I’ve been thinking about how important communities are and how they can help us survive challenging times. They support our need to be active and informed, help us find comfort and advice, or provide a much-needed safe place to fall.

In the current global situation, having multiple communities for support is crucial for maintaining good physical and mental health.

Think about it: Where do you turn when you’re feeling sad, scared, or lonely? When illness strikes, who do you seek for support and guidance? When you feel helpless or angry, who is there to listen to you?

Communities with empathetic people are a valuable resource to have on our side.

When Senator Barack Obama announced his presidential candidacy in 2007, I learned about his work as a community organizer in the poorer neighborhoods of the South Side of Chicago in the early 1980s. It was the first time I had thought about community organizers, and I wanted to learn more.

I learned how community organizers can give people a sense of commitment and purpose by helping those in need. 

In a New York Times article titled "Obama's Organizing Years, Guiding Others and Finding Himself" (July 7, 2008), we learn that President Obama worked tirelessly to help a multicultural, lower-income neighborhood address issues like asbestos removal, public safety, and employment. Despite facing obstacles, he formed a lifelong commitment to the community.

My kindergarten class, 1965.

I grew up in a tight-knit community where neighbors helped neighbors. Children played outside until dark, and parents kept their doors unlocked in case a child was thirsty, needed a bathroom, or had a problem.

Today, we live in a world that needs stronger communities. I see some crumbling all around us. We’re being pitted one against the other in ways I never imagined.

It’s a challenging time to be alive.

But I’m an optimist who believes there are more good people in the world than bad, more kindness than evil, and more hope than despair.

There are always skeptics, but I see communities uniting to offer assistance after hurricanes devastate towns, especially when government resources are limited.

Anxiety and frustration are so prevalent these days that many of us experience physical and emotional stress. When that happens, I look to my mentors, who inspire and encourage me through their actions and words.

A great example of a mentor who created a community of inclusion and understanding was Fred Rogers of educational television fame. Rogers was a larger-than-life mentor featured in a documentary on his life called “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

I’ve always admired his goodness and compassion, and find comfort in a memory he shared:

“My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

Mentors' and communities' guidance and support are crucial in shaping a balanced, joyful, informed, and peaceful life.

Here are some communities I look to for strength, hope, inclusion, and joy. Maybe you do, too!:

• Family, friends, and colleagues  
• Writers, poets, artists, world and spiritual leaders
• Fellow health advocates
• The MS and Chronic Illness Community
• The gut health community
• The migraine community
• The healthcare community of doctors, nurses, therapists, and researchers
• Communities of women, including empowerment, writing, book, and charity groups
• The spirituality community
  
  Many communities are catalysts for positive global change. The following are just a few examples, but the list is by no means exhaustive:
   
• RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
• NAACP
• Best Friends Animal Society
• Pet Smart Adopt Spot
• Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
  
• Children’s Defense Fund
  
• ACLU
  
• Goodwill
  
• National Wildlife Federation
• Environmental Defense Fund
• American Red Cross
• Obama Foundation
• Clinton Foundation
• George and Barbara Bush Foundation
• JDRF International
• Habitat for Humanity
• Human Rights Watch
• City Harvest
• UNICEF
• Doctors Without Borders
• Hadassah
• Jewish National Fund
• National Alliance on Mental Health
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
  Multiple Sclerosis Trust
  Accelerated Cure Project
• Planned Parenthood
• International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Compassion & Choices
• Bob Woodruff Family Foundation
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Classic films
• Communities that love and protect all animal species
• Arts and culture groups

What communities do you rely on? Who listens to your thoughts and ideas? Who inspires you? Where do you turn for the information you need or the empowerment you seek? Who keeps you feeling balanced or joyful? Who comforts you when you're feeling down? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

The post How Communities Can Help Us Survive Challenging Times appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

This post about complementary medicine was initially published in October 2016. Its contents remain relevant to people with MS or any ailment. Some of the original content has been updated.  

Living with an illness, any illness, prompts you to find ways to feel better. If you have a headache, you take an aspirin. If you have high cholesterol, you take a statin. However, there are sometimes no simple solutions to alleviate your symptoms.

What do you do when you're desperate to step outside the box of conventional medicine to feel better?    

One internationally known neurologist and MS specialist guided his patients to think outside the box for years. Dr. Allen Bowling is a leading authority on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) applied to Multiple Sclerosis.  

Photo Credit: NeurologyCare.net

Dr. Bowling came onto my radar when I searched for more ways to live healthier. The diets I discovered for MS years ago didn't meet my expectations. Roy Swank promoted his extremely low-saturated-fat diet, while John McDougall advocated a low-fat "fad" diet.

They weren’t for me.  

I knew I didn’t want to rely solely on Solumedrol whenever I had an exacerbation; it was the only option at the time of my diagnosis. I wondered if diet, exercise, and a holistic health approach combined with traditional medicine would provide a healthier way of life.

Loyal readers know I was an early devotee of Dr. Andrew Weil's advice soon after my diagnosis. Weil focuses on holistic health and integrative medicine. I clung to him at the beginning of my MS journey.

Years later, I came across an article about Dr. Allen Bowling and his groundbreaking work in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). I needed to find out more.

When I had the chance to attend a symposium at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers' annual meeting, Dr. Bowling presented a topic titled "Expanding the MS Toolkit: Integrating Lifestyle Factors and Unconventional Medicine Into MS Clinical Care." I found it fascinating.

Bowling’s book “Optimal Health with Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide to Integrating Lifestyle, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine” synthesizes his decades of significant research, writing, and caring for the MS community.

Now, I use his book as a guide for healthy living.

This book is a dependable reference that can be used repeatedly. It serves as a comprehensive guide for better health for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS) or anyone interested in leading a healthier life.

Dr. Bowling was kind enough to answer a few questions. If you're looking for the key to mind, body, and spirit working in harmony, Dr. Bowling can help you open that door.    

How did you first become interested in integrative medicine? When did you decide to share your interest with the MS community?  

