"I have been trying not to cry since lunch"...It was like the first day as the new kid in high school walking into the cafeteria.
From March 2-4, 2023, my company hosted a conference for 700 top
performers. This was my first work trip alone. I had my backpack cooler of food packed at the conference, and I was feeling confident, prepared, and ready to tackle life. Then, I walked outside to 700 people celebrating the successes of life over a HUGE catered meal. They were eating their catered lunch without a care in the world as I sat there eating my pepperoni, cheese, and crackers ☹ I had NO idea the impact that would have on me. The immense wave of realization of how allergies were truly affecting me hit me like a wave. I was alone for the first time without my support system, aka my kids and husband.
I sat through the rest of the conference that afternoon trying not to cry looking at my watch nearly every 5-10 minutes. As soon as the conference broke for the night, I ran out the door to an Uber to bring me back to the hotel. I HAD to get out of there before the discussion around dinner took place. Once in the Uber, I lost it, sobbing, I mean the ugly cry, tears, snot, on the phone with my husband just boohooing. Who knew I was holding onto feelings such as that? My life had dramatically changed. I was just beginning to understand how allergies were going to affect me emotionally, physically, and socially.
