Posts

Multiple Sclerosis makes simple things, complicated

/3 Comments/in /by

There are times I wish everyone would just go away and leave me alone so I can clear my head and distance myself from all the drama, arguments and chaos in the world; to find such a place where I can cry as much as I need and let out a scream or two from time to time—even if only for 5 minutes. Now that would be amazing.

It’s not always easy finding that perfect spot. The place where no one else is hanging around to judge you for simply being you. For me, that place just so happens to be in my shower. Somehow I’m able to have my own little pity party in the solitude of the bathroom away from the world as water gushes down my face. It just seems easier to think and cry in the shower. I have washed many tears down the drain in my lifetime.

Lately though, showers haven’t been so freeing. This may sound weird to some of you, but much of the skin on my face, arms and legs has become so hypersensitive that even water hitting me from the shower head hurts. And when I say hurts…I mean HURTS!

I’ve been pointing the shower head to the side wall and filling a large cup with water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair. It makes bathing a bit more complicated, but if I don’t want to smell like a skunk, I change and adapt.

It seems multiple sclerosis is good at making simple things, complicated. Who would have guessed that clipping your fingernails could become a near impossibility to accomplish by yourself? Or that things like signing a check, picking up the mail, vacuuming, getting dressed, or even brushing your teeth require more time, energy and help than ever before?

I never really thought about doing those things in the past. I just did them without realizing how much I was truly taking for granted. But today, many things have become a challenge for me to complete. It’s as if each day, as I pull back the covers to get out of bed, I start my ascend to the top of Mount Everest. I don’t always make it to the top as the day comes to a close, but I press on anyway.

Multiple sclerosis is the disease that keeps on giving and taking away. But regardless, I refuse to let it limit or define me.

REMEMBER: You have this terrible, pesky disease called multiple sclerosis and it’s trying to take over your body, but you are not MS. You are an amazingly courageous person that can still love, dream, laugh, and hope for a better tomorrow.

“No” is not a bad word

/2 Comments/in /by

I woke up in tears yesterday. No reason. Nothing bad happened to me in the middle of the night. I didn’t wake up from a nightmare, my goldfish didn’t die and I wasn’t in a lot of unbearable pain. My emotions just went haywire all on their own. I hate when that happens. I take meds to help keep my emotions stabilized, but yesterday’s dose must have been a dud.

Multiple Sclerosis has this way of messing with a person’s emotions. Sometimes there’s a valid reason for the crazy mood swings we experience. Things like the fact that we are dealing with daily challenges and changes in life that sometimes become overwhelming and difficult to handle.

But there are actual times when our emotions get all out of whack for no reason other than the fact that the wiring in our brain is short circuiting and playing around with our emotions. That really happens. MS messes with my ability to walk, think, talk, see, and sometimes it seems to get bored doing all of that and decides to get its awful little hands on how I feel too. It seems nothing is off limits to this monster.

When a friend got to my house for her planned visit, I was sobbing into a sock. (Don’t judge. I didn’t have any tissue nearby so I used what I had. Besides, surprisingly enough socks actually work pretty good as tissues.) Just having her with me helped to calm my tears.

Sometimes someone assuring you that things are going to be okay really does help. Sometimes all we need is a hug, a kind word, a gentle touch, or a hand to hold. Although those things don’t change what’s happening in our life or restructure our brains, they comfort the heart.

I won’t lie to you, life with MS can be tough at times. I go through periods when I simply want to get away from it all…no distractions, no phone calls, no text messages, no people, no MS (now, that one I can’t seem to get away from), no anything. It’s at those times when I will curl up in my comfy overstuffed chair, turn my phone off and do absolutely nothing.

I know it seems impossible to be able to do nothing because even doing nothing is doing something, but somehow I manage to do it. Wait a minute, maybe I really am doing something when I think I’m doing nothing but since my brain scatters my thoughts I forget the something I was supposed to be doing which turns it into nothing. Now there’s a thought to ponder.

When I take the time to get away from the mess that is overtaking my life into a place of solitude, I come back better focused and my emotions calm down. Sometimes it’s takes just 5 minutes of being away to regroup my thoughts. Other times it’s more like 30 minutes, an hour or even a day. But that pause does something magical and helps me to tackle even the hardest of tasks.