I first became interested in integrative medicine when I entered practice 20 years ago and realized that most of my patients were interested in this type of approach, yet I had received no education or training in this approach.

I began writing and speaking on the topic once I collected a small amount of evidence-based information in this area (a few months of work 20 years ago). I also began to incorporate it into my clinical practice.

What first concept caught your eye to learn more about integrative medicine?

What caught my eye about this approach (and was actually quite shocking!) is that it actually leads to a higher quality of care, but it is not the standard of care. It provides a higher quality of care because it includes conventional medicine, addresses lifestyle factors that may prevent many diseases and may be beneficial for MS and many other conditions, and provides evidence-based information about “alternative” approaches.

Were you influenced by anyone’s work in integrative medicine to help you decide to go in that direction?

Early in my work, few professionals genuinely used an evidence-based approach in this area—most of the available information was excessively negative or positive and did not include much evidence. In the 1990s, I was influenced by the work of Dr Edzard Ernst in the United Kingdom.

My patients generally did not find either of these extreme, non-evidence-based approaches helpful—they wanted the “real deal” information without spin or sugar-coating.

How do you explain integrative medicine to patients and why they’d benefit from incorporating it into their own lives?  

I explain to patients that there is evidence that conventional MS medications have benefits for modifying MS disease course and treating MS symptoms. Still, there is also evidence that exercise, diet, emotional health, tobacco use, alcohol, and other medical conditions have essential effects on MS and general health and, therefore, MUST be incorporated into the treatment plan.

In your experience, does any one “type” of MS benefit more from integrative medicine than another?

I think all types of MS may benefit from this approach. In the specific case of progressive MS, for which many feel the treatment options are limited, I would argue that many therapies, primarily integrative, are available and should be used.

What has been the biggest game changer in how patients view integrative medicine?

I think the biggest game changer is that people with MS and professionals are more open to this approach and that more evidence is available to support the safe and effective use of these approaches.

What diet(s) do you suggest for the MS community?

I doubt there will ever be one best diet for MS—I think we may find one diet that’s the worst for MS…the standard American diet. For diet, I recommend:

• A generally healthy diet—in keeping with Michael Pollan’s quotation, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Specific diets consistent with this include DASH, MIND, TLC, Weight Watchers, and vegetarian.
• Consider Vitamin D and B12 supplements if blood levels of these nutrients are low.
• Avoid or cautiously use most supplements---there are more than 200 supplements that raise concern for people with MS.
• Limit calorie intake to maintain a healthy body weight.

How much exercise do you recommend to patients?

For exercise, I also think that it is unlikely we will ever find the best program for people with MS. What I recommend is a personalized program that is enjoyable and generally has these features:

• 3-4 sessions per week, each lasting 30-60 minutes.
• 2:1 ratio of aerobic conditioning.
• Balance, stretching, and relaxation during or after exercise are fun!
• The exercise program should be developed in conjunction with a physical therapist for people with any type of disability.

Please explain your integrative MS model and the new MS care paradigm.

The new paradigm of care that I discuss is this integrative model applied to MS. I discuss in detail in my recent book, Optimal Health with MS. This approach utilizes conventional medicine as well as unconventional medicine and lifestyle strategies to treat MS but also to treat other medical conditions and maintain whole body health.

This approach has seven steps:

• Disease-modifying medication
• Symptomatic treatment—with conventional, unconventional, and lifestyle medicine
• Exercise
• Diet
• Personal and social well-being
• Tobacco and alcohol use
• Treatment and prevention of other medical conditions

What are your thoughts on medical marijuana for MS patients?

I think marijuana use needs to be thought through carefully for people with MS. As with any drug, one should weigh the risks and benefits of marijuana. Multiple studies in MS show that marijuana products may improve pain and one’s sense of muscle stiffness (spasticity).

Unfortunately, the products used in these studies are unavailable in the US, which leads to a challenge in relating these studies to day-to-day practice with products available in the US. Marijuana may interact with prescription medications and has possible adverse effects, such as addiction, motor vehicle accidents, dizziness, and impaired balance.

If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Bowling, here's a blurb about him from the Yale School of Medicine's website:

When he returned to his native Colorado 20 years ago to treat people with multiple sclerosis, Allen C. Bowling, M.D. ’88, Ph.D. ’88 believed he was well prepared. After earning a medical degree and a doctorate in pharmacology at Yale, he completed his neurology residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He spent three years as a fellow at Harvard.

“I was thinking, ‘Wow! I have such a great toolbox for doing clinical practice at a high level.’ ” Before long, however, Bowling recognized gaps in his knowledge. “There’s so much I don’t know, so much I didn’t get, in more than a decade of training.”

This realization grew out of the nature of multiple sclerosis (MS): this disease of the central nervous system is incurable and unpredictable and causes a constellation of symptoms. Although his patients generally took conventional medications for MS, Bowling discovered that most were interested in how such lifestyle issues as diet and exercise affect the disease. More than half pursued strategies not dreamed of in the medical school curriculum: reflexology, removal of dental fillings, marijuana, magnets, pressurized oxygen, and prayer. However, at that time, there were no reliable sources of MS-specific information in these areas.

“I realized that the quality of MS care could be improved by providing objective information about the safety and efficacy of these lifestyle and unconventional approaches to people with MS and also to health professionals."

UPDATE: Dr. Bowling's website shows that his clinical practice is now closed. His legacy will endure through his work and the numerous books he has written. I'm sure he's doing something extraordinary wherever he is.

The post Why We Need to Look Closer at Complementary Medicine for Our Health appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

A decade ago, I wrote a blog post about the dark clouds of depression. It was an important post written soon after the death of the brilliant and wildly gifted Robin Williams.

Although we didn't know it then, or at least I didn't, Williams faced a tough health challenge. So, of course, the media went into a frenzy, talking about Williams's suicide and the state of his mental health. They were wrong to give themselves the power to never walk in his shoes yet offer opinions about him anyway.

