Wrapping Up

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Teena Palathanam

2025 has been a memorable year. As the year sped by, it is worth reflecting and remembering both the good and the bad moments. It gives me an opportunity to assess the flaws on my side and a chance to examine the areas I can possibly improve for the next year. Looking back, it was a year filled with interesting experiences and valuable life lessons.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve been reminded of this year is the importance of holding onto hope, even when everything around me feels overwhelming. Hope means moving forward one step at a time, celebrating small victories, and embracing setbacks as part of the journey toward the life you envision and the goals you want to achieve. It is a calm assurance that, no matter how bleak things may seem at times, there is always light waiting at the end of the tunnel.

Looking back on this year, I am grateful for the opportunities I got to learn and grow personally as well as professionally. I am grateful for the family that stands by me and appreciative of friends that value our connection. I have come to accept the fact that life is most fulfilling when it is welcomed with open arms, irrespective of the countless obstacles along the way. As I navigate this journey, it continues to be unpredictable and exhilarating at the same time. Here’s to moving onward and forward!

Sweet Dreams

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Teena Palathanam

Proper sleep is a quintessential part of functioning optimally. The average adult needs at least 7-8 hours of proper sleep. A loss of sleep can interfere with an individual’s ability to function at their full capacity, as it can lead to issues like confusion, irritability, exhaustion, and lack of energy. An individual with MS may often have issues with sleeping soundly. In addition to the general discomfort that they commonly experience, sleep disturbances can create havoc in a person’s body who has this condition.

Here are some tips to keep in mind that might help you get more shuteye when you hit the bed:

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Holiday Wellness Bingo Card

Posted on November 19, 2025 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

Each year, the holiday season is a time of increased tasks, deadlines, and obligations. It can be stressful doing everything I need and want to do. Add managing my health issues with multiple sclerosis, and it can get overwhelming. I’d love it if the satisfaction of nurturing my health and sanity was enough to maintain healthy habits as its own reward, but it hasn’t been. Temptation abounds, and denying myself can feel punishing at times. I strive to enjoy both in healthy doses.

Over the years, I’ve trimmed down and streamlined seasonal tasks to reduce effort and stress. This year, I want to infuse fun with a Bingo card. By choosing items that support my personal goals and having a deadline to complete them, I’ll be more likely to do them.

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Recharge, Reset, Restore: The Power of Restful Sleep

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Claudia Chavez

As the days grow shorter and our schedules seem to fill up faster, many of us forget one of the most restorative acts of self-care available to us, a good night’s sleep. While we often think of wellness in terms of nutrition or exercise, sleep is the foundation that supports both our physical health and emotional balance. Sleep isn’t a luxury. It is the foundation that keeps our mind and body thriving.

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Nourishing Myself in the Cold Season as a First-Time Soon-to-be-Mom

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Diana Cruz-Beniquez

This fall and winter season feel different this time around. The cold air has quickly made its appearance along with the early nights and quiet anticipation in my heart – not just for the busy months ahead, but for the little life that I am growing and nourishing every day. As a first-time soon-to-be mom, I have come to learn that nourishment goes far beyond what is on my plate. It’s about caring for my mind, spiritual well-being, and the support system that is carrying me in this vulnerable yet transformative time.

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Here I Go Again

Posted on November 7, 2025 by MSAA

By Samuel Fitch

Ten years! After about ten years away from the gym, I decided to walk back in the door. In that time, I’ve been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and staying active, but not in the way most people think. My life is full: busy professionally, engaged in the family business, raising four kids, and supporting a wonderful wife. That kind of activity keeps me moving, but at times it carries its own stress.

About a month ago, I felt a strong pull to return to structured exercise, first to safeguard my cardiovascular health and then to gradually reintroduce weight training. Not for huge muscular gain, but to strengthen and preserve what I already have. My mother’s passing at age 65 from a ruptured brain aneurysm after decades of smoking played a major role in that decision. Seeing mortality up close made me realize I want to be here long enough to watch my grandchildren grow, to enjoy years with family and meaningful work.

So each day I’ve headed to the treadmill. Thirty minutes, heart rate up near 150 beats per minute. The result has been therapeutic both mentally and physically. There’s pain in inertia but power in motion.

For my fellow men and women living with MS, I know our journeys differ. Some face greater physical challenges, while others may have more flexibility or energy to work with. My belief is that doing something, even small steps with the ability you have, can still produce a meaningful impact on well-being. Research supports this truth. Studies show that aerobic and resistance exercise improve mobility, reduce fatigue, and enhance quality of life in people living with MS (National Institutes of Health). Even more encouraging, exercise in MS is considered safe and does not worsen disease activity when properly managed (Cleveland Clinic).

If I had known how good I would feel simply by walking on the treadmill three times a week and steadily elevating my heart rate, I might have started sooner. But hindsight is a teacher, and the best time to begin is right now.

So that’s the invitation: whether you’re managing MS or simply navigating the busy demands of life, choose to move. Protect your heart, support your brain, and honor those you’ve loved and lost by caring for the life you still have before you.

