Welcome to my Multiple Sclerosis Blog! This is my first entry and will be a place where you can find my thoughts about ms and my life! One of the things I’m sort of taken back by are people sharing with me their own life journeys. But I recognize that people like to share, find common ground and understanding and that’s a beautiful thing!
I was fortunate enough to launch my new book at a wonderful venue in Eau Claire called 2 Roots Wine and Art Gallery in April of this year. A great place to check out our local art and music scene and enjoy wine on tap. Before my program began, I was setting up and a man came up to me with a glass of wine in hand and asked what the program that night was about.
I explained who I was, a photographer who just published a book and I’ll talk about my ms and cancer journey. After he asked a little more about me, he exclaimed that he had stage 4 colon cancer. He had a not great prognosis but had defied time and he was still here and was cancer free! How wonderful I exclaimed. He said he was waiting for his daughter to get done with her hair appointment next door and thought he’d come over for a glass of wine…. Because he can! Yes, he can!
That is what it's all about! Finding the good in your everyday life and not wallowing in the struggles! It’s hard to do in the middle of the storm, but we must fight to climb up and overcome.
I’ve had a few other people tell me they have survived cancer. Although I’m an almost stranger, people want to relate especially when faced with their own mortality potential. And I’m glad they can open up to me. We find our common paths and the people we meet make all the difference in not feeling alone. And we thankfully live in a time when it's not looked down on to talk about.
I try to have an open mindset when talking to people and I especially like the stories of people overcoming their struggles and doing something to help others. It truly makes a difference and it's a gift to the giver and the receiver. My work and purpose and connecting with the MS community in Eau Claire is important. Telling my story in my photo book and my second book due out later this year is important. I never thought I’d be publishing a book or two and talking to people about making their lives better. We all need to look for joy and happiness and have a confident attitude to make a difference in our lives. It's a choice!
My son asked me to help him present his final exam presentation for his Advanced Anatomy class in college. He had decided to have MS be his topic and boy, did he knock it out of the park. He told his class all things MS in his power point. Afterwards he and the class asked me some very good questions. They were amazed at my attitude towards having ms. Honestly there are no guarantees in life, so why worry and have anxiety over it? I hope they found it uplifting for their own lives.
I’m learning I really like talking to people about my journey. I guess I’m an expert on it at this point!! And I’ve learned I have a few things to say and I want to express the importance of finding joy! What have you done today to make you feel proud?