What gives anyone the right to judge someone else? As we know, with MS, walking in someone's shoes is essential before making snap judgments.

If you can't empathize with someone, move on instead of passing judgment.

Rest well, Robin

Living with MS or any illness requires prioritizing your mental and physical health to avoid psychological distress and mental health issues. Your health should be your top priority. Start by discussing your feelings with someone you trust, especially if you're newly diagnosed. Take advantage of the available help and resources. (Check MS Resources at the top of this page for a list of MS  Advocacy Resources.)

Find a trusted friend, family member, religious counselor, or licensed therapist. There's no shame in taking care of yourself first.

Seeing a psychologist was the best decision I ever made. I worked on addressing all of the anxiety, stress, and negative thoughts I was experiencing by learning how to utilize cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. The world seemed dark at the time, but with hard work and determination, things began to look brighter. It's not a permanent fix, but now I know how to help myself and reach out to others whenever needed.

Growing up, I avoided confrontations by hiding my feelings and disappointments to keep the peace with others. I prioritized their needs over my own. I was a people-pleaser. Today, we know the dangers and how deeply our wounds can fester when we suppress our emotions. These wounds are profound and enduring.

When I got married, my husband and I made a pact always to be honest and open, even when it was hard. We continue to do this to this day, and our marriage has stayed strong.

I paid a heavy emotional price by staying quiet all those years ago. Now, I'm putting negative emotions where they belong through meditation, walks in nature, reading, writing, and art therapy.

In times of great crises, we need to feel safe and loved. The desire to feel heard enables us to reach out and communicate with others about what we're going through. Then, perhaps, one bad moment in somebody's life will hopefully lead to a better one, one day at a time.

I'm not a medical professional or trained in suicide prevention. But I care deeply about you.

Please seek help if you're struggling with your mental health. You are always important, loved, and needed. You always matter!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and the National Institutes of Mental Health are offering digital shareables on suicide prevention. This is a great place to start if you or someone you know needs help.

"People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. No matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help."  https://go.nih.gov/hoMF6tt  #shareNIMH

Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives. Learn about behaviors that may be a sign that someone is thinking about suicide. For more information, visit https://go.nih.gov/cw9p2vx  #shareNIMH

The post Battling the Dark Clouds of Depression When Living with MS appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

Fear. Illness. Sadness. Anxiety. 

The words dangle before my eyes, suspended in midair as if to taunt me. They hang in the balance as constant reminders of stories flashing relentlessly through my mind. I close my eyes tightly, hoping the words disappear, leaving me alone forever. When I open them, they're still dancing wildly, mocking me for the hope that went unanswered.

.

I'm not the only one struggling with negative thoughts; unfortunately, I have PLENTY of company.

In times of trouble, I find it helpful to turn to one of my favorite quotes from Rumi, who understood human suffering, resilience, and hope. I look to his  wisdom to remind me how inner pain forces us to realize what truly matters:

"The wound is the place where the light enters you."

Living with an illness is challenging, and these days, it's even more challenging, with global divisiveness, hatred, and violence adding significant stress to our lives. Stress can cause our symptoms to worsen.

With your permission, I'd like to offer some wisdom to help manage negative emotions and pesky thoughts. I believe it's possible for us to bring light and hope to ourselves and others when it's needed most.

Offer hope and authenticity instead of platitudes to those living with chronic illness.

People often mean well with trite platitudes like "When one door closes, another one opens" or "We get as much as we can handle." Those maxims were created for people looking for easy answers. The truth is, there are no easy answers when it comes to mental health. We can't shake it off or get over how we feel.  It takes a tremendous amount of hard work.

The lessons I've learned over the years often came from the brilliance of others who offer hope and resilience through their words or deeds.

I'll leave a few links to helpful resources at the end of this post.

The magical book.

When I was thirteen, I read Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet and was deeply moved. As the words washed over me, they sparked my inner spirit as if there were a birth; believe me, it was a birth. It was the beginning of my passion for philosophy and spirituality. Since then, that passion has helped me through some pretty dark times.

I've also learned from Mr. Rogers (yes, that Mr. Rogers) the importance of turning to "helpers.": 

"When I was a boy and saw scary things in the news, my mother would say, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"  --Fred Rogers

Change your perspective, change your world.

Gibran offered a way to look at life through a different lens. Changing your perspective can change your world. I found this article by Psychology Today helpful in shifting your mindset as Gibran prescribes.

If we adopt a more positive outlook on our experiences, we can find the strength to persevere through our most demanding challenges. Is this easy? Not at all, but it's worth a shot.

Philosophers, poets, religious leaders, trusted friends and family, online communities, and many more can contribute to our mental wellness plan. They are the helpers we should turn to, time and time again.

Avoid anyone toxic; your social circle should comprise of people with your best interests at heart.

Attitude is critical to living a life of joy.

I learned the importance of a positive attitude at a young age. Little did I know how handy this would be at a seminal moment in my life when, at twenty-eight years old, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and became part of the disability community

I leaned on Gibran's philosophy to help me face my most significant challenges.

Learning a bit about Buddhism also helped me deal with adversity. When things fall apart, try to find ways to feel grateful instead of angry. Facing fear instead of running away from it can give us the courage to grow stronger.

Confronting our fears can be complicated and overwhelming. I'm not a medical professional, so the only advice I can offer is to seek professional help if you need it. There's no shame in prioritizing your well-being.

I highly recommend talk therapy. From personal experience, it has "saved" me several times.

Sit. Relax your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Breathe.

Life can present us with many challenges that seem impossible to overcome. Our troubles can feel overwhelming, leading us to believe we’ll never recover.

We have two choices: we can either feel sorry for ourselves or see challenges as gifts that remind us it's time to make positive changes. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.

You might be thinking, "Cathy, you're crazy! How can I grow and change when living with this blankety-blank illness that's overpowering? There's no way I can do that!

