Starting a new year with ANCA vasculitis

A new year can feel complicated when living with ANCA vasculitis. For us, it’s not a clean slate, but rather a moment for reflection. We look back at what our bodies carried us through and look ahead with the quiet hope that this year might unfold a bit more easily, with more understanding and self-compassion.

I hope we can all take a moment to thank our bodies for the hard work they did last year. I often forget to do this, but the reality is that my body is working hard for me every single day, even on the days when I feel disappointed with it.

For some of us, last year may have been a challenging time. Perhaps it was filled with symptom flares, unexpected hospitalizations, tough medication changes, prednisone bursts, or the kind of fatigue that makes even simple decisions feel overwhelming. If that describes your year, I hope this new one brings steadier days, better symptom management, and a care team that partners with you. I hope your body experiences more consistency than disruption, and that the difficult moments of last year soften.

Conversely, if last year was more stable for you — your disease felt under control, lab results were predictable, and your body cooperated more often than not — then let’s quietly celebrate that, too. Living with ANCA vasculitis teaches us just how precious those periods of stability are. Here’s hoping this year offers even more of that steadiness and perhaps a few surprises of strength or energy that bring you joy.

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The importance of celebrating small wins in life with vasculitis

No matter how our last year unfolded, one truth remains: The best goals we can set now are those that honor our bodies. Not the “old us,” the pace we used to maintain, or the expectations we think others have, but the body we wake up in each morning.

This means setting goals that are realistic, flexible, and kind. It means choosing rest without guilt, being present without pressure, and experiencing progress without pushing ourselves into a flare or pure exhaustion.

Slowing down

One unexpected gift I’ve found from this disease is that it has forced me out of the fast lane. Truthfully, I sometimes miss that pace. However, in reflection, I realize that those were moments when I wasn’t fully present with the people in my life. Before my diagnosis, I moved quickly, constantly reaching for the next task or obligation. But when life slows down for me — sometimes unwillingly — I begin to see things differently.

I now have the capacity to savor moments. I show up with intention. Conversations deepen, and time with loved ones becomes richer. When I am truly present, even a good hour can feel like a gift. Do you experience that?

Perhaps this year, we can set intentions like the following:

• Be present for the moments that matter, even if they’re small.
• Celebrate the days when our bodies cooperate, and grant ourselves grace on the days they don’t.
• Build rest into our routines instead of squeezing it in only when we crash.
• Stay curious about what our bodies are telling us rather than judging and criticizing our limitations.
• Pay attention to and savor the good moments.

Starting a new year with ANCA vasculitis isn’t about making resolutions; it’s about setting intentions that truly reflect our lived experience. It’s about balancing hope with realism, softness with strength, and navigating our limitations while recognizing the unexpected gifts that illness can reveal: presence, clarity, gratitude, and connection.

Regardless of what last year brought, this year holds potential. At least, that’s how I plan to approach it. I will aim to sidestep the quest for perfection or predictability and instead focus on being present in my life. I don’t know about you, but that sounds nice.

Here’s to a new year that meets you where you are, strengthens what needs strengthening, softens what feels too sharp, and fills your life with moments worth savoring. You deserve that. We all do.

Note: ANCA Vasculitis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ANCA Vasculitis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ANCA vasculitis.