Slow But Steady Wins the Race

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Claudia Chavez

February has arrived, and we are one month into our new year’s resolution journey. Let’s face it, it can be difficult to keep the motivation we once had. While I had the best intentions to get up every morning and go for a walk, some days I didn’t feel like changing out of my pajamas, and that is okay.

The momentum that developed in January suddenly started slowing down as the month passed. While I started my new year’s resolution in full force, I have noticed my motivation fluctuating as of late. Surely, I’m not alone. Many of us have experienced our motivation decline as the year goes by. It’s not uncommon to lose track of our original goal and slowly fall back into old habits. What can we do when this happens? And how can we retain that excitement and focus we once had?

Continue reading →

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll be among the stars.

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Claudia Chavez

Every January, most of us ask ourselves and those around us, “What is your new year’s resolution?” But why is this a thing? Is this simply a tradition, or is January truly the ideal time to establish goals for the rest of the year?

New Year’s Day serves as a clean slate. It is such a popular time of year to evaluate our goals because it represents a reset button, a fresh start that has the potential for greatness. My personal new year’s anthem is the song Feeling Good by Nina Simone. Regardless of the intended meaning of this song, the lyrics speak to me around this time of year.

Continue reading →

Looking at the Lighter Side of the New Year

Posted on January 18, 2023 by MSAA

By Susan Courtney

So here we are in mid-January… long past New Year countdowns and the making (and breaking) of resolutions. Although it is different for me now, when I was younger, New Year’s was the grand finale to 365 days, worthy of much celebration.

I can still remember my first and only formal New Year’s party held in a glamourous ballroom. My husband and I were in our 20s and completely inexperienced with swanky affairs. Soon after arriving, I proudly stood in my evening gown alongside my husband in his borrowed tux as he uncorked the first bottle of champagne at our table. I can still see the cork shooting from the bottle and hitting the woman on the other side of our table smack-dab in the center of her forehead. Fortunately, my New Year celebrations are much quieter now – and much safer for those around me!

Continue reading →

My New Year’s Resolution

Posted on January 3, 2020 by Selena Fisher

January is officially here. Wow! We are already in the year 2020, and do you know what that means? Tis the season of New Year’s resolutions. However, I’m still not over Christmas. I mean, I’m the person who would keep the Christmas tree up until March. Yep, I’m THAT person. I’m not kidding. My husband takes Continue reading →

All About You!

Posted on January 25, 2019 by MSAA

By Doug Ankerman

Almost a month into 2019 and thank God all the chatter about resolutions and fresh starts is winding down.

The reason my undies are in a bunch about this topic is because resolutions fail and fresh starts, though better, are often postponed. Continue reading →

So You Made a Resolution

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Ro Washington

Oh the New Year! Each January 1st millions of people make pacts, decisions and turn over new leaves as a shiny new year looms ahead of them. You may not be the resolutions type. Maybe you think “What’s the point? A majority of New Year’s resolutions go bust anyway.” And you are right. In fact, US News states that roughly 80% of all resolutions made, fail by just the second week of February. 80%, 6 weeks in! That’s nuts. Now there are lots of blogs and how-to lists Continue reading →

This Year I Will…

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Ro Washington

Oh the New Year…. Everywhere you see signs, commercials, social media posts and billboards advertising “New Year, New You.” We all make resolutions to get to the gym, cut out the junk food, meet Mrs/Mr Right, get out of debt, budget better and there is nothing wrong with any of those things!! We could all use a better budget and probably to eat less simple carbs… especially after the holidays. But this year be encouraged to not create a brand new you, but finesse the you that’s already there and Do Less or Do More. Radical changes that turn things on their heads usually tend to end in disappointing failure which can cause even the most devote of us to doubt if we are ever going to be capable of change.