Stay strong, inside and out.

Trying Your Best to Catch Some ZZ’s

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Angel Blair

Sleep…. This word can generate a mixture of feelings for many. Some people find it so easy to just lay their head down, turn off the inside chatter of their mind for a bit, and fall into a good snooze. But for others, sleep is a tease- a taunting pleasure just out of reach, and for various reasons. For those living with MS, it’s very common fatigue symptom can be in constant conflict with sleep. Those who need to rest but find they can’t, or getting sleep at unwanted/inconvenient times, etc. We know that sleep is extremely important for our minds and bodies, but it’s not always easy to attain.

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Creative Thinking & Well-Being

Posted on October 22, 2025 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

Being creative is generally accepted as a desirable trait, and the science supports it helps our well-being. When we look at our health physically, it’s often using objective measurements, lab test results, and diagnostic imaging. They provide numerical measurements and data to compare ourselves to a healthy range for most people.

To capture emotional well-being, we use more subjective measurements that consider mood, worry, stress, happiness, and level of confidence we feel about managing our health.

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Making the Most of Life After an MS Diagnosis

Posted on October 8, 2025 by MSAA

By Dr. Eva Jackson

Reflections on Life After Diagnosis

Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of hearing MS Warriors share their personal experiences following their diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Their stories offer a unique perspective on how disease has influenced their lives.

For some individuals, the initial impact of MS was minimal, allowing them to maintain their routines and activities without significant disruption. However, for others—particularly those diagnosed during more advanced stages, the effects were much more profound and immediate, altering their daily lives in meaningful ways.

Despite these varying experiences, there is a shared understanding among all of us: the importance of making the most out of life while we can. This common outlook serves as a powerful reminder to cherish each moment and embrace opportunities for fulfillment, regardless of the challenges we face.

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Refresh, Rewind, Release

Posted on September 29, 2025 by MSAA

By Monica Proctor Wilson

Self-care is not selfish.

Self-care is self-love.

It took me many years to not only understand that self-care was not selfish, but self-care was self-love and to also accept this. Of course, I had to learn the hard way. For years, I was the person burning the candle at both ends… and in the middle. I made sure everyone else was taken care of, I checked all the boxes, and I filled in all the roles. My personal theme song was “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan, which I played on repeat in my head. Say amen if you relate.

Then reality hit me. Hard. One day at work, I ran out of spoons before the day even started. I had a relapse due to complete exhaustion and extreme fatigue. After a coworker drove me home, I crawled into bed screaming “I don’t have time for a relapse!! I have to make dinner and be ready for the kids to get home to help with homework.” After taking a quick 16-hour nap, I woke the next morning to find dishes in the sink and clothes on the floor… and you know what? Life kept moving while I was resting and the world had not ended. The earth did not spin off its axis and I did not get sucked into another universe.

Building a Reset Routine

That was the “Ah-Ha” moment that I realized something had to change. I decided to take one day each month to do absolutely nothing. And when I say nothing, I mean nothing. I marked the date on the calendar so everyone knew I would not be available for events, errands, or obligations. That day was reserved for me to sleep, get a massage, binge-watch shows, or literally watch the paint dry on the wall. My body would decide.

My first attempt left me with feelings of complete guilt. It was difficult ignoring that voice in my head suggesting I was letting my family down. But after several attempts, the guilt turned into something else: a requirement that I would set for myself. A promise that I would take time to refresh, rewind, and release.

That was many years ago. My children are now grown, and my husband understands my promise to myself. But each month, I continue scheduling my mental health day because that’s what my body requires. A chance to recharge before the fatigue, stress, or symptoms stack up and force me to rest the hard way.

Why It Matters Especially with MS

Living with MS means we don’t always get to choose how our bodies feel day-to-day. But we can choose to respect our limits and plan recovery time before we crash. By putting a mental health day on the calendar, I shifted from reacting to my body’s emergencies to proactively giving it what it needs.

Your Turn

I know understand that self-care isn’t selfish…It’s self-love. It’s about survival and strength. Taking care of yourself allows you to give more to others. Remember the airline rule: mask on you first, then others.

If you’ve been pushing yourself beyond the limits, burning your candle at both ends, or just need time to recharge, consider this your permission slip to rest. I challenge you to schedule a day on the calendar that belongs only to you. No apologies. No guilt. It may be difficult, and the first attempt may only last 3 hours. But try again and again until you are able to refresh, rewind and release. You have my permission.

I’m Monica Proctor Wilson, and I’ve been living with multiple sclerosis for 19 years. I facilitate a self-help group called SPEAK MS, where we Share Personal Experience and Knowledge of MS, connect, and keep each other uplifted. I’m also an MS advocate and serve on the Government Relations Advisory Council, working to make sure the voices of people with MS are heard at every level. In 2023, I was honored to receive the National MS Society’s Inspiration Award. My passion is helping others find strength, purpose, and community while navigating life with MS.

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