My answer is that I hear you and understand entirely. I've been there. But I also know from experience that if we do our best to feel lighter by trying integrative medicine, and working on our inner selves, it can help us relax, and it helps immeasurably.

Does that make sense? I hope so. Please let me know if you have any questions.

The importance of gratitude when facing chronic illness

Every morning, I name at least two things I'm grateful for.

My list always starts with my husband and son. Then, I have the ability to dress, bathe, and feed myself. I can walk, sometimes with a walking stick. I'm blessed to have the work I love, helping others feel less frightened and isolated on their health journey.

What are YOU grateful for?

It's okay to have bad days; that's fine; we all have them. Living with a chronic illness is never easy. Don't feel discouraged if you have days when you only want to lie in bed. That happens to all of us. Once in a while, that's perfectly okay!

I hope this post has been helpful and that your bright days will outnumber the dark ones.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

May the light enter you often and bring the inner peace you deserve.

NOTE: This post was originally posted in July 2015. It was updated and altered.

USEFUL LINKS:
Insight Timer - the free meditation app. (Including meditations for fear, anxiety, etc.)
The Mayo Clinic's take on integrative medicine.
Chopra: The Neuroscience Behind Gratitude: How Does Cultivating Appreciation Affect Your Brain?
Lion's Roar: Are You Listening? To Really Listen to Others We Must First Learn to Listen to Ourselves
VeryWell Health: Can Stress Trigger Multiple Sclerosis?

The post Where Can You Find Emotional Health While Living with Chronic Illness? appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

As a writer and health advocate, I am committed to raising awareness about living with multiple sclerosis and chronic illness.

Christine Miserandino's Spoon Theory (butyoudontlooksick.com):  "Spoonies" refer to people with chronic illnesses. The theory uses "spoons" as a metaphor to measure their daily energy levels. Some days, they may have an abundance of "spoons," while others may come up short.

Because sometimes, when people can’t see your disease, they don’t believe you have one. 

By shedding light on our everyday struggles, I aim to provide information that can foster the compassion and tolerance needed to bridge understanding gaps.

Step back to make way for a better world. 

How you can help someone with MS or other chronic illnesses:

1. Don’t feel sorry for us, but do us a favor by learning more about our illness.  Then, the next time we tell you we're tired or seem to cancel plans often, you’ll better understand why. Learn more about MS here

2. We may not look sick, but our immune system tells a different story. So, the next time we need to occupy a handicapped parking spot, please ask if our placard is registered before judging us. We truly appreciate your concern, but we deserve to be treated with respect. (This happened to me when a well-known broadcaster ignored my placard and instead spoke harshly to me.)

3. Practice compassion and tolerance whenever you see someone with a disability.  Our road is a daily battle of maneuvering the challenges of life.  The things able-bodied people take for granted, such as walking, talking, dressing, exercising, seeing, peeing, pooping, and intimacy, are considerably more difficult for people with disabilities.

4. Please help us maintain our self-respect. Picture falling in front of a crowd and hearing people whisper that you look drunk. Or imagine attending an event with friends but unable to keep up with their pace. We don't like burdening others with our issues. However, in our silence, we'd be comforted to know that you understand why our bodies disobey us and that you're willing to slow down to help us feel better about ourselves.

5. Be Patient. Please keep in mind that we might seem to ask a lot of questions when making plans. We're just trying to take care of our MS. We fear the next flare-up, so we want to make sure we can manage the event properly. It's not that we don't want to see you; it's just important for us to be prepared.

6. We're often tired.  I know you are, too, but I doubt it’s the same fatigue. Because when we're tired, it feels almost like we have a nasty case of the flu, only 1,000 times worse. Every part of our body cries out for a nap, and no matter where we are or what we're doing, we have to find a place to rest. So please understand why we may have to leave a party early or cut our visit short.  In a perfect world, we'd stay, but unfortunately, our brains yell at us to rest.

7. Living with chronic illness can be isolating at times. Dealing with a chronic illness is a common experience. There are days when I can barely get out of bed or do more than one activity at a time. It's easy to feel isolated, anxious, depressed, or have low self-esteem and self-confidence. A phone call or spending time with loved ones can make a huge difference. Put yourself in our shoes and try to understand our experiences. This will help you realize the value of reaching out to those you care about.

Important

The post Seven Ways You Can Help Others Living with Multiple Sclerosis appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

I received some challenging news from my neurologist, but I wasn't surprised. I've lived with Multiple Sclerosis for almost four decades, so I learned to expect the unexpected. Interestingly, after the doctor's appointment, a quote started to repeat in my head:

"God only gives us what we can handle." 

Given historical and recent events, I'm not convinced that no one faces more than they can handle. For now, I'll focus on the following mantra instead:

I envy people who seem to have smoother lives and don't have to worry about physical limitations, accessibility, or health issues that hinder simple pleasures. It's quite a blessing.

But millions of people face the challenges of illness and adversity in one way or another. Our special needs can create anxiety and sadness because life can be tough and frustrating. This isn't the life we imagined.

I searched for a quote that might give us some solace. The Buddha never disappoints:

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful." ~Buddha  

I guess it's time to tell you what I learned at my recent appointment with my neurologist, the catalyst for this post.

In recent years, I've been experiencing more MS symptoms. I frequently lose my balance while walking, and my right leg feels numb, weak, and heavy. I struggle with embarrassing bladder issues, and walking has become more challenging.

This has been a major concern as someone who loves spending time in nature.

I had no new lesions on my last MRI (pretty much the goal with MS), but I also had no remission (or return to normal) of the symptoms I was experiencing. In other words, new symptoms don't disappear; they're here to stay.

After 38 years of living with relapsing-remitting MS (the most common type of MS), I now have what's called secondary progressive MS.

I was almost expecting this news.

I'll never allow a few words established by the medical community to define me.

A new "type" of MS won't change who I am. It's a label, a few words strung together to categorize our disease. As a friend recently said, "We're not beat yet!" You betcha.