I can remember the times when my workload would become intense at my job. The pressure, the stress…it would become overwhelming. When that happened, I would walk away from my desk and lock myself in a bathroom stall down the hall to just pause and breathe. That was the only place I knew I could truly be alone and get away from everyone and everything. Somehow time stood still for me in the bathroom.

I know that sounds weird to some people, but short breaks like that really help. We all need a place where we can get away from the craziness in life and be able to focus on things other than MS, medical bills and the to-do list that never seems to get done.

I sometimes went to my car at lunch time to be alone and would even take a nap to clear my mind. Don’t feel guilty stepping away to take a pause. Take the time you need even if that means telling someone “no.”

If I could reach through the screen to you, I’d hold your hand and remind you of how truly amazing you are. I’d listen to you talk about your struggles, your challenges, your fears, and remind you that no matter what you’re facing, you are strong enough… much stronger than you give yourself credit for. I’d cry with you, make you giggle and let you have my last cookie. (You know you’re special if I share my cookies with you.)

If today is a “cry in your oatmeal” kind of day… go ahead and cry. It’s okay to do that. Let it all out. Then dry your tears and remind yourself that you are a champion, a winner, a warrior. You may not feel like one, but you are and all warriors need a break. Sometimes just a little pause makes a world of difference.

Don’t stop trying to be the best that you can be regardless of MS or whatever else you may be facing. You are stronger than you think. I believe in you. Love yourself enough to set boundaries.

A year of new beginnings

/1 Comment/in /by

There are resolutions we set all throughout the year: For a car or house payment to be made on time, for medications to be taken as prescribed, for being good to yourself… so many things. They are thought of more as commitments, but they are resolutions. When I looked it up in the dictionary, a resolutions is a promise to yourself to do or to not do something.

For me I work to make sure my bed is made every morning. It’s just something I have done since I was little and not making it kind of sets me on edge. I will make sure I do the work even when I’m feeling miserable. I also make sure I use my calendar to help me keep my finances in order, set schedules to make sure my nails get trimmed and my hair is cut, and also plan my house cleaning is small sections at a time. This way eventually everything gets cleaned no matter how immobile I become. It’s taken a lot of trial and error but eventually I have made a system that works for me.

Keeping a resolution involves several strategies to ensure you maintain motivation and commitment. If there is something you want to do better in 2025, here are some practical steps to help you get there.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Be Specific: Instead of “I want to lose weight,” say “I will lose 10 pounds in 3 months by exercising 3 times a week.”
Make it Attainable: Ensure your goals are within your capability to avoid discouragement.

2. Break It Down

Divide your resolution into smaller, manageable tasks. For example, if your resolution is to read more, set a goal to read 20 pages each night.

3. Plan and Schedule

Create a Timeline: Use a calendar or planner to schedule when you’ll work on your resolution.
Routine: Incorporate your new habit into your daily routine to make it a part of your life.

4. Track Your Progress

Use apps, journals, or visual charts to keep track of your progress. Seeing how far you’ve come can be motivating.

5. Accountability

Buddy System: Find a friend or family member with a similar goal or who can support you. Sharing your progress can increase commitment. Sometimes, telling others about your resolution can add an extra layer of accountability.

6. Reward Yourself

Set up small rewards for achieving milestones. These should be positive reinforcements like a movie night or a small treat, not counterproductive to your goal.

7. Be Flexible

Life happens, and sometimes you might slip. Don’t view this as a failure but as a part of the journey. Adjust your plan if necessary without giving up on the overall goal.

8. Understand Your Motivations

Keep reminding yourself why you set this resolution. Whether it’s for health, happiness, or personal growth, recalling your “why” can reignite your drive.

9. Learn from Setbacks

Instead of getting discouraged by setbacks, analyze what led to them and how you can avoid similar situations in the future.

10. Positive Reinforcement

Use positive affirmations or motivational quotes. Sometimes, a little self-talk can go a long way in keeping you on track.

11. Review and Adjust

Periodically review your progress. If something isn’t working, adjust your strategy rather than abandoning the resolution.

Remember, the key is consistency over perfection. Every day you stick to your resolution, even in small ways, counts towards building a new habit or achieving your goal. If you find yourself struggling, revisit your plan, and don’t hesitate to seek support from others. Happy New Year, and here’s to achieving your 2025 resolutions!

