Welcome back! It's been a while since I published a blog post so I'm thrilled to have you here! Thanks for stopping by.

I took the summer off from writing when it became apparent that I needed a break. It was time to focus on my inner peace.

I tell others with MS to listen to their nudges, those internal grumblings trying to push you in the right direction. Nudges are (very) smart guides vying to grab our attention away from the noise and nonsense going on in our heads.

(We all have racing thoughts that play over and over again ad nauseam. They aren't real! Here's a meditation from the wonderful Tara Brach to help us quiet the mind.)

This summer I took my own advice and listened to my nudges.

The course of my MS and comorbidities were knocking the wind out of my sails.

The revolving door of doctor appointments and tests, not to mention (but I will) calling and calling and calling medical offices for a response, was driving me crazy.

It became a full-time job.

"When you're caught in a familiar reaction, stop, take a deep breath, feel what you're feeling and ask, "How would a wiser version of me respond at this moment?" ~Cory Muscara

There were a few personal hurdles that were also troubling me. They weighed heavily on my heart. It was time to find emotional balance and mental wellness.

 I returned to therapy.

I love my therapist. She's an excellent listener and an expert psychologist who is worth her weight in gold.

If you feel the need for therapy I highly recommend finding a good psychologist.

Another unsurprising component of my need for time off is the state of our chaotic world. It becomes more unnerving every day and sets me on edge. I know I'm not alone in this!

Now I watch the news in the morning, read The New York Times, and that's it for the day. Otherwise, I have nightmares about the violence and hatred penetrating our society. I stay informed, but self-care is the priority. Stress is an enemy of MS and is unhealthy for everyone.

So summer was a good time for introspection and wellness.

"These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb." ~Najwa Zebian

Ignoring our nudges leads to deeper wounds that become more difficult to repair later on.

So I took my own cues seriously. I carved out time to be still, to recognize my wounds, be patient with them, and be willing to process difficult feelings from the past.  (Here's a good article on 8 tips to heal emotional wounds from PsychCentral.)

It's not easy as you slowly go through the process of trying to heal your wounds. Many unresolved emotions can be tough to deal with. But it's necessary if you want to move forward.

When the mind and body are in disharmony nothing in life makes sense.

I decided to journal about my healing plan. This held me accountable to my goals and writing felt cathartic. Here's what I did this summer:

• Meditation.
  
• Nature walks.
• Advocacy work that included many initiatives for the MS community.Meaningful conversations with loved ones.
• Doctor visits and having my list of questions answered.
  
• Physical therapy.
  
• Chair yoga.
  
• Educational webinars.
  
• Reading for pleasure.
  
• Nurturing close relationships.
  
• Hugs and more hugs.

Do you take time to tend to your emotional needs or do you let things slide, thinking they'll magically disappear?

Do yourself a favor. Commit to a plan to slow down, do breathing exercises, and de-stress whenever you need to! 

I can remember stressful events from every decade of my life, and I bet you can too. So, remember these four ways to find the inner peace you deserve:

• Give yourself permission to slow down.
• When you feel out of balance schedule some "me" time to recharge and reset.
• Make yourself a priority. No one and nothing is as important as you.
• Your physical and emotional needs are equally important. Tend to both of them as much as you'd tend to the people you love. 

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln

(I know I'm stretching the point from this quote but I  don't think Honest Abe wouldn't mind.)

I hope you found this blog post helpful. I'd love to hear your thoughts so please leave a comment.

Until next time I wish you peace and good health