Let's face it: not every day is our best. Sometimes, we feel sad or discouraged. There are days when we struggle to get out of bed, get angry at our MS, or reluctantly cancel plans because we can't keep up with the pace of others.

This is normal and human; it's impossible to maintain a positive or resilient attitude every single day.

I learned that instead of quashing negative emotions, we have to experience them fully. That's what "experts" say. (Listen to Melli O'Brien talk about regulating negative emotions. I subscribe to her newsletter and find her wisdom comforting.)

Negative emotions are inevitable; we must confront them if we want to return to the light.

How I focus on the positive while living with the unpredictability of MS

It's crucial to learn how to navigate life's challenges effectively. There are numerous ways to achieve this. Here's my approach. What do you do?

1. Do what you love.  Some ideas include playing a sport, spending more time with your children, joining a gym, writing or knitting, or picking up a new hobby or one you've put aside.  Refocusing your attention can revitalize and refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones is invaluable.  "Cognitive-behavioral therapy is based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events.  The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel / act better even if the situation does not change." ~National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists  
3. Count Your Blessings. It's important to recognize and appreciate the good things in your life. These can include your loved ones, your achievements at work, and other positive aspects. Take the time to focus on these blessings and express your gratitude to those who have been a part of them. You may be surprised at how much joy they bring you!
4. Take time for yourself. Take a bubble bath and light some candles for a relaxing staycation.  Get a hot stone massage.  Take a walk in the park to surround yourself with the beauty of nature.  Watch an old movie that makes you laugh.  Do something that feels good and rejuvenates you.  You deserve it.
5. Set daily goals for yourself. Use the ease of a program like Google Calendar to schedule personal tasks that make you happy. These personal goals will help you feel good and are important for your well-being.
6. Don't let a bad day get you down. Remind yourself of your successes and those who love and support you unconditionally. Life is filled with ups and downs. How you handle them is what's important. You're a badass! You're a survivor! You—and we—can do this! We can do hard things together.
7. Check my MS RESOURCES page for more information about MS and possible programs that may interest you.

The miracle of everyday blessings

My wise cousin once said that any test we face is a sign that something wonderful is about to happen.

Her advice aligns with the quote that's been on my mind. The strength we need to endure lies within us. We must believe in the miracle of everyday blessings because we've been given the power to change how we think and feel in any situation. We can do this, I promise you.

I've learned to live within my abilities and adapt as best as possible. I don't want to dwell on the past; I want to live for today, right now in this moment. I'm grateful that I can continue to have that choice!

How do you stay positive when life becomes challenging? Will you follow any of my suggestions to live a positive life? Do you have any other suggestions? Please let me know in the comment section below. 

The post When A Diagnosis is Challenging it's Time to Stand Strong(er) appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

Ah, MS, you picked the wrong girl to mess with. I'm tired of dancing with you. I'll never allow you to take the lead.

(You can borrow my mantra if you'd like!)

The other day, I was thinking about healing emotional wounds from living with MS. The ups and downs of anxiety and stress can, at times, be overwhelming. Was it a coincidence that I stumbled on a quote by Lancali that perfectly describes healing emotional wounds while living with MS? Hmm.

"A chronic illness is not difficult to live with because it is endless. It is difficult to live with because it is unpredictable. But like grief, every flare ends, and though the looming threat is constant, you learn to live beside it. A shadow of mixed blessings. It does not heal as wounds do, but it teaches you of your own strength till you can wear it like a battle scar."

Life is inherently unpredictable, and we can never be sure about the future. Coping with an unpredictable illness like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) requires us to be emotionally prepared to face the challenges that come our way. It teaches us to be resilient and to develop coping mechanisms that help us navigate through the difficulties of life.

It's easier said than done, but I believe it's worth it if we can do this.

I shared a post on social media to create awareness about how it feels to live with MS (or any chronic illness) and the emotional toll of fighting everyday struggles. It caused quite a stir:

Allen Bowling, MD, PhD, MS Specialist—I interviewed Dr. Bowling about his book Optimal Health with Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide to Integrating Lifestyle, Alternative, and Conventional Medicine (click here to read the interview). I highly recommend reading this informative guide. It's one you'll go back to again and again.

The post How to Start Healing Emotional Wounds Despite the Unpredictability of MS appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

It's been a few months since I've written a blog post, and I've missed being here with you. There are endless reasons why I had to step away. For now, I'll tuck those away for the sake of this blog post.

EXCEPT to say I've had headache-worthy problems with my blog.

You probably noticed slow-loading issues with An Empowered Spirit; for that, I apologize. I needed help (and still do) to fix AES and couldn't find anyone qualified who wouldn't charge buckets of money. Yikes. So I'm working my way through eleven years of posts for possible broken links, photograph sizing corrections, and changing content style that no longer feels right.

I'm cleaning up eleven years' worth of blog posts so it won't move at a snail's pace.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share some information (which I love doing!) about four people I've come to rely on in my journey with MS. I think you'll quickly see their value as you manage your journey:

** Acquaint yourself with the brilliant Gavin Giovanonni, a/k/a Prof G.  I highly recommend following him on Substack. Here's one example:

MS (Research) Selfie, NHS strikes: Implications for the future management of MS: Are consultant neurologists dispensable when it comes to the management of MS?

Check out Professor G. and subscribe to stay on top of his cutting-edge work!

A beautiful, wise owl

Mindfulness while walking is restorative

** Cory Muscara is a former monk. Today, he's a mindfulness teacher and international speaker on presence and well-being. I found him through Mindfulness.com during a particularly emotional time and signed up for his free daily texts. They cover mindfulness, self-sabotage, happiness, behavior change, and mental health. Cory's wisdom has been reliably helpful, and if you follow him, I hope you find the same. Let me know what you think!

** Dr. Aaron Boster is a highly regarded neurologist who is well-loved within the MS community. Dr. Boster wants to "make MS boring by providing you with the knowledge you need between visits." He breaks MS down into easily understood terms and does it entertainingly. Check out his YouTube channel! We are fortunate to have him in our corner.