But what if instead we took stock of what we wanted, were honest with ourselves…not with our best intentions but with our real selves and instead of resolutions made Less/More lists. This year I have decided to Waste Less… of not only nature’s resources but also my time and energy on things that are not good for me. I’ve decided to Judge (both myself and others) Less in order to extend grace and understanding, to be Hurt Less in that every painful situation should not derail me continuing to live my life to the best of my abilities. To Doubt Less in my abilities and talents, in my own worth and potential and to Fear Less… to let fear have it’s rightful place but not take over from me the joy and growth that new experiences and tough situations can bring forth. I also decided to Reflect More on my surroundings and my place in the world, to Care (for both myself and others) More in that it’s ultimately my responsibility to be there for myself and I can extend that care to others until they are able to do so for themselves also. I decided to Explore More and Read More of the world around me in order that I can Grow More from experience and Learn More from others. I also decided to Accept More both the things I cannot change but wish I could, the people I encounter who are who they are and my own shortcomings and missteps. I have decided to Reach Out More to others, Connect More with the community and people around me and Love More in situations that I could use or might even feel called to insert hateful words, closed ears or turned backs, to decide that in spite of everything I will Love More.

I don’t need to be a New Me in this New Year… I needed to take stock of the things most important to me, evaluate and be honest about the things and people in my life and what I want from my life in order to come to the decision that this year…. This will be the year of More and Less of what I decide to make it. So what will you make it??

Resolutions…What Resolutions??

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Ro Washington

Resolutions! We’re winding down the end of month one of 2017…have you stuck to your new years resolutions?? Or have you like most of us slowly fallen off that bandwagon? Every year individuals around the world make promises to themselves or set goals for the new year. Big, small and things in between, we make our lists. I’ve often done this myself and like many come the start of February when someone asks me “Hey how are your New Year’s Resolutions looking?” I look at them and with complete focus reply “Resolutions…what Resolutions?? Oh those silly things”

I’m sure I’m not alone in this idea of looking around at midnight on December 31^st and getting caught up in the excitement and coming up with a few dozen things I will definitely do differently in 2017. This year as I watched the clock tick down and 2016 was on it’s way out the time door I decided that instead of vowing to eat better, read more or even save money that instead this year I wouldn’t make a resolution so much as start a conversation…with myself. As the party started to count down, 10…I thought over the past year. 9…The experiences and the problems. 8… I thought about the things that I’d loved about 2016. 7… and those that I didn’t. 6… And then I had a thought. 5… What if in 2017 instead of promising to do things I may or may not actually do. 4… I decided to promise myself something. 3… That this year, in 2017. 2… I would find, explore and do the things that make me happy. 1… My one and only promise/resolution/goal for 2017 was to the take time to really ask myself and listen intently to the answers to what makes me, me. The happy, more positive version of me…0.

So that’s what I’ve been doing this year. Yes I had my “I really should cook instead of running thru the drive thru” moment and gotten up early to do some yoga, or in some cases just have a cup of coffee and watched the sun rise. But not necessarily because I’m trying to be super healthy or save money or anything specific to that. But because cooking and watching a new day start and coffee make me happy. So it may be the end of the first month of 2017 but there is definitely still time to decide not on a resolution per say. But on more of a journey or an exploration…What if you spent some time this year, finding what makes you happy and doing that from time to time not by accident but intentionally. It might be easier to keep than some of the other resolutions we’ve all made.

2017 Has Arrived

Posted on January 25, 2017 by MSAA

By Lauren Kovacs

It is tough to welcome a new year. Seems like I recently adjusted to it being 2016. Alas, we must shed the old and embrace the new. Shake it off.

Like anything with MS, don’t rush. Rushing does nothing good. Slow down. Ease into 2017. Take a deep breath and take a baby step into the New Year.

Setting wee goals makes the weight of the New Year manageable. Don’t make a long list of goals. Maybe do an extra few reps when exercising. Doing 13 instead of 10 might be something you can do. You can maybe add an extra pound to your weights. A few small goals are more realistic.

I know I soaked myself in gluten over Christmas and I never said “no” to Christmas cookies. I was being polite. Generally, it was a baked good free-for-all. If it was within reach, I ate it. I love candy too. My daily PT suffered. This month I am weeding out some gluten and doing part of my PT.

I started my New Year’s goals the day after Christmas. A tiny bit each day does wonders. I restarted my laps around the house. I am trying to do at least one. I am supposed to do three. Wade in slowly. No head first diving into 2017. The water is cold so, most towel off and never go back in. Don’t let too many goals shock your system.

I am trying to get off the couch more. The butt marks on my couch don’t look good. One of my sons got a real bow and arrow set from Santa. (target tips) I go out and watch him practice. I can’t get out there without help, but I am trying. I am off the couch.

