accomplish.
  • Pray: Ahead of leaving the house for any reason I pray and ask the Lord for strength to do what it is I need/want to do.
  • Say No: It is important to me when being intentional about the things I want or need to do that I say to things that may pull on my energy. If I continue to say “Yes” to things I don’t need to do or own I won’t have anything left for myself. This might be hard for others to understand, but it’s ok. Think self-care!

DISAPPOINTMENT

I have to be honest and say intention setting is not easy for me always…there is some disappointment at times. Staying home getting rest can be isolating and saying “No” can lead to disappointment of others as well as myself. There have been times when I’ve had to say “No” to things that I really want to do but it was best that I didn’t try to push myself because I knew I had something else on my calendar coming up that I needed to conserve my energy for.

I also feel like I am letting others down when I say “No”. It can be emotional for me because I begin to think about all the things I can longer do, at least I can’t do them spontaneously like I used to. It can also be emotional for family members and friends who care about me. Everyone wants to make sure I’m ok physically, spiritually and emotionally. As hard as it can be, intention setting allows me to be the best version of myself so I can show up well. I read recently something that Sara Weand wrote that I love: “Intentions provide you with the opportunity to actively participate in your life the way you want to live it.” I could not agree more!

In conclusion, as I make an effort become great at intention setting, I’d love to hear from you if you have some things that have helped you in this area. Please feel free to drop me a line in the comments below or send an email to info@windysjourney.com, I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe to our blog so you’re in the know when we have a new blogpost. You can also find Windy’s Journey podcast now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, AmazonMusic and Spotify! 

We need your support to help increase awareness about chronic illness and the negative impact it has on individuals and their families. Share this with someone who is chronically ill as it is my life’s goal to Empower | Encourage | Inspire others who are on this journey with me.

XO- Windy

And if not, He is still good!  Daniel 3:18

Follow me on social media:

IG: @windysjourney

FB: @windysjourney

T: @windysjourney