The fabulous Brittany Quiroz a/k/a A Hot MS

** The upside of being part of the MS community is meeting fellow disability advocates. Living with MS can leave you feeling vulnerable, sad, lonely, and frightened. That's what an unpredictable disease can do to you. Thank goodness others are walking in similar shoes who "get you" without the need to explain what it's like living with the disease.

One such advocate I have the privilege of getting to know is Brittany Quiroz, or as she is better known, A Hot MS. Brittany is a remarkable woman of great character who lives with comorbidities, including MS and breast cancer. That doesn't stop her from using her talents for the greater good. Aside from her advocacy work, she's a gifted artist and singer and uses both to benefit patients through her charitable work. She's a force of nature with a heart of gold, breaking the glass ceiling by using her authentic voice about her journey. Please do yourself a favor and check out her blog to learn more about Brittany. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

That's it for now, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for the pleasure of your company and your compassion and understanding that a bit of rain must fall into each life, and sometimes it falls in buckets. It's just part of being human.

The post The Insider's Guide to Four People to Follow While Living With MS appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

The following originally appeared in The Huffington Post in 2015 for MS Awareness Month. A few minor changes were made to reflect how I continue to feel in 2023 about living with MS. 

The philosopher John Lennon famously wrote, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." The life we imagine for ourselves isn't always the one we get. Our paths can take sudden turns down unexpected byways, leaving us to battle unchartered territory.

March is MS Awareness Month, a time to remember the over 2.5 million people worldwide living with an unpredictable and incurable disease called multiple sclerosis.

Strength, resilience, hope, and courage are important words to remember while thinking about the MS community.

And of course a cure.

As February drew to a close I didn't know what to write about to honor this important month.  How could I put a positive spin on a disease that's often an unrelenting taskmaster?

At the same time, I've always tried to look for a silver lining in any situation, despite any challenges.

That's part of a sound mental wellness plan. 

Then it hit me! As an obsessed fan of classic films such as "It's a Wonderful Life," I thought about Clarence...you know, Clarence the Angel.

Like Clarence granting George Bailey the ability to see what life would have been like if he'd never been born, I wanted to write how different my life would have been without my diagnosis.

• I would never have known the joy and unconditional love of dating someone who proposed marriage to me despite my recent diagnosis. (This year is our 35th wedding anniversary!)
• I would never have felt the unconditional compassion and understanding of family and friends who love me at my best and worst.
• I would have missed out on knowing extraordinary nurses who went above and beyond anything they learned in nursing school.
• I wouldn't know MANY extraordinary people in the MS community, and other health-related communities, who continue to inspire and educate me through their examples.
• I would not have had a reason to use my love of writing to inspire, educate, and empower others to live, as best as possible, a positive life after a difficult diagnosis.
• I would not have had an opportunity to write for health-related websites and online publications that allow me to write about something I feel passionate about.
• I would not have had a chance to be a speaker and a consultant for many organizations where I'm free to speak about MS from a patient's perspective.
• I wouldn't have had an opportunity to speak about ability and disability to people who've made a tremendous impact on the world. Alan and Arlene Alda, Ken Burns, Goldie Hawn, Mrs. Gene Kelly, David McCullough, Diana Nyad, Cokie Roberts, and Steve Wozniak, to name a few. I "name drop" only because I respect and admire each of them for stepping beyond their creative work to make a difference in the lives of others.
• I wouldn't have been able to teach my son, by example, that disability doesn't mean inability, and that tolerance, compassion, and understanding always matter most.

I look forward to the day when I can finally say, "I used to have MS." That will be the greatest day of all.

MS is something I'd never wish for, but as a friend once said to me, " You're part of a club you never wanted to be in, but since you are, you may as well be one of the cool kids." INDEED.

So I'll be mindful that despite my diagnosis I'm surrounded by many blessings.

And, like George Bailey, I cannot be a failure because I have many wonderful, caring friends - both near and far.

I'm thankful for my diagnosis because it taught me self-compassion, survival, the importance of careful research, and always keeping hope in my heart.

My best friends, my husband, and my son.

ABOUT MS AWARENESS MONTH:
National MS Education and Awareness Month is an effort by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) and affiliated groups to raise the public's awareness of multiple sclerosis. The vital goals of this campaign are to promote an understanding of the scope of this disease and to assist those with MS in making educated decisions about their healthcare.

To learn more about MS from various MS organizations please check the list of MS RESOURCES located on the tab at the top of this page

The post Why I'm Thankful For My Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

As we lumber through the difficult, polarizing days of 2020 I'm reminded of the last time Americans faced this much turbulence.

It was 1968 and the United States had a president with low approval ratings, the war in Vietnam had no end in sight, Olympic athletes protested racial injustice, two shocking acts of violence took the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, feminists protested misogynistic attitudes toward women and bitter divisions between citizens threatened to rip the social fabric of our country apart.

We lost a deep sense of community that year. What I mean by community is when people support and share their experiences and struggles out of a deep concern for others. Community is what builds lasting relationships and provides us with a strong sense of belonging.

In 1968 the black clouds of turbulence and trauma were tearing our communities apart. In 2020, here we go again.

“We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join
in community with the human race.” – Cicero

Growing up in suburban New Jersey I was keenly aware of current events but like most nine-year-olds my world centered on school and social activities. The headlines of 1968 seemed far removed from my hometown, my neighborhood, and from me.

I grew up in a neighborhood built during postwar America when families moved from cities to the suburbs. When I look back it reminds me of the childhood scenes in "It's a Wonderful Life." There were plenty of children close to my age and we often played outdoors together. In summer it was kickball or kick-the-can and in winter we took our Flexible Flyers and metal saucers to the top of the hill for the thrill of sledding down several adjoining backyards.

The only instructions from our parents was to be home before dark.

Our childhood was a unique and idyllic one that helped us establish important values of a lifetime - kindness, integrity, truth, fairness, decency, trust, and cemented bonds of friendships that have lasted for sixty years.

