Letting it sink in

My husband said something to someone the other day that really made me stop and think:

“Before Anna started Blue Sunday there wasn’t actually anything like this for M.E. awareness or fundraising.”

I forget that. Yeah, that’s pretty cool isn’t it? Millions Missing came after, and what came before didn’t unite multiple charities or causes. Plus, they weren’t that accessible to the very people living with M.E. They certainly weren’t accessible to me. And awareness-raising events can feel so heavy and bleak. I didn’t want it to feel like that.

A lot of people don’t realise that it had to start somewhere and where it started was, well, with little old me.

It wasn’t a big charity (or even a small charity!) that is behind this day. Just a very poorly me who wanted, so desperately, to feel a part of something that her health allowed her to join in with.

I will admit, it used to feel very important to me that every single person knew the origins of Blue Sunday and the Tea Party For M.E. When you have so little in life, you can become incredibly attached to what you do have! But my ego has quietened down over the years and now I’m just so glad that it helps break the isolation for so many people.

Honestly, I’m just so chuffed with all things Blue Sunday this year. My health has thrown a variety of obstacles my way that made me wonder if Blue Sunday would go ahead in the way it did in the last couple of years. But with my little group of cheerleaders and proof-readers it’s all coming together.

I think Blue Sunday is the greatest honour of my whole little life. The messages I receive about how it made people feel included in something after years of being neglected and on the sidelines, make me tear up every single time. I know exactly how that feels.

I never planned for it to grow like it has; never really thought past that first tea party in May 2013. But it continues to be the highlight of each year for me. Thank you for making it what it has become.

Without your support it’s just an idea that a very poorly 23 year old had whilst confined to her makeshift dining room bed. Now it a global, annual event that so many people look forward to.

This year I’m really letting myself soak it all up and letting it sink in that Blue Sunday is something really special. I’m proud of myself.