I’m a tough cookie.  I’ve always had the brush-yourself-off-and-carry-on mentality. I’m pretty sure I learned it from being the youngest of five children and growing up with a mother from England.  That soldier-on mentality has taken me far.  But for a long time, I had all the toughness with none of the compassion for myself. […]

Something has weighed me down for a long time.  The funny thing about issues that weigh us down is that we can tell ourselves carrying that burden isn’t that bad. We eventually get used to feeling weighed down and even feel like something’s missing if it’s gone.  I told myself for a long time that […]

.. When I was first diagnosed with MS, a friend of mine bought me a journal to help me process everything. One side of the journal had a happy baby face with the title “Good Days,” and the other side had a crying baby face with the title “Bad Days.” I loved my kind, supportive […]

When I wrote 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis four years ago, I focused on the top-level, must know things that I wish someone had told me but didn’t.  I discussed ideas like how to make your MRIs more comfortable, how your expectations matter, and how to filter out […]

  Don’t worry, you’ll be in pain soon.” That’s how she replied when I said I didn’t feel any pain from my MS. What?!  I had just led a workshop at the MS Society about how to lower stress and effectively use positive thinking. Everyone was very open and honest about their personal situation and […]

Hey girl, I know you’re scared. I know you feel pushed around by everyone telling you that your life has to change immediately. You’re angry at them for telling you everything you thought was ok yesterday is no longer ok today. As if suddenly they know you better than you know yourself.  All because you happen […]