Grateful, Thankful, Blessed, and Living With MS
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This is the time of year when it seems like a lot of people share why they feel grateful, thankful, and blessed a little more often. Maybe even a little louder.
I am not usually the kind of person to get sentimental or even to reminisce about the past year. To be honest, I just never really felt a reason to, but here I am doing the darn thing, just like those other people.
I’ve finally realized this year that I have many reasons to feel those types of emotions. Whether it’s because of an accomplishment, a strength, a downfall, and everything in between, I am truly grateful, thankful, and blessed.
Grateful to See the Sunrise
It may sound silly, but I am grateful for my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. Being diagnosed with MS has taught me that life is too short and that I need to cherish every waking moment.
I used to spend so much time taking for granted what was around me. I will never regret the times I had with my friends at the bars and clubs in my twenties, because we definitely had fun, but I do regret missing the sunrise.
I stayed out way too late and slept in way too long in those days. I was young and carefree. But now, every morning when my eyes open, my feet touch the ground, and I walk into the kitchen to start my coffee, I am grateful.
Whether it’s raining, snowing, the leaves are falling, or the sun is shining, I accept it with a smile, and I find a way to enjoy it. I now see the sunrise every single day, and I am appreciative.
Grateful for Mobility
I am aware that someday, maybe, I could lose my mobility to some extent, but for now, I have full mobility, and I am grateful for that. I never thought I’d run 5Ks, but this past year I’ve run many of them. In fact, I set a personal record: I ran 3.2 miles in 29 minutes and 40 seconds, which I never thought I’d do, and I am very proud of that.
Thankful for My Husband
There are so many things to be thankful for in life, but when you’re living with MS, being thankful has a little more meaning. To me, there’s only one thing that comes to mind, and it’s not really a thing, it’s someone: my husband. He gives the true meaning to “in sickness and in health.”
He has been there through everything, whether it has been my endometriosis diagnosis, trigeminal neuralgia, or multiple sclerosis. He fights it all with me, beside me, because in our house, no one fights alone. He loves me for who I am, unconditionally.
Many would have walked away at the sign of hardship, but he hasn’t even considered it. A special message to my husband: Thank you for being you and for never giving up on me. It’s you that I’m most thankful for.
Thankful for the Support I’ve Found on Social Media
This may not be a popular opinion, but I’m thankful for social media. Social media has given me an outlet to share my experiences and a way to ask for advice. I have “met” so many people going through similar situations. We may have different journeys, but we are fighting the same beast, MS. I consider some of these people now to be good friends.
Thanks to social media I have learned about a few support groups that I have joined this past year. These groups are so helpful and refreshing. Even though the conversations are not always “rainbows and butterflies,” and they may be triggering, they are real, with raw emotions.
It feels odd to say, but it’s nice knowing that I’m not alone.
Blessed With Friends and Family Who Care
Feeling blessed can mean different things to different people, but to me, being blessed is about having support and feeling loved. I have some amazing friends and family whom I call my support soldiers. These are the people who understand that they will never understand what I deal with from day to day. But they are always open to asking questions and learning.
Anyone with a chronic illness understands that not everyone will accept the changes we have to make to live as normal a life as we can.
That’s okay! Maybe some people really aren’t meant to be in our lives. I’ve lost a lot of “friends” because they can’t handle me canceling plans or not being able to do the things I used to do. To me, it’s a blessing those people chose to walk away.
Blessed With Doctors Who Listen
I used to think that I only needed a primary care physician, but living with multiple conditions has taught me that it takes a village. I’ve been blessed to have a team of doctors who listen and care. A team who work together to manage my illnesses. These doctors have acted quickly on finding answers for me, and I feel blessed for that.
I Challenge You to Find Reasons to Be Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Life can be difficult, and even more so at this time of year. This goes for anybody, healthy or not. So if you haven’t done so already, I challenge everyone to take a look back on the past year and find reasons to feel grateful, thankful, and blessed.
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