My body has limitations that aren’t negotiable

/2 Comments/in /by

Stating my reality is not an excuse. When I tell you I can’t do something or I’m in pain, it’s not an excuse. It’s not a matter of not being positive enough or not trying hard enough. It’s my reality. It’s the truth.

It’s important to understand that being realistic does NOT mean giving up on your dreams. If there is something you really passionately want to do, but it would be challenging, you still may be able to do it if you plan and prepare appropriately.

Consider each activity more by how much you want to do it, or what you are willing to lose or miss out on if you do it, rather than trying to do everything you used to do. You know your body’s limits, and what is or isn’t worth the fight.

Be conservative in your planning at first so you can learn what your limitations and capabilities really are. Be aware that they can change often but you do have every right to push your limits and try to do the things that are important to you. The key part is to figure out what that looks like for you. Sometimes what you think will be super easy can actually be some of the most difficult things you do.

I have gone from being the person who organizes events to someone who is unlikely to have the cognitive space to complete the plans and worse, may pull out at the last minute or even won’t be able to join in on the celebration. Sometimes I am not even strong enough to take a shower in order to make myself presentable. I typically manage a quick text, before sinking back into exhaustion. Holiday times are the worst experiences for me.

An observation I have made is that some of my friends and family have taken this personally and assume that my change in behavior is a reflection of my feelings for them, rather than a symptom of MS which can change from day to day.

I can be so quiet about my struggle that people around me can forget they I’m hurting. This doesn’t mean I’m not having difficulties, it simply means I don’t want to bother them and keep saying the same thing over and over again like a broken record. I just wish my struggle could be better understood by those around me and that my worth wasn’t defined by what I can or can’t do.

This kind of disconnect can cause loneliness to set in which is tough to get through. The magic of human connection, just being seen and heard through the MS struggle, can be a great relief to the loneliness. A real conversation with someone who has taken time to ask and then genuinely listen can be worth more than all the plans and parties combined.

Stay strong for who you are — a person deserving of love. You have so much to offer the world just by being your authentic self. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back from living a meaningful life and embracing moments of joy and connection with others.

I want you to know that you are not a burden. Don’t let those negative thoughts define you. Your challenges or limitations do not make you any less worthy or valuable. There are people who see your strength and resilience in the face of difficulties and are encouraged by it. Focus on surrounding yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are, imperfections and all. Be the reason they feel less like a burden and more like a blessing.

I want you to know there is light ahead, even in your darkest moments. You can get through this. Stay strong and keep your head held high. Happier days are coming!

Today I choose to focus on the positive

/4 Comments/in /by

I woke up early this morning… a usual for me. I do good if I get 4 hours of sleep each night. Between pain management and muscle spasms, I end up tossing and turning more than actually sleeping.

This morning I was feeling a bit down so I decided I would get dressed and head over to the local coffee shop. It always brightens my morning sitting in the shop listening to the hustle and bustle of the workers making drinks and serving people. Between the hissing and spewing of the machines, the wonderful smells of fresh roasted coffee beans, the chatter of the customers, and the rustling of chairs across the floor, it is oddly a great way to begin my day.

When you sit in public like this, you get the chance to listen in on all kinds of conversations. It’s not eaves dropping. When someone is talking loudly, you have all rights to listen in… besides, it’s not like you have any other options.

So far this morning, most of the conversations I have heard have been negatively focused. I have heard about a tyrant boss, a neighbors incessantly barking dog, many political woes, and relationship problems. Have you noticed the world has a negative slant on just about everything? Turn on the news if you don’t believe me. Almost all of it is bad.

In a world where violence, injustice, and despair seem to be everywhere, it becomes easier to expect bad outcomes rather than good ones. Sadly we hear so much negative talk throughout our day, it’s no wonder we find ourselves following suit.

So today… today, I am choosing to find positive things to focus on and remain hopeful that better days are coming. For one, I woke up this morning. Yeah! That’s amazing already. Now add to that the barista at the coffee shop knows my name and had my drink ready for me when she saw me coming. That’s pretty awesome too if you ask me. So that’s already two wonderful things this morning that I can talk about.

Then there’s the fact that I get to see the sunrise since I got up so early, I get to meet new people, give away a smile to someone needing a bit of cheeriness to begin their day, and of course enjoy a hot cup of coffee to begin mine. All those things make my heart happy.

