It’s Health Literacy Month, and ILLfluencer Zenovia Wright (@zenoviawright) is saying what a lot of us need to hear.

Knowing about your health isn’t enough if you’re not willing to use your voice. That means asking questions when something is being recommended, reading the paperwork, paying attention to what your body is telling you, and speaking up when something doesn’t feel right. It means understanding that the person with the title may have expertise, but so do you, because you’re the one living in your body every single day. Being an active participant in decisions about your body, your health, and your life isn’t optional, it’s critical. And neither you nor your provider knows everything, which is exactly why it has to be a conversation and not a lecture. If you’re navigating chronic illness, let this be your reminder: Learn as much as you can, ask the questions, and don’t ever be afraid to use your voice. Nobody is going to advocate for you the way you can advocate for yourself. #WeAreILLMatic #HealthLiteracyMonth #ChronicIllnessCommunity #BlackWomenWellness #KnowYourHealth