As long as you’re breathing, you are still useful to us. Right now your body is calling for your attention. It’s okay to heal without having to jump back into routine. I wish your friends/family knew this. Also we are not judging you, you are not any less desirable in our eyes because you are recovering from such an intrusive surgery (as you and Open Eyes have informed us). Absolutely zero judgement. In fact more adoration than anything. You don’t have to make excuses for recovery or be embarrassed about releasing smells. If people close to you have not done research on a colostomy and the aftercare, perhaps they are not fit to be part of your tribe right now? Nonetheless, we should be the ones having to overthink how we can show our support and care for you. You don’t need to be thinking about how we are perceiving you (Our opinions are 70% from ignorance anyways).

Choose yourself right now. Forget the noise. Ask for what you need people to quit doing or start doing more of. You are not a pain in the ***** for requesting support.