“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers, and cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.” ― Goethe

Not everyone grew up in a neighborhood like ours and I'm cognizant of that. The values I learned all those years ago are ones I've leaned on in my darkest days. This year I've needed them more than ever.

As the nation faces four simultaneous crises: a pandemic, economic upheaval, systemic racism and social injustice, our country is fractured between blue and red, left and right. Such division hasn't occurred since 1968 and this state of affairs is troubling.

I wish I had a magic wand to heal the world. I'd return a strong sense of community to reignite moral and ethical values. I think it's what we need.

Our deeply divided country is lashing out from the anger and frustration we feel. Can we ever heal and rebuild trust in each other? Can we pause and open our hearts to someone else's point of view? Can we begin the difficult task of constructive conversations with people of differing views? Will our dire situation remain unsolvable?

I'm not happy with the cancel culture but I'll admit to unfollowing people who refuse to wear masks and tell others to do the same. I unfollow those who are mean, violent, or spread fear, hate, or lies. I don't want them at my table.

Alan Alda, who now focuses on communication skills through his Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Book University, is quoted as saying the following:

"Trust...is the essential building block of any good conversation, especially with someone who may not be on the same page. 'You're not going to have trust if you assume, before you even start, that this person is beneath contempt,' he said. Think about 'what ways this person is not your enemy' and even 'in what ways you're very much alike.'" ~Alan Alda.

Our negative emotions are unhealthy and need to be tamed for the sake of wellness. How can we do that?

As I thought about writing this post it occurred to me that the lessons I learned as a patient are applicable to everyone this year:

• Listen to your body. If you experience unusual symptoms such as pain, bowel or bladder dysfunction, extraordinary fatigue, or cognitive dysfunction, it could be a cry for help. Contact your medical team.
  NOTE: This is for COVID and non-COVID related issues.
• Manage stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety can cause many physical and emotional symptoms. Look for ways to tame them, such as meditation, walks in nature, breathwork, yoga, t'ai chi, laughter, exercise, connections, journalling, the proper amount of sleep, healthy eating, learning to say no, finding creative outlets like singing or painting, or seeking professional help.
• Keep your distance. In a pre-COVID world, the MS community knew to stay away from people who were sick. Today we must all stay at least six feet from others in order to do our best to stay healthy.
• Maintain relationships. We nurture our relationships because we all need human connections. There are many benefits to staying connected such as lowering anxiety and depression, regulating emotions, higher self-esteem and empathy, and improving the immune system. By neglecting connections you're actually putting your health at risk. One plus one can equal a whole.

In a pandemic world, here are a few ways to maintain a sense of community:

Social isolation. Social isolation is a real problem for many people. Consider calling someone who lives alone. Drop off a meal, send a text, write a letter, send flowers. Remember to ask how someone is feeling and if they need anything.

Stay connected. Social media can be many things but in the age of emotional devastation and uncertainty, it has the potential to create connectedness. It can integrate the elderly and vulnerable populations into everyday lives. It can create sustained, engaged concern for the wellbeing of others.

Join a group. During the pandemic, there are many ways to find others with similar interests. I've taken online yoga classes, meditation, and wellness classes, art museum tours, and group business coaching events. All were interactive and held on Zoom. I found them easy to maneuver, pleasurable, and they helped ease stress and anxiety.

Zoom or FaceTime: I've reacquainted myself with old friends and relatives I fell out of touch with by using the Zoom app. It's been a lot of fun with tons of laughter, and very gratifying. Now that we have more time for ourselves it's the perfect time to schedule a session with those you've been thinking about.

To paraphrase a quote from the Talmud:

Whoever destroys a soul it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

With the upcoming holiday season let's remember that being kind to even one person can help save the world. Let's do our best to build a sense of community, one kind word at a time. Let's get started...

The post The Importance of a Sense of Community and Belonging in Polarizing Times appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

I took a de-stress break from blogging because my brain was yelling, "Stop the world, I want to get off!" Is yours screaming that too? This year will go down as one of the worst, if not the worst, the world has ever known.

An Empowered Spirit - Image for - Nine Ways We Can Tame Anger and Stress to Restore a Bit of Peace and Calm

Everything that's happening around us has taken a devastating toll on our psyche, and the stress of it can make living with chronic illness a complete and utter nightmare.

My body's been rebelling in ways that if I didn't notice I'd be a complete idiot. Over the years I've paid a heavy price by ignoring unusual symptoms. Our bodies are brilliant machines designed to tell us if something is wrong.

Listen closely to yours.

Since the pandemic began have you experienced anxiety? Stress? Depression? Aches and pains? Unrelenting fatigue? Lack of focus? Unusual bowel or bladder dysfunction? Loss or increase in appetite? Lethargy? Insomnia?

If you have you're not alone. I hope you take time for some self-care. We're being hit from all sides in 2020 and if you don't address your physical and emotional needs things can get pretty messy.

As we crawl through 2020 the trick is to learn the best way to survive. Staying as healthy as possible is the most important goal you can have.

When anxiety and the madness of outside forces gnaw at my spirit I do what I always do. I turn inward. Since March I realized how much I needed to reclaim whatever inner peace and calm I lost, so I looked for ways to work on the three C's I felt I needed most:

Calm. Clarity. Confidence.

It's so damn hard to rise above the brutal noise of 2020 while avoiding the dreaded coronavirus.

Here's how I'm trying to fight the insanity and recapture some calm, clarity, and confidence:

Reading - I'm reading more, which I find difficult to do these days. Scattered thoughts creep in to distract me. Power on, I tell myself. Power on.

I'm currently reading two books:

1. Triggers: Sparking Positive Change and Making It Last by Marshall Goldsmith
2. Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty.

⇒⇒ SIDENOTE ⇐⇐
Both books were recommended by my heart-centered business mentor and amazing human being Sarah Walton. I signed up to join her workshops/groups because I want to find a new direction in my advocacy work.

