Gratitude

I’m a wife, mom, grandmother, and oh yes….I have MS.  My joys are family, creating art, and cooking healthy.  My motto is “MS= Multiple Smiles” let’s journey FORWARD! --Terri

I am so happy to see the heat decreasing and looking forward to enjoying a change in season!  With the holidays approaching it is a great time to reflect and take notice of all that is GOOD in life.  What are you grateful for and how do you give tribute to those in your circle?

Being a fairly new diagnosed RRMS (diagnosis was May 29, 2013) individual it has certainly been a whirlwind of emotions and lifestyle changes this past eighteen months.  I have gone quickly from using a cane to now having two wheelchairs and a walker added.  Having felt all of the emotions along the way in not being able to stop the progression of disability has been overwhelming, 

Today, I feel happy and grateful for the journey.  Realizing the power in taking control of my health and sharing with everyone how wonderful life can be is my “new path”. I am determined to conquer MS in my own way despite hurdles and obstacles not in our control. 

I am exploring all sorts of exercise especially any sort of stretching and strength training.  Having experienced a tremendous year so far being in the hospital and skilled nursing facility for approximately sixty days brought my abilities to the lowest level so far.  I am working with Home Health Services for ongoing Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing Services.  As is often the case, we fight MS and many other illnesses due to our low immune systems.

After recovering from a fifty-two day stay between hospital and skilled nursing center without being at home, I was grateful for the day I came back home.  My husband had been going crazy with working full time, a long commute, doing all necessary chores around the house and visiting me every evening and on the weekends.  I am grateful for my husband, family, and friends.  Without the support of my “community” I don’t think I would have recovered near as well!  My husband has been so supportive, encouraging, and when necessary the ”voice” when he observes I am doing too much.  Our love has grown into a new level of gratefulness for each other and for what “We Can Do, TOGETHER”….

In my next few blogs, I will share my love for healthy cooking, and how I love to create gifts and handmade items to share with those around me.  At one point in my life I taught recycled art in area after school programs for elementary age children, and memory book art to Sr. Citizens at a local tea shop.  I am currently redoing my studio area and downsizing my supplies to accommodate my wheelchair into my workspace.  This joy of my life in terms of employment has now ended, but my passion for creating for fun, has been thriving!  Would love to share some of these stories and other ways of how to turn MS into Multiple Smiles!  

The most important aspect of my life has turned to “paying it forward”.  With that thought, how can you pay it forward?  If everyone of us awoke tomorrow, and made a point of doing two nice actions that day, wouldn’t that mean at least two times tomorrow you would be filled with joy?  Since I am not able to do a lot of monetary actions, I have searched for other ways to accomplish this challenge.   I am learning to bake Gluten Free, and due to just having the two of us to eat, I have found such a joy to just get in my wheelchair and go next door to drop off a new tasty creation.  This practice used to be done very frequently when I was a child in Oklahoma.  Here in San Diego, I often find we don’t even know who our neighbors are!  Opening that door for just a little favor is such a joy!  

How are you going to “pay it forward” tomorrow?  What are you grateful for?  I am grateful for my abilities to be in my kitchen or my studio and then sharing with my “community”!  I am grateful to conquering anything MS throws our way! I am grateful for everyone in my life and their willingness to not only support me, but to learn all they can about MS. 

Terri