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