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.