Removing responsibility

It’s M.E. Awareness month.

Over 10 years in, I’m now of the opinion that those who care enough have already learnt all they can to the best of their abilities about the disease I have to live with. They know which news articles are a load of rubbish. They know that it’s neurological. They know about the issues with energy production. And I know who those people are and I treasure them.

Not so long ago, I realised that other people’s understanding and awareness has less to do with my ability to educate them than I’d first thought. I’d placed so much responsibility on my own shoulders that I took it as a personal failing when those around me weren’t aware of some of the key features of M.E. I felt I’d laid everything out as best I could and still the message wasn’t getting through.

But they know what they know; they know the bits that affect them personally. That I will likely cancel plans, that I can’t stay for long when we meet up, that I can’t travel far, that evenings out aren’t best, that I can’t walk certain distances…

And I am making my peace with that and reminding myself that it’s not through lack of trying that the other bits haven’t sunk in.