Take your time and slow down. So what if it takes you longer to tie your shoes or hook you bra? Rushing leads to frustration. Slow and steady, as they say. If you just can’t, after trying, ask for help. Frustration leads to stress and stress is bad for MS.

In general, MS makes you slow down. Take your time. We run a very different race. If I can shower without losing balance, when standing up to get out, it is a goal I reached. If I can comb my wet hair without smacking myself in the face, I met another goal. Take your time. 2017 is not going any place any time soon.

Resolutions, Goal Setting and Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on January 23, 2017 by MSAA

By Susan Russo

Every year on January 1st, the first thought to pop into my head is “OK, it’s a new beginning, what do I want to do going forward?”

And every January 1st, I say “Well, absolutely nothing comes to mind.” Except coffee. I need coffee. And eggs and some bacon. So I climb out of bed and meander my way into the kitchen, all the while telling my son “Happy New Year Chris! We made it through another Holiday Season, still intact and none worse for wear.” Still not married, still alone, and still no grand babies for me to raise. Chris just grunts in unison, rolls back over in his bed and drifts back into his safe place. What that is, I don’t dare ask. All I hear is a muffled, low grade growl of “just stop it mom, pleeeeeeaaase!”

As I take my cozy seat at the breakfast table with my favorite blanket, (and, yes, it does get cold enough in winter to use a blanket in Houston) I begin to reminisce on the past few years. “How is my MS doing?” I ask. It answers back with a flush of burning, tingling, a bit of numbness, and a side order of vertigo, reminding me, “Hey girl, I’m still here. Did you forget about me?” And I’m like, “geez, sorry I asked.”

No. I have not forgotten. It’s just in the midst of all my goal setting, you simply slipped my mind.

And that’s just it. The thing about setting goals for the new year…it really is so important. Resolutions allow me to forget about multiple sclerosis, even for just a moment. Thinking of my dreams and aspirations brings me to a happy place. And by the time I finished my toast with jelly, I have a list of a thousand things I want to accomplish. We all know that feeling of elation. Yes, I can learn to swim so my MS will stop burning me, as I splash around in the pool like a halibut. Yes, I will become a world famous artist, move to the Fiji Islands, employ a cabana boy, drink ice tea, and paint until my heart’s content. And eat tons of potato chips. I love potato chips. And maybe have a glass of champagne. Just because I can.

Then, Boom! Reality comes knocking on the door. “You can’t ignore me forever! Let me in or else!” I sigh and take a gulp of my coffee, politely expressing to my reality to “go away, I still have bacon to eat.”

The thing about reality…it’s real and it’s relentless, and it never goes away. So, begrudgingly, I focus. One step at a time. One day at a time. One goal at a time.

I will take my Avonex on time each week. (I was tired of my MS injections, so I skipped a few. Don’t tell my doctor.)
I will swim 2 to 3 times a week.
I will eat healthy foods. (Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.)
I won’t pester my son about marriage and babies and wanting a corgi puppy.
I will create more art because I am totally talented and people like my work.
I will volunteer at the local police department because I have respect for officers of the law. (Actually, I adore a man in uniform, just sayin…)
And, I will find a cure for MS! It’s gonna happen people!

My point is this. It’s imperative to set goals, especially when we are in a battle with MS or other dreadful diseases. Unfortunately, they are a part of our lives. We cannot ignore them. So, include them in your dreams and aspirations. Keep it simple. Don’t set goals you know in your heart you won’t keep. Be kind to yourself. Reward yourself. Go see that movie that you’ve been wanting to see.

Remember this. No matter how crazy the world gets, if you have just one goal that gives you a sense of accomplishment, set it and follow through. When you succeed, pat yourself on the back. Smile. You did it. Then set another. And another. Pretty soon, you will find that resolutions can be made and effortlessly (well, you may have to exert some effort) accomplished, not just on the very first day of a new year, but anytime you wish.

The choice is yours. And know this, if you falter with your attempts to better yourself and the world around you, do not dismay. Time keeps coming. Days keep flying by. And January 1st will still be the 1st day of the new year. Always.

Time for resolutions and dreams, with an entree of bacon, eggs, coffee, and more bacon. And perhaps a little grand baby to cuddle.

Heck, I’d settle for the corgi puppy! I’ll name her Isabella.

FOLLOW MSAA ON: