Living with M.S.

"Living with M.S. is sort of like training for a long race. The harder you try, and the longer you keep at it, the stronger you become.
Eventually, looking back, you may be amazed at the power you possessed, even when you had no idea it was within your reach." (Linda Ann Nickerson)

Thursday

Can MS show you how strong you really are?

Fatigue and weakness are hallmark symptoms of multiple sclerosis. However, don’t many MSers display a nearly inexplicable sort of strength, even when tired and trembling?

Maybe we don’t run marathons or perform other daunting physical feats. But strength can take many forms, right?

British poet and playwright Ben Jonson (1572-1637) said this about personal strength:

“He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.”

How true is that? In what ways do struggles and troubles and challenges actually bring out the personal power in certain determined individuals?  MS is a prime example.

Maybe the MonSter’s ongoing opposition draws MSers to face his dare.

Sometimes, simply rising to meet the day takes mammoth strength for anyone living with multiple sclerosis. At other times, An MS warrior may surprise himself and others by the things he may accomplish in a given stretch of time – even if yesterday he could barely stagger to the refrigerator for a morning orange juice.

Adversity throws down the gauntlet, taunting the afflicted one to join the fight. And so we do. We slug it out against scary or troublesome MS symptoms. We slog along through the mire and mess of dull vision, dizzying vertigo, uncanny nerve pain, and oppressive fatigue.

And we grow stronger.

Image/s:
What if a spouse urges an MSer to file for disability?
Created by this user,
including adapted public domain artwork

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