I could focus on the vertigo and blurred vision I’m fighting through as I type this, the pain in my legs and feet that never seems to stop, and the tremor in my right hand that’s making it hard for me to type or even hold a cup of coffee, but what good will that do?

Here’s how you focus on the good…

1. Practice gratitude
Identify things to be grateful for.

2. See the good in others
Seeking the good in others broadens your perspective to understand those who may not necessarily share the same views or values.

3. Surround yourself with positive people
Studies find that those who surround themselves with happy people are more likely to be happy themselves.

4. Seek out good news and stories
Consuming uplifting content is a good antidote to all the negative events happening around you or directly to you.

5. Recognize your good qualities
Commend yourself for your good deeds and acts of kindness no matter how small.

6. Live in the present
Our dwelling on past painful experiences and our anxieties about the future often get in the way of focusing on living in the present.

There’s always something good to find in your day, you just have to choose to find it. Instead of pointing out all the bad things happening around you, find something that shines a light through the darkness. Even with the chaos that surrounds you there is something good in your day today. What are the good things surrounding you?

 

How to Cope When Everything Keeps Changing

/2 Comments/in /by

I always say that living with multiple sclerosis changes normal (whatever that actually is) and everyone around me is finally getting a taste at having to find their new normal in the midst of the crazy world we live in. If someone could find normal for me and let me know where and what it is, I’d like to know so I wouldn’t have to spend so much time searching for it.

One great thing about the changes I have had to make is I get an opportunity to evaluate life a bit more closely and get rid of the toxic people and unnecessary things that were making life harder… without the added guilt. I know my life has gotten less complicated because of it and I like that.

Someone asked me, “How can you be positive surrounded by the mess happening in the world today?” Being a positive person while living with multiple sclerosis sounds like an impossibility. Is it even possible? Some would say it can’t be done. They would say that MS is so full of uncertainties, pain and complications that there is no way to face it with a positive attitude. But it can be done and is being done by thousands of people every day.

How can anyone keep a positive attitude while facing such hard times happening all around? Staying positive is not about hiding from the reality of what you are going through by trying to cover up the struggle in an attempt to keep the world from knowing it exists. MS exists. Hard times are real. Tears happen. No amount of covering it up is going to make it go away or lessen its troubles.

Being positive means that even though you are in the middle of the storm of all storms in life, you get out of bed in order to face a new day. Even when the pain has you doubled over in tears, you keep going. Even when your brain is foggy and your words are muddled, you give of yourself. Even when your life has spun out of control, you fight because you simply refuse to be defeated.

You are a fighter. Do you go through your day constantly complaining or do you try to find a small ray of light in the trial…a smile in the struggle? You can do this! You are doing this. I am so proud of you.

It’s alright to have negative thoughts when your path bends the wrong way or the unexpected happens. Don’t beat yourself up when negative feelings, thoughts, or words creep into your life. You haven’t done anything wrong. That’s just a part of being human. It’s okay to cry, to be afraid and get frustrated.

The challenge is to not let those negative things pull you down and hold you back from moving forward. Allow yourself to be real, to feel, cry, struggle and fight, yet still hang on to hope that today will be better than yesterday. Hope shows up when you need it the most. Hang onto hope. You got this.

__________

I have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where I am going. And I have trained myself to love it. Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight, that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight. And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to. But the miracle is in the unfolding of the wings. You may not know where you’re going, but you know that so long as you spread your wings, the winds will carry you.
― C. JoyBell C.

__________

I can honestly say I’m thankful for MS

/4 Comments/in /by

You cannot bargain with multiple sclerosis. No amount of self examination will alleviate the pain and destruction it is causing in your body. I tried at first and wound up feeling more defeated than victorious. I had to move past all the quick fixes people tried to push my way. I even tried some but there was no benefit or relief.

Is taking supplements helpful? Are good clean diets helpful? Is there a medication that will reverse everything taking place? Does anyone really have a remedy that works without fail? The answer to all of those questions is NO! They may make you feel better about yourself or even some of your symptoms may lessen and your body will fell healhier, but none actually heal you.

