This morning I woke up to a few mystery bruises. You know, those dark marks on your skin that appear overnight for no apparent reason. I have no idea who I was fighting in my sleep. Maybe an anvil fell on top of me in my dreams. Hey, it could happen. Anything’s possible, right?!
Most people don’t have to think about the things they are doing in life like answering the door when an unexpected visitor arrives until something like multiple sclerosis comes along and messes with our ability to do those things. Sure, we have to juggle things around in order to fit the sudden changes into our day and most of the time those shifts are not so simple to make. It’s that way with just about everything I do.
Emerging data suggests that extending a nightly sleep duration of people who habitually get insufficient sleep is associated with health benefits. My doctor has changed the dosage of Trazodone that I take to help me sleep at night because I told her the previous amount wasn’t helping as it did at first. Amazingly enough the higher dosage did help me get better sleep last night.
Penelope was 46 when she received the diagnosis that would change her life: multiple sclerosis. There were symptoms that started just days earlier of tingling in her fingers and parts of her face along with a frightening episode where her vision blurred for days. As a graphic designer and web developer who thrived on precision and creativity, she was devastated. She couldn’t imagine how she’d navigate a future with a disease known for its unpredictability. But as the years unfolded, her story became one of courage, adaptation, and an unyielding spirit.
Everything in the world is filled with so much negativity it’s getting harder and harder to keep a positive focus. Is that even possible any more? I happen to believe it is possible and being positive is doable.
There is an entire world filled with people who don’t understand multiple sclerosis. I know since you don’t live with the disease yourself it is hard to comprehend, but I hope what I have to say will help open your eyes and heart to what life is really like for me…hopefully giving you insight and understanding into the life of someone living with MS.
I wish you could live in my body for a day. You would quickly give up your degree in neurology. Oh, wait, you didn’t go to medical school. You got all your schooling from Uncle Fakealot and Dr Google. In that case, you need to fire Uncle Fakealot and even more importantly give up your university degree. 9 times out of 10 Dr. Google is WRONG.
You may be going through a difficult time right now, but the good thing is you are going through. Think back over your life at every difficult time you have faced. You have made it through each one. I’m sure there were moments you weren’t quite sure how or even if you would make it, but here you are as someone who has made it through.
People look at me – at my past mistakes, burdens, heartaches, and even at the fact that I’m living with MS – and all they see are my cracks, scars and the shattered fragments of my life. Each one of those things makes you uniquely you. You are not broken…you are a beautiful example of how someone can push through all the junk life throws their way and rise above it shinning brightly. You are not broken…you are beautifully YOU… scars, imperfections, wounds, bruises, cracks, and all.
Today I was jolted awake with the thought, “Oh, no…what day is it?” It was a sudden thought. One that I didn’t have time to fully process. My brain just couldn’t seem to work things out on its own.
1. Simplify your life.