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Who's on your team? Meet Team Jenni!

by Jenni Prokopy, the Editrix

The topic of support teams has come up a lot recently. Whether I'm speaking with people living with chronic illness, or folks who are trying to start their own freelance business (like I have), everyone agrees: things go smoother with a good support crew on your side.

But I know lots of Babes who are afraid to lean on others, or maybe they feel too proud to ask for help. Or maybe they just don't know how to ask.

So I thought I'd give you an incomplete-but-still-illuminating list of my support team. There is no way I could possibly list everyone who helps me, and for that I am completely blessed. But I'll give it a shot anyway. In no particular order, they are all uniquely awesome and helpful.

Meet Team Jenni:

Natalie: My best friend. Bonus: her lovely husband James, who has photographed me and lots of other ChronicBabes to great effect. Super Bonus: their son Gabriel, who makes me smile even on the toughest days. Little kids have a way of doing that.

My sisters Lauren and Meredith: They are incredible, resilient and hilarious. They keep me laughing and we help each other through tough times. Bonus: my niece Vivi (who is adorable through the phone lines) and bro-in-law Mike (who's always educating me about music).

Andrew, Sandy, Dave and Scott: My officemates at the shared workplace we affectionately dubbed The Internet. They help keep me on track and inspire me to work harder. And they're damn funny.

Cinnamon: That girl can cook. And sew. Which makes her sound like a 50s housewife, and she's quite the opposite. She's a sassy feminist, rabble-rouser, rule-breaker. She's the total package. She inspires me to no end.

Fibrochondriac: She helps me put together the blog carnival every other week, which means she helps share other Babes' messages too.

Matt: He made ChronicBabe.com gorgeous and still teaches me lots. And his wife, Meg, is also an awesome friend. They brew delicious beer and are happy to share it with me.

Cary: He eats bacon with me every Friday and we can talk about anything. And everything. And we do.

Ses: My pedicurist. He picks hilarious colors that make me giggle.

William and Richard: They take care of me over at the UPS Store where I get my mail. They pass along magazines no one else wants, and carry my boxes to the car, and we find ways to laugh about our various and varied health conditions.

The staff at my apartment building: They're lovely and polite and friendly and helpful. They make many things much much easier.

Friends: So, so many it's impossible to list them all. Suffice to say, they all play different roles in my day-to-day life. Some of them send me tips on health stuff. Others send me jokes or call to see how I am. Some of them cook with me, swim with me in my pool, hold me when I cry. How can I ever try to list them all and everything they do? Impossible.

My In-Laws: I love them. Even during the toughest times there is enormous love there. I love wearing the mismatched socks Pat sent me a few months back.

All my fellow ChronicBabes and readers: You are awesome. You send me tidbits and stories and advice and praise and constructive criticism and it all means so much.

Steve: Even at the hardest moments I do know he believes in me and my work. We try our best.

The nice guy at the Toyota dealership: He explained how I could make more money selling the car on Craigslist. Who does that? For that matter, EVERY NICE PERSON ANYWHERE who doesn't take advantage of my ignorance or vulnerability. You are all awesome.

More friends, especially the newest ones: They teach me things, introduce me to new music, listen to my frustrations, and offer helpful advice. They know when to shut up when I just need a good ear.

Briana: She shows up just at the right time, every time. What a miracle that is!

All my doctors: They are so patient with me and my rainbow of ever-changing symptoms. They work hard to keep me AWAP. They work together to find solutions. And they believe in me, which is an incredible feeling.

Joe: He teaches me things I didn't even know I needed to learn. And he's a great DJ to boot.

Sarah: She's so freakin' hilarious. And she lets me clean out her closet every six months and take home cute clothes, which is like shopping at a fun store with a friend, but with play money.

Aggie and Pam: They make my hair pretty. And help me with things like locating microwaves and acupuncturists.

Oh gosh, there are just so many.

I can't even come close to listing the entire team. It would take me days. But I hope this very inadequate list helps you imagine who could be on your team. Because here's the deal: Life's better with a team. You learn more, you have more fun, you get to share more incredible moments, you get more gifts, you learn to give more and be a better friend...the benefits are innumerable.

So apologies to anyone I didn't mention by name who feels they should be listed: If you feel that way, please know you're in my heart, even if I forgot to put you on this list.

Go Team Jenni! Now, go make your own team!

Posted: 7/12/2010 in Relationships | Also posted in: Coping

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