There is nothing to do about an MS life other than living it as happily, healthily and comfortably as you can. Make sensible choices in how to modify your home and even your life. Do your research and take the medications you believe will help you. After all that’s your choice, not your doctors. I have fired a couple of doctors over the years because they refused to actually listen to my needs. A doctor is there for you, not you for them. You are not their project, pin cushion or a patient to practice on.

Once you have moved past the diagnosis stage you eventually get to the point where you just don’t give a crap what other people think about you or your new normal. Are you physically disabled? Do you move slower than in times past? Do you have trouble with cognition making even day to day tasks troublesome? Do you have trouble breathing or even swallowing? Ugh… so many troublesome issues happening day to day.

Once I moved past the trauma taking place I looked back at life and what I have learned from everything I had experienced….

I can honestly say that I’m thankful for MS. Yes, that sounds crazy but it’s true. I’ve grown as a person. I’ve developed muscles I didn’t know I had. I can handle additional challenges in a way that I never could have done before. I’ve gotten closer to the person I really am and it has forced me examine my own values in a way few events ever have. All of that to me is a gift.

That’s my life with MS… all the nuts, bolts and springs of it.

Don’t lose heart

/3 Comments/in /by

Multiple sclerosis has taken so much from me. Some things I don’t miss, but it is heartbreaking to discover that my ability to play the guitar is now one of them.

I decided this week that I was going to get my guitar out to try and get my music going again. I was a really good guitarist playing for weddings and even played in a few concerts singing before thousands of people. I have missed it and was hoping I could get it going again.

I was trained classically by the Dean of Music at a university near where I lived in Missouri. He gave me private lessons and I had even impressed him with my skills. My voice is no longer strong enough to carry a proper tune but I thought I could at least get a few notes out that made some sense on the guitar.

I was at least able to remember how to manually tune the strings. I got my pitch pipe out so I could get the fifth string of the guitar in tune and then made all the other strings properly match up. I had always used a method called harmonics to help me get the strings tuned. I never had an electronic tuner like many musicians use.

Once I got the guitar properly tuned I thought at least I could make something of my efforts. But I sat on the couch a bit dumbfounded trying to remember the first strokes to my favorite song. I couldn’t get my right hand working at all. No picking and grinnin’ was going on. All I could do was a simple strum and to me that’s not as pretty as being able to use my fingers to create a beautiful melody.

My left hand was able to make the chords but I couldn’t do much of anything with my right hand in order to strum. I sat in tears mourning my lack of ability to play. I had hoped I could get something out… but nothing made sense anymore. It was heartbreaking.

I pulled out some of my sheet music and sadly couldn’t make sense of it any more. That was a really sad hard hitting reality for me. I never thought I would lose my ability to create music. All I can do now is just listen to the beauty others create. At least I will never lose the music in my heart. It’s still there. Maybe a whisper, but it’s still there.

When things don’t go as you had hoped you can’t give up. I promise you things will get better, one way or another they will get better. You can take my word for it. No matter what trial you are going through you can’t lose heart. Tomorrow is a new day, don’t forget that. You are not alone. I will walk with you through this valley and together we will make it through. Don’t lose heart.

My never-ending multiple sclerosis struggle

/4 Comments/in /by

I’m not going to lie and tell you that life is wonderful at the moment or pretend to have all the answers. The truth is, life is hard and for those of us living with a chronic illness it seems harder than it does for others because our struggle is never-ending and always changing.

Each morning I wake up exhausted but thankful that a new day is here filled with its countless possibilities. Throughout the day I face challenges that at times can become overwhelming, painful, and sometimes more difficult than I had ever imagined. Multiple sclerosis challenges can cause a lot of trouble and bring about a battle that I don’t always have the strength to fight. But somehow I gather enough strength to come up swinging. I refuse to let the struggle win.

Just yesterday I fell yet again transferring to my powerchair. You’d think I would have found a way to avoid it but I never do. I tend to go from point A to point L, M, N, O, P before I find point B. But even in my roundabout way, I get there. With my new bruises, wounded pride and 2 large cups of coffee I was able to get through the day. I made it… or so I thought.

It was right before bed that I discovered a leak in my urostomy pouching bag used for my makeshift bladder so I had to clean myself up and  put on a new pouch. Just doing that took the remaining strength I had left. My hands weren’t working well for me. Between tremors and weakness my hands were making the change difficult.

