Starting a Brand-new Chapter: Reviving ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’
After a long hiatus, Kristiana Page has returned to writing her powerful column
In February 2021, I penned a farewell column for Lupus News Today that I wholeheartedly believed would be my last. Writing something that felt so final prompted many emotions. In between my first “hello” and what I thought was my last “adieu,” there were a hundred self-evolutions. The frightened girl who wrote her very first column in late 2016, was not the same person saying goodbye.
And yet, even with all the emotions, the timing of my departure felt right. I started writing just after my diagnosis as a form of therapy. I was scared and confused, struggling to process how I felt about being sick in a way I could never recover from. But by 2021, I finally felt like I was finding my way in life. My test results were the best they had ever been, and as the dust began to settle, things were good.
Yet it came at a cost. As I was getting my feet back underneath me for the first time in a long while, I started struggling to find inspiration for my writing.
As that era of my life drew to a close, I felt at peace. In my darkest hours, I sat in front of my laptop, tissues at the ready, and put my struggles to paper. During the times I felt isolated, as if not a single person in the world understood, I wrote.
My writing style was true to my personality: unfettered, honest, and raw. I never wrote to make the reader comfortable. I wrote because, in those moments of crippling loneliness, I knew there was someone else, somewhere in the world, who felt the way I did. That person needed to know that at least one person out there empathized, that someone understood.
I shared my heart, struggle, and journey with the world for over four years. As I took my final bow, I walked away with a full heart and a smile on my face.
Getting reacquainted
Fast-forward to a month ago, when I received a message asking if I’d like to revive “The Girl Who Cried Wolf.” Before I’d even reached the end of the email, my heart was beating its answer through my chest: a resounding “yes!”
It’s been a long time in between drinks, so I thought it best that we get reacquainted. For those who are new to my column, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kristiana, I’m 26, and I live on the beautiful southeastern coast of Australia. I was diagnosed with lupus nephritis in 2016 and have been under the care of a nephrologist ever since.
If you’re wondering what to expect, I’d describe my column as unapologetically emotional, sometimes uncomfortable, and straight from my heart. I learned the power of vulnerability early on when I came to a crucial fork in the road. The road sign gave me two options: comfort or connection. It was an easy choice. What did newly diagnosed Kristiana need more? She needed help combating crippling loneliness; she desperately needed connection.
When my writing starts to feel uncomfortable, I have two streams of thought. Firstly, I remember how often discomfort has been a precursor to my growth. Secondly, I think of myself in May 2016 and how scared I was. Confused and afraid, I watched as my world crumbled and imploded. I think of how I’ve survived much, much worse than “uncomfortable,” and that I am much more fearless and fierce for pushing through.
In my writing, I shy away from the norm because I don’t live a normal life, and haven’t for some time. I write about hard topics because whether it’s easy to digest or not, it’s my reality and a truth worth sharing. If you’re looking for easy, feel-good reads, I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place. But if you’ve been searching for a light to show you that you’re not alone in the darkness, pull up a chair and get comfy.
Whether this is your first time reading my column or you’re an old friend rejoining me on my journey, I’m so glad to have you with me. Welcome to the revival of “The Girl Who Cried Wolf!”
Meet Kristiana Page, who has returned to Lupus News Today with her column, “The Girl Who Cried Wolf.” (Photo by Kristiana Page)
Note: Lupus News Today 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 Lupus News Today, or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lupus.
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