By Dan and Jennifer Digmann
To us, community is more than a group of people who happen to live in the same town, attend the same church, share an interest, or know our story.
Community is the people who show up.
They celebrate with us when life is good, stand beside us when life is difficult, and remind us that we never have to navigate life completely alone.
Living with multiple sclerosis has taught us how important community really is.
There are days when MS makes even ordinary things complicated. On those days, a friend who checks in, offers a helping hand, listens without trying to fix everything, or simply says, “I’m here,” can make an enormous difference.
Over the years, we have experienced community in many different ways. We’ve seen it through family members who stepped up when we needed help, friends who checked in after medical appointments, church members who made sure we felt supported, and people living with MS who understood our challenges without needing lengthy explanations.
Those moments reminded us that community isn’t defined by proximity. It is defined by presence.
We try to extend those same acts of kindness to the people around us.
Sometimes kindness is something tangible: a ride, a helping hand, a meal, or making sure someone feels included. Other times, kindness is much simpler: remembering an important day, sending a message because someone is on our minds, celebrating another person’s success, or sitting quietly with someone who is hurting.
When it comes to friendship, we value kindness, honesty, compassion, acceptance, and reliability. We treasure people who allow us to be completely ourselves. Friendships rooted in grace and understanding create space for both giving and receiving, recognizing that support often looks different from one season of life to the next.
Perhaps most importantly, community reminds us that none of us are meant to do life alone. We all need someone to lean on, and we all have something meaningful to offer someone else.
Community isn’t built through grand gestures. Its foundation is in the everyday moments when people choose to care.
Sometimes, simply showing up is the greatest act of community.
About Dan and Jennifer
Dan and Jennifer Digmann each have lived with multiple sclerosis for more than 26 years and are the creators of “A Couple Takes on MS.” Through their podcast and blog, they share honest conversations about life, love, caregiving, advocacy, and finding joy despite the challenges of MS. They have been married for nearly 21 years, and together they believe some of life’s best moments are built one step, one roll, and one story at a time.