August 5th, 2011
by Amanda
If you’re look for an idea for something to write about this month, swing back to this post and customize one of these prompts! Feel free to use anywhere on the web be it your blog, your Facebook, or in video form. And, as always, if you’re inspired by a prompt and try it out in your health community – drop us a note and we’ll help you promote!
- Share a story about a time you were cared for by someone else. How did that feel? What did you appreciate most and what was the most challenging part? What do you wish your carer knew at the time?
- When have you cared for someone else? What did you struggle with and how did you find support for yourself? What can patients offer caregivers to make their caring easier or more effective? Any tips to offer?
- Care Package Post. If you were to receive a care package in the mail tomorrow – what would love to find inside? If you’ve made someone else a care package – what did you include?
- Advocating advice. Advocating for yourself is hard – even when you know so much about living with your health condition firsthand. How can others advocate for conditions they don’t have? Is that ok? Write about what they should and should not do and how would you suggest they join your cause.
- Parenting vs. caregiving – is there a difference? Why does society differentiate between caregivers of the elderly and parents of young children. Are parents given enough credit? Check out this post for more on this topic and share your thoughts in a post, video, or discussion.
Advocating for Others, August, caregiving, post prompts | 
2 Comments »
July 8th, 2011
by Amanda
We’re focusing on empowerment this month and what it means to support yourself as a person and as a leader. In supporting yourself and grounding yourself, you will lead your community by example. In line with our theme, our post prompts will center around standing up for yourself and modeling empowerment for others. It is my hope that these prompts will inspire you and, by utilizing them, remind you how great you are and how important you Health Activist work is.
So, if you’re searching for something to write about, post about, or just think about this month – here are some prompts for you. Just come back here, borrow one, and customize if you’d like.
- Think back to a time you felt truly connected, present, and secure in yourself. Where are you? What are your surroundings? How did you get here? Why do you feel this way? And, if you’d like to bring it back to the present – how can you bring yourself that feeling again?
- Stigma plays a huge role in misunderstanding health conditions and can threaten our own well-being and make our missions as Health Activists harder. What stigma is at the top of your list to correct? What would you tell a community member who asked your advice on addressing this stigma in their own life?
- It’s easy to compliment others, but harder to compliment yourself. Write down three qualities you have that makes you feel unique, special, and strong.
- For some reason, we find ourselves apologizing for expressing ourselves sometimes. When was the last time you said “I’m sorry” for something that you didn’t need to be sorry for? Part of being empowered means having conviction and being ready to stand by your beliefs. Share 5 things that you will not apologize for and reaffirm your commitment to them.
- Elaborate upon this month’s FTT – write about what it means to be “empowered” and how you define not only the word but the spirit it evokes. “To me, empowered means ___”
As always – if you get inspired and bring one of these prompts to your community, share a link so we can see where you went with it and help share your work!
e-patients, Empowering Your Community and Yourself, July, post prompts | 2 Comments »
May 6th, 2011
by wegokerri
What, you didn’t have enough post prompts in April?
May is off to a nice and relaxing start, so don’t take these prompts as pressure. Instead, they’re little appetizers for your ideas, helping you serve up an inspiring main course. Here we go with the prompts for May!
- Everyone is talking about spring cleaning their homes, but maybe it’s time to spring clean your health. Living with any kind of health condition can lead to a little bit of burnout, but now is an excellent time to dust off your good intentions and make those changes you’ve been thinking about. How do you plan to spring clean your health?
- May is all about expanding your reach as a health activist. How are you reaching members of your health community now, and what’s on your ‘wish list’ for ways of reaching them in the future?
- There are a lot of social media tools available to help people connect, but there are a few that stand out in the pack: Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and video. Are you using any of these tried-and-true methods of outreach, and how do you keep your message consistent across these different mediums?
- How’s this for a conversation starter? “The thing that scares me most about social media and health is ______.” How would you finish this thought? How would your community finish it?
- And finally, you’ve heard that a picture speaks a thousand words. How about letting a few photos tell the story of your post? It’s a great visual way to get a few thousand words “written.” What photos would you use to tell your health activist tale?
Check back every “First Friday” for five more prompts for you to consider, and customize. Bring them back to your communities and start a discussion, blog, or vlog about it. If one of the prompts sparks something awesome – check back in and leave a link – we’d love to see which direction you took it and give you some linky love in return!
May, post prompts, wego health | 2 Comments »
