Only 12 Spoons

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I spoke with Alice, a long-time patient with secondary, progressive MS. When I asked Alice the question, “What do you wish others knew about MS?” she shared “I only have 12 spoons.” I was initially confused, but then Alice explained that these hypothetical spoons symbolize her energy in a day. These could be simple tasks to the average person, such as getting out of bed, washing your face, brushing your teeth…before you know it, three spoons have already been used for the morning. Alice says that using this analogy is a way for her friends and family to better understand her energy level throughout the day, so they can plan wisely!

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Somos más de lo que se ve a simple vista

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La esclerosis múltiple suele ser un diagnóstico incomprendido, y muchas personas desconocen las complejidades de esta enfermedad. La resiliencia de las personas con un diagnóstico de EM nunca deja de sorprenderme. Las personas con EM tienen que aprender sobre la enfermedad y todas sus complejidades, y con frecuencia también deben educar a los que les rodean al respecto. Me gustaría que la gente supiera que las personas diagnosticadas con EM son realmente valientes y que cada experiencia es única.

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We Are More Than Meets the Eye

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Multiple sclerosis is often a misunderstood diagnosis. Many people are unaware of the complexities of the disease, and those with an MS diagnosis frequently become advocates, whether they realize it or not. The resilience of those with an MS diagnosis never ceases to amaze me. Not only do they have to learn about the disease and all its intricacies, but they often must educate those around them about it as well. I wish people knew that those with an MS diagnosis are truly courageous, and every journey is unique.

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Lisa Domenic – February 2024 Artist of the Month

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MSAA features the work of many talented artists affected by multiple sclerosis as part of our annual MSAA Art Showcase. Each month we share these artists’ inspiring stories and beautiful artwork with you as our Artist of the Month. This month, we celebrate Lisa Domenic as February’s Artist of the Month. Lisa is from Philadelphia, PA.

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Black Herstory

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By Chernise Joseph

For reasons unknown, forcing myself to sit and write lately has become increasingly difficult. The stresses of life coupled with just being sick have made one of my favorite hobbies intimidating to me. How do you write what you cannot see inside your own head?

Anyway, as I sat scrolling through some mind-numbing app, an informative blurb caught my attention. It told the story of Lake Lanier, a formerly thriving African American community in Georgia that was destroyed. That, of course, isn’t a tale new to any of us who have lived in America for any length of time, but it got me thinking about Black History Month or, more importantly, Black Herstory Month.

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Engaging With Kids or Grandkids on Rough MS Days

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When you are having multiple sclerosis (MS) flare-ups or are otherwise not feeling like yourself, it can be hard to find the energy to play with your kids or grandkids. But if you have committed to watching the kids, sometimes you must make the best of it.

To find out how people in the community handle those days, we reached out to the MultipleSclerosis.net Facebook page. We asked, “What are some ways to play or engage with your grandkids when you are having a rough MS day?”

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Tablero de visión: una herramienta para el desarrollo personal

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Enfocarse en el crecimiento personal es a menudo el tema del nuevo año. Implica identificar aquellas áreas de nuestras vidas que nos gustaría mejorar y dedicar tiempo y esfuerzo para que esos cambios ocurran. Invertir en nosotros mismos puede ser un desafío. ¿Cuántos de nosotros hemos establecido una meta solo para perder la motivación a mitad de año? Invertir en nosotros mismos es un esfuerzo continuo y valioso por razones personales y profesionales. Un tablero de visión es una de las herramientas que puedes utilizar para visualizar tus metas y encontrar la motivación para invertir en tu bienestar en 2024.

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Vision Boards: A Tool for Personal Development

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Focusing on personal growth is often the theme of the new year. It involves identifying those areas of our lives that we would like to improve and dedicating time and effort to make those changes happen. Investing in ourselves can be challenging. How many of us have established a goal only to lose motivation or traction halfway through the year? Investing in ourselves is an ongoing effort worth committing to for personal and professional reasons. A vision board is one of the tools you can use to visualize your goals and find motivation to invest in your well-being in 2024.

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Embracing Self-Care in the New Year

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As we step into a new year, it’s essential to set intentions that prioritize our own well-being and personal growth. Focusing on yourself doesn’t mean being selfish; it means recognizing the importance of self-care and nurturing your own mental, emotional and physical health. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you invest in the journey of self-care in the new year.

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Value yourself

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A new year means new beginnings and promises new hope.  We all get 365 opportunities to improve our lives this year, so set out with renewed spirits and minds and see how the journey unfolds for you. Try not to get overwhelmed trying to plan everything for the year. Set achievable goals and take small steps at a time. I am sharing some pointers that I remind myself often so that I stay grounded in the present and hopeful for the future:

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