I barely had enough strength to climb into bed. When I finally got to bed for the night I paused to reflect on my day and without fail I realized that I made it through another day with MS. Maybe bruised and a bit wounded, but I made it through. As I closed my eyes I did so with gratitude and with a heart filled with thanks that I made it through another day.

After all that I remembered that a new day is coming. What will that new day hold? Will it be a good day, a terrible day, or will I even have enough strength to get through it? Will I cry? Will I laugh? I just don’t know. All I know is a new day is coming.

I know an MS life can be hard, but through the struggle I want you to remember this…

When things get bad, no matter how hard they become, know that even on your darkest, cloudiest day, the sun is still shining from behind the clouds. It hasn’t fallen out of the sky. It hasn’t run away or been turned off. It’s still there and although the storm clouds can become daunting and terrifying as they hide the sun from view, they will eventually shift and you will find those beautiful rays of light peeking out once again.

Don’t let your struggle steal your happiness. Stay strong and find new ways to persevere. Remember those moments when you pushed through the pain and managed to wade through the darkness? Those are your strongest days. You would have never experienced such strength if you hadn’t been pushed so hard to find a way to survive.

And that’s what you are…a survivor!

You are not alone in this journey with MS. Brighter days will come. I can guarantee you that.

Oh, look…I think I just saw a little bit of sunlight peeking through the clouds. It’s a new day filled with new possibilities. You are going to make it!

I’m not broken, a burden or an inconvenience

/5 Comments/in , /by

In today’s world, we are constantly being made to believe that something is wrong with us because we have multiple sclerosis. Those of us using walking aids, wheelchairs and braces for some reason are seen as broken and a burden. We move much too slow, drop things way too easily and need help way too often with even the simplest of tasks for most people to bear. And those with MS who don’t need visible help…the bathroom issues, pain, emotional moments, and memory difficulties are viewed in the same way: as an inconvenience for others.

I can remember when I first started using a cane. I tried to hide it from people. I really did. I would wait until the last moment possible to get my cane in hand in order to walk across the parking lot of the grocery store. I would try to keep it as close to my right leg as possible thinking it would make it less noticeable. It didn’t, but I tried anyway.

The walker was much harder to hide. I felt like I was pushing around a truck with caution signs and flashing lights. “Look at me, here I come! Beep, beep, beep.”

The responses it invoked in people was not always comfortable to handle either. As soon as someone saw me with a walker, the questions began…too many questions, and ones that required exhausting explanations. I wasn’t ashamed of MS, I was simply tired of the constant “What’s wrong with you?” questions met with “I know what you need to do to make MS go away” responses.

Sometimes for me, the easiest response was lying and saying “It’s a football injury.” That was always met with a smile and a nod…even though I’m a girl. What? Sports injuries are more readily acceptable than a chronic illness?

Now that I use a wheelchair, it’s a bit harder to hide my walking difficulties but I’ve also gotten better at handling people’s stares, questions and comments. It still gets to me at times, but I’m okay with most people’s responses. I’ve come to understand that the negative and insensitive comments made by people simply show who they are as a person and has nothing to do with me.

One of the most important things I have learned is that multiple sclerosis has not left me broken. Cracked? Maybe…but I think I was cracked way before MS came along. If anything, it has opened my eyes to seeing the real me and to seeing how broken this world really is.

Yes, it takes me longer to do just about everything from checking the mail, to sweeping the floor, to getting out of bed. But even though I may not be fast at doing things, I can still get to where I’m going. It may take some creativity and some extra help, but I make it every time.

Ultimately, it would be wonderful to live in a world where disabilities took a back seat to who we are as a person. That day will probably never come, but regardless of what the world thinks, I want you to know that you are not broken or a burden.

You are a beautifully patched together work of art covered in scars yet filled with amazing resilience and strength. Your scars display an amazing roadmap of courage. You are not MS, a cane, a wheelchair, or even an emotional mess. You are incredibly you! You are important, needed, and wonderful just the way that you are…and don’t you ever forget it.


“Why Not You?

  • Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?
  • Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?
  • Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?
  • Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?
  • Today, for many the burden of self doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?
  • Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?
  • Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?
  • Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?
  • Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?
  • Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?
  • Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?
  • Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?
  • Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?
  • Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, & so much more. Why not you?

Today is a new day!

Many will seize this day.
Many will live it to the fullest.
Why not you?”

― Steve Maraboli