Dealing with Judgy McJudgster

I haven't been posting every day. I figured it's ok because it gives me (and you) a break. Don't fret (or rejoice), I'm not giving up the blog. I just decided to take weekends off.

I was chatting with a Facebook friend (who I also know in the outside world) this morning about “invisible illnesses” and how cruel people can be. She doesn't have MS, but she does have a different debilitating autoimmune disease. Someone actually talked about her “imaginary disease”.

I was outraged and reminded of a post from Ashley Ringstaff:

“It's over 100 degrees outside and I stopped at the store. The only parking open was a football field away from the store or handicapped. So I used my placard. When I was unloading my cart. A snooty ... You know what, in her all spandex outfit, called me a lazy bitch. Let's just say I let her know what I thought about her. TGIF??” 

https://www.facebook.com/AshleyRingstaffMS

I don't want my blog to turn into a bitchfest where all I do is complain about “normal” people being rude and judgmental to people who look “normal”, but it's annoying and exhausting fighting illness and judgment. Forget trying to correct people who compare their troubles to yours. Those are the people who are easy to ignore; their hearts are usually in the right place, even if you want to scream at them, “IT'S NOT THE SAME!!!!”.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't cost anything to be kind and understanding. Everyone is fighting a battle of some kind. What's difficult for you, might be a breeze for someone else, but that doesn't mean you struggle any less. It also doesn't give you the right to judge anyone for their abilities, or lack thereof.

I get it; there are a lot of scammers in the world, but not everyone is a scammer. At the risk of sounding preachy, you shouldn't assume that all people are “faking it” because they don't fit your definition of what sick looks like. Kindness goes a long way and doesn't cost a thing. Be kind. And you, Judgy McJudgster, people do get sick and not look sick to you. And to those of you who deal with Judgy McJudgster, use kindness toward yourself, and eff them. I understand, though, it's hard to deal with over and over.

This is written about MS, but really, it applies to every “invisible” illness.

http://positivelivingwithms.com/2015/08/21/you-didnt-do-anything-wrong/#.VdcjrfZVgSV

Yea, I'm “in a mood”. I'm tired of trying to educate people (who mostly don't really want to learn), tired of dealing with “you look fine”, and tired of these gobstopping shots. I'm itchy, sore, bruised and swollen. And I've got ELEVEN more MONTHS to go, at least.