I am not a fan of the "I have MS but MS doesn't have me". MS controls our bodies, it has us whether we like it or not.

I am taking the approach of adjusting to my new normal on a daily basis. Accepting the slow but steady decline with humility and some days, humor. richardmcohen.com says it best. His blog is my mental goal.

This is my experience and I'm really glad to read the responses to a pretty open ended question. Thanks for taking the time. If you read my story you'll see that I've had a few pretty serious health events. The first of which was brain surgery to remove a tumor when I was 28. Prior to surgery I had been very active doing some pretty serious cycling and training for a triathlon. We had also just had our first child. It was life threatening and life altering. A diagnosis of MS came soon after. Through all of this it has been important for me personally to not think of myself as "sick." I also don't think to think of MS as an affliction or as a part of my identity. The initial thought is this is a denial. Quite the contrary. I try to just think about the things I've dealt with as part of my life experience. I've been really trying my best to be present and with that being upset about the past or worried about the future doesn't fit with being present. There are certainly days and times when this is easier or harder. I just try to keep in mind that every experience is. I try to keep in mind that great joy and great pain is part of the human experience.

I'd bet this reads as a little hippie but on my own journey I've tried my best to make lemonade.

Everyone's journey is different. I guess I have gone through stages.. Denial, anger, acceptance, and I view it now the same way an alcoholic would view the 12 steps. It is a daily battle that changes, and I have to accept those changes to change and move forward.

Super deep but amazing to think about. My MS is something that is apart of me, I don't like it- but it's me flaws and all. I don't rationalize it I treat it like anyone with high blood pressure would. I take my medicine and I do things to improve my life but I accept it- and I move forward. What are the other options? Certainly not to dwell 😉

@A MyMSTeam Member A Schenkerian analysis of life. That makes my day. I wish you could see how big I'm smiling right now. Thanks for that. Brilliant.

I am a composer and below is a link to a string quartet piece I wrote and short film I did as my ode to coffee.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6SxdNjtbgVQ

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