As I write this post, I’m smiling genuinely for the first time for the entirety of this entry. Although I’m still facing challenges, my head is in a better place, and I’m seizing the good moments whenever I can.

Despite feeling exhausted, I managed to get out more this week. After work, I went out for food and cocktails. This was a rare treat since drinking can impact my medication and often exacerbates my pain. Typically, by the end of the week, especially on Fridays, I’m too tired and in too much pain to do much. So, this outing was a significant achievement. I had a fantastic time, feeling relaxed and enjoying every moment. The drinks were amazing, the food was incredible, and the company was even better! For once, I didn’t worry about the aches and just enjoyed myself, which meant so much to me.

I also took advantage of the sunshine and attended my friend’s BBQ the following day. Even though I almost talked myself out of it, fighting the urge to sleep all day, I pushed myself to go. I was proud of myself for making it. Being surrounded by my baby niece and little nephews made every moment worthwhile.

After the BBQ, instead of going straight to bed as I usually would, I prepared for a long-awaited “date night” with my beautiful friend. Despite my fatigue, I got ready and enjoyed an evening filled with a cheese board and mocktails. I absolutely loved it and felt proud for pushing through. I laughed, felt relaxed and for the first time in a while, felt more like myself.

The mental exhaustion can be just as challenging as the physical, and pushing myself to enjoy these moments was a big accomplishment for me. This experience has given me a boost to keep going and to cherish moments like these. This post is a reminder to myself that some weeks will be better than others. This week has given me hope for a brighter future. Even if this is my reality for the foreseeable future, moments like this remind me that I will get there. It’s not always going to be this difficult, and although this week wasn’t easy, it was worth it. I smiled, not because I was putting on a brave face, but because I genuinely felt happy.

This isn’t the longest or most detailed post, but it’s an important one. It’s vital for me to hold onto those brighter days where possible. Life is hard, but it’s also full of beautiful moments. Those are the memories I need to remember the most and remind myself that it’s going to be ok.