I’m not okay and that’s okay

In a fast-paced world where abilities are praised and feeling inadequate or anything less than great almost always gets swept under the rug (or even frowned upon), it’s so easy to look at the next person and presume that they’re doing fine. In reality, we all have days when we aren’t feeling our best. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that it’s OK to take a step back and ask for help, to get support lifting the weight off our shoulders due to living with a chronic illness.

I wish I had a magic wand to make multiple sclerosis go away. To make the stress of living day in and day out with MS easier. To make carrying the huge burden it causes in your life lighter. To give back the time you’ve lost due to illness, unexpected disabilities, doctors appointments and endless worrying. No one likes living with pain, spasms, dizziness, fatigue, relentless headaches or even trying to manage the unknown daily. If you’re like me, you just want a moment of peace, reprieve, and a sense of calm.

When my friend was feeling her worst, I would tell silly jokes and send her stupid memes. I would do whatever I could to take her mind off of the situation. She needed to know that a good laugh could go a long way, whether she was healthy or sick. It is important to try and understand a sick person’s emotional state. Sometimes they don’t have an appetite to eat their favorite foods, they can’t sleep soundly at night or they aren’t as cheerful. These are common feelings a person with MS experiences.

I take comfort in knowing I am not alone in these feelings. We all feel detached, sad or even angry. Finding something to give you a little lift can help you remember that life isn’t always bad.

When I was young, I was taught that life is fun and should be lived to the fullest – one that must be filled with happiness. But as I grew older, I learned that life is not always easy. It becomes a battlefield we have to endure just to survive.

Some days, things don’t happen the way you want them to. They fall apart, and you start to worry. Worse, you feel discouraged and lonely, thinking that there is no other way to straighten things out. Life can pummel you with disappointments, challenges, and heartache, and your mood can easily shift from light-hearted to heavy-laden. You feel there is no hope for a better life.

I want you to know that it’s okay not to feel okay. It’s important when all hope is lost, to redirect your thoughts into a more positive, motivated and centered headspace once again. When you do, you find hope peaking out. Sure, it’s just words, but they’re positive words. And if you’re on the verge of giving up or struggling to push yourself to the next level, sometimes that’s just what you need. All you have to do is keep moving forward, even when it feels like it would be easier to just lay down and give up.

Today, be determined to see blessings in the midst of things that seem like burdens. Lift your spirits and turn things around. For future reference, I never get tired of giving out hugs, encouraging words, tough love or even smiles.