APRIL: The in-between month😒🙃😃

Welcome to a new month. New possibilities. Lots of rain…and hopefully less pain.

Now listen. April is a confusing month. It wakes up and chooses chaos. One day it’s 70 and sunny, the next day it’s raining sideways and your joints are like, “Oh, we’re doing THIS today?”

And if you’re living with an autoimmune diagnosis, you already know… April can feel like your body is in a group chat you were not invited to. I feel it too.

Why April be doing the most?

Spring is beautiful. We love a bloom. We love a pretty petal. We love a “look at God” moment.

But let’s not act like Spring doesn’t come with a little attitude:

• Pollen everywhere like it pays rent

• Weather changing its mind every 15 minutes

• Wet, slippery sidewalks keeping you humble and slowing down your stride or slide

And for those of us with autoimmune conditions, all of that can trigger inflammation, fatigue, and an overarching “why does my body feel like this?” energy.

Add in the emotional layer — less consistent sunlight, gray skies, your mood doing a soft dip for no reason — and suddenly April feels like a lot. So, if you’ve been feeling heavy, a bit off, or a little sad…I get it. I’m right there with you.

Now, let’s talk about JOY

(Because it truly matters!)

And, here’s where I’m going to lovingly call us out.

We treat JOY like it’s optional. Like it’s a reward. Like, “I’ll get to joy once everything is handled.”

Meanwhile, your nervous system is like, “Ma’am… we needed that three stressors ago.”

JOY is not extra. JOY is regulation.

Science backs this up. Joy, laughter, connection — all of that helps lower stress hormones like cortisol and can reduce inflammation in the body.

So no, watching something funny or laughing with your friend is not you being a child, or wasting time. It’s you supporting your immune system.

Let me say that again for the people in the back: JOY… supports… your immune system.

Honor the hard

(But don’t live there)

April can feel heavy and scary and a little sad. Like I said above...I FEEL YOU! ME TOO!!

Honor that feeling. Name it, and sit with it. Call it out...hell, scream if you need to.

But don’t unpack your bags and live there. Because there is always a JOYful side somewhere in the room. It might be small. It might be quiet. But it’s there. You just gotta look for it. Become a seeker of JOY!

For me? It’s knowing May is coming.

Because April showers bring May flowers… and I LOVE me a sunflower.

Something about a sunflower feels like, “Oh, okay. We made it through another year”

A few JOYful ways I’m surviving April

(Feel Free to Steal)

I am not perfect. This isn't a full life overhaul. Just things that help me.

🌻 Eat Like You Care About Your Future Self

I’m not saying never have a cookie. I’m saying maybe don’t have five and then be shocked when your body sends a strongly worded email to your knees and back. Mix it up with things like:

• Leafy greens, carrots, beets

• Wild-caught fish...key words WILD CAUGHT!

• Olive oil, avocado oil (healthy fats)

And let’s not forget about gut health:

• Kimchi

• Sauerkraut

• Fermented foods

  
  

Your gut and your immune system are in a committed relationship. They've been married for (insert your age). They must learn to coexist in a healthy way.

🌻 Stress Management (I Know YOU know… But Stay With Me)

Stress causes inflammation. We know this. We’ve heard it. We’ve ignored it.

Here's some tips to consider when we ain't got time to manage our stress:

• Take a deep breath, expand your rib cage, release it with a loud, dramatic sigh (highly recommend)

• Go to sleep when your body asks you to; that next episode, or email CAN wait. Trust me

• Drink water like you have hydration goals...but respect the bladder. It's a true art of balance. I tend to drink more water when I know I'll be home. What's your tip?

🌻 Schedule JOY like it’s an neurology appointment (YOU CAN'T MISS IT...Cause if you do, it'll be months before the calendar opens up again)

Plus, if you don’t intentionaly create JOY, April will happily fill your schedule with inflammatory nonsense.

These aren't groundbreaking, but extremely effective:

• Step outside when the sun decides to show up. Even if just for a literal minute.

• Watch something that makes you laugh, like belly laugh at least once a day.

• Call that friend who gets it. We ain't got time to be explaining ourselves.

• Sit in peace for five minutes without scrolling. Meditation has saved my life. I cannot stress this tip enough.

  
  

Though they appear to be, these are not little things.These are “keep me regulated” things. NON-NEGOTIABLES!

🌻Move… but not to prove... Anything

This is not the season for "go hard or go home" style workouts.

This is the season for:

• Gentle stretching (Yoga)

• Short walks

• Moving your body like you actually like it (dance, maybe?)

We are not trying to win the Olympics. We are trying to feel okay. And doing small movement daily adds up over time. JOY CHALLENGE: Can you stretch for just 5 minutes a day?

OKAY...So we've covered a lot. Hopefully it brings a little JOY to know you are not alone.

April may not be your favorite. It’s not mine either.

But it is doing something. The rain is doing something.The inconsistency is doing something. Even the discomfort is doing something. It's growing us the same way it's growing those beautiful flowers that are blossoming all around.

And while all of that is happening…

We get to choose JOY in small, consistent ways.

Not fake JOY. Not forced positivity. Real JOY.

The kind that says: “Yeah, this is hard… and I’m still going to find something good.”

So if April feels like a lot, just know—I get it. I’m dealing with it too.

And we’re going to get through it.

One deep breath, one boundary, one small JOYful moment at a time.

With Joy always,

MS-ing Around! 🧡🌻