Sunday, September 7, 2014

Clouds come floating in

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” - Rabindranath Tagore


I just love this quote because it serves as a great reminder that, yes, the clouds will roll in, bringing in the darkness that MS sometimes carries, yet, somehow, through the storm, there is something good and positive to look for.

Dwelling on all of the bad stuff that may come with an MS diagnosis will really drive us crazy as we chant “why me, why me.” Some things are not meant to be understood and we should try to move on. I do this by focusing on doing things that I enjoy. Try as I might, it does work.

The stuff I love includes riding my bicycle really, really fast, taking pictures, reading, writing, planning a trip, wandering and exploring, gardening, laughing, watching movies and all kinds of other goodies. In doing this, I forget for a few moments, hours or days, that I am someone living with Multiple Sclerosis. Any darkness hovering over me lifts and I move on, enjoying the gorgeous colors of life. Corny, I know. But, it works.

You see, by focusing on doing the things I enjoy, the burning sensation in my legs drifts away a little bit, the numbing and pain seemingly weakens. The fatigue may stay awhile but when focused on doing things I enjoy, like watching an awesome movie, that feeling of “I hit a brick wall” diminishes. Do my MS symptoms go away? Nah. They simply fall to the background as I focus on doing stuff that deters me from constantly thinking about on the numbing and pain that I always feel.

Receiving an MS diagnosis can be devastating. No doubt. It brings hardships that can be very difficult to endure. I think lessening the load is important as we try to remember that there is so much great stuff in life that can really bring us a lot of joy.

How about you? What are some things you enjoy doing? To help brighten your days and help you dwell a little bit less on MS symptoms? Would love to hear from you.

Best,
Christie

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

What does an MSer need to know about financial stability? A lot

I was just made aware of an upcoming financial webinar series, "Financial Wellness Webinar Series", designed by the National Disability Institute, for those of us living with Multiple Sclerosis. This looks like a great resource with a focus on taxes, employment, social security and credit. No doubt we can all use financial advice from time to time and this is a great way to learn more about planning and maintaining financial stability. 


Did you know that a lot of MSers do not plan for our financial future? 

Based on a 2011 online survey of 3,000 MSers, 67% reported that their financial position declined after getting an MS diagnosis and 74% noted that they did not use financial planning programs/strategies to manage money. Plus, based on a very recent report by the National Disability Institute, 78% of people with disabilities had trouble making ends meet vs. 56% of people without disabilities.

All good reasons to register for the 4 free webinars that offer advice, tools and information to overcome financial challenges that are unique to us living with Multiple Sclerosis. Check out the schedule below and I'll see you there!
Register Today! www.realeconomicimpact.org/FinancialWellness 

Best always,
Christie

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