Sarah helps women entrepreneurs realize their goals while leading with compassion. As her tagline says, "I put more money in the hands of more women." 

She, and the group of women I met through her, entered my life at exactly the right time. During the pandemic. They supported me when I needed it most and provided a safe place to fall, one filled with compassion and creativity. I found a new sense of purpose and clarity for the work I do.

Now I have a new group of friends along with a sense of belonging, something that was woefully missing from my life. But that's another story... 

You can check Sarah out and what she offers for women by clicking here.

Gone are the days when businesses are solely about the bottom line. Meaningful businesses should also be about the heart.  

Friends for over 50 years!

Community - As I mentioned above, I found a remarkable community through Sarah. I've always found comfort, solace, and lots of laughter in the company of women friends. It's important to nurture our relationships! I believe this so much that I've written about it several times.

During the pandemic, it's particularly important to have a community to lean on, one where others have your back, and you have theirs.

If you have 1, 2, or even 3 good friends, you are truly blessed. I know I am...

Meditating - I meditate every night for at least 10 minutes using the free Insight Timer app. My favorite meditation is a poem I share at the end of this post.

Yoga - I finally returned to the practice of gentle yoga when one of my dearest friends offered to conduct Zoom sessions with me. She's an amazing instructor who knows exactly what I need. My creaky joints are sore but I don't care. I'm deeply grateful for every stretch. And for my friend.

Exercise - I'm devoted to taking daily walks on flat nature trails, legs permitting. I've gained weight during the pandemic, some of it due to MS flares, and I'm determined to lose weight and feel better at the same time.

Whether I can walk 5 or 55 minutes the sense of accomplishment lifts my spirits. Keep going! Keep going!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - I'm doing my best to allow negative thoughts to flow through me by replacing them with positive ones. I learned this years ago in therapy. It really works for me. You can click here to learn more about CBT.

Letting go of anger and resentment- It's important to let go of anger and resentment as much as we can. With all that's looming over us, it's not only a tall order - it's a humongous one!

When I hold on to anger and resentment (and honestly, who doesn't?) anxiety and stress appear at my door.

We have to let go for the sake of our physical and mental health. I'm working on it with a combination of CBT, meditation, and keeping busy with projects and hobbies.

I want to live as joyful a life as possible. How about YOU?

Fighting fear- Fear in the time of the coronavirus is real and can't be wished away. Staying on track with social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing my hands helps me feel I'm doing all I can to keep me and my family safe.

Fear also appears when seeing and hearing about others who don't take the virus seriously. It frightens (and bugs) the hell out of me. Are you taking precautions?

Everyone living with an invisible illness knows that just because something is invisible, like the coronavirus, doesn't mean it isn't real. Think about that.

I hope you find some peace and calm in the midst of this storm. Let's all hold onto hope and faith that we will get through this.

Before I go, I'd like to share a poem by Safire Rose that I found on the Insight Timer app mentioned above. I meditate on it over and over again. The words bring me a sense of calm and inner peace.

I hope it does the same for you. 

She Let Go

She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of the fear.

She let go of the judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.

She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.

Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn’t ask anyone for advice.

She didn’t read a book on how to let go.

She didn’t search the scriptures.

She just let go.

She let go of all of the memories that held her back.

She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn’t promise to let go.

She didn’t journal about it.

She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.

She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.

She just let go.

She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.

She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.

She didn’t call the prayer line.

She didn’t utter one word.

She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.

There was no applause or congratulations.

No one thanked her or praised her.

No one noticed a thing.

Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.

There was no struggle.

It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.

It was what it was, and it is just that.

In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.

A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…

The post Nine Ways We Can Tame Anger and Stress to Restore a Bit of Peace and Calm appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.

What word do you think Merriam Dictionary will choose for 2020? It's an impossible task to narrow down all the horrors taking place to a simple word or phrase. I chose a few possibilities below, but honestly, I could have done without 2020.

For me, it's been a year of staying home for long periods of time, washing my hands with extra thought and purpose, and being overly concerned that my husband, as careful as he is as the sole errand-runner in our house, will bring invisible germs home.

But wait! These are the same issues that I and 61 million disabled adults in the U.S. already worry about. 

My diagnosis changed the way I had to live. Stress and germs can be catalysts for flare-ups. Fatigue, numbness, and weakness can keep me home for days on end. Bladder dysfunction triggers anxiety, embarrassment, and the possibility of infections. Spasticity forces me to include more electrolytes in my diet.

When the pandemic hit it occurred to me that a window of opportunity might open up for the non-disabled community to better understand how the disabled community already lives. Avoiding germs, washing our hands, and staying far from coughs and sneezes is our way of life.

Perhaps our communities will forge a bond as we focus on taking care of ourselves and each other while remaining cautious about a world that offers hidden dangers.  

That's my hope.

After my diagnosis, it took me years to feel pride in who I was. Declining countless invitations and living life at a slower pace made me feel broken. But adversity often hands us silver linings, and mine catapulted me into a new direction. I began to dig deep, working hard on my inner self. I wanted to let go of the burden of negativity that crept in with MS. The self-doubt, loss of confidence, and negative self-image. I didn't want to go through life this way.

The work was hard but it helped me realize that I am enough just as I am. I wasn't broken because of an invisible illness. I was completely whole within my abilities. Robert Frost was right:

Courage. Resilience. Determination. Kindness. Mindfulness. Faith. Hope. Joy. Compassion. Love.

These are my guiding principles.

July is Disability Pride Month. I never wanted a disability but it's part of who I am. It's my story. The picture isn't always rosy. There are dark days and overwhelming struggles. But in the end, I choose to rely on counting my blessings, living in gratitude, and holding my head high. It might sound ridiculous or too "woo-woo" but it's what works for me.

I hope you'll choose to do the same. I wish you peace and good health. Please stay safe.

Namaste.

The post How My Time of Brokenness Helps Me During the Pandemic appeared first on An Empowered Spirit | A Life with Multiple Sclerosis.