People are often surprised to hear that I have relapsing MS because I am a pretty active person. Sometimes I even surprise myself with what my body is capable of. When I was diagnosed I thought that I would have to give up many of the things I enjoy. Now I know that what I have to give up are my ideas about how things are supposed to be done. Being open to change, accepting my limitations, and trying new things has enabled me to do far more now than I ever did before MS entered the scene.
Meeting other people with varying degrees of physical limitations has made me hopeful that I will never have to give up doing the things that I truly enjoy. However, I may have to be open to new ways of going about them. A man who had become debilitated by progressive MS once told me that there is nothing he can't do; he just has to find the right tool to make it possible.
For me, traveling can be exhausting, but I make it a priority to leave enough time in my schedule for well deserved breaks. I also make a comfortable night's sleep a priority. I enjoy hiking through the woods and spending time outdoors so I make the most out of the spring and fall to help avoid the high summer heat. This year I am going to try a cooling vest to see if it helps. Just today I went out for a bike ride but I didn't make it a marathon ride, a half hour was just right. There was a time when I would not have gone at all if it was not the Tour de France. Now, I just do what is comfortable for me on any given day. The view would be just as beautiful from a scooter or wheelchair as it is from my hiking boots and I plan to take it in as long as I can. Get out there and find a way to do what you love. Be creative, a change can do a body and soul a world of good.
What do you really like to do? If you're not doing it any more, ask yourself whether it's because you really can't or is it just more difficult than it used to be. Maybe you used to love the beach but now avoid it because the heat doesn't agree with you. Instead of giving up doing something you love doing, try it again but in the spring or fall. I have come to love going to the beach in the late afternoon and evening when the sun is low and the crowds are gone.
