Tag Archives: Stacie Prada

Dealing with Seasonal Pressure

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By Stacie Prada

Fall consistently brings increased obligations, stress, and fatigue for me. I notice it’s happening when I feel pressured, stressed, and frustrated. The paradox is that when I realize something needs to give, the solution always requires more work.

Colder weather, fewer hours of daylight, and cold & flu season consistently increase my multiple sclerosis symptoms. Each year, I find myself creating a new plan to adjust. By writing this, I hope to capture my thought process and make each year’s adjustment less painful.

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Family Roots and Branches

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By Stacie Prada

To quote the band Talking Heads from the song Once in a Lifetime, “How did I get here?”

And why does it matter?

For my ancestors who died before I was born, I contributed absolutely nothing to what they did or who they were. I try not to take any unearned pride in their efforts. I have no idea if we would have even liked each other.

Still, I marvel at the many hardships they endured that brought my family to the United States and led me to be here.

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It Takes a Village

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By Stacie Prada

When I think of my community, I first think of where I live, my friends and neighbors who will show up for me, and those I’m compelled to show up for. In times of crisis, a surge of community help is noticeable. A call to action is made, and people rise to the occasion.

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Self-Guided Summer Fun 

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By Stacie Prada

When looking for things to do in the summer months, I think of my favorite experiences and memories. Some were big, pricey events with lots of planning, and some cost next to nothing, were memorable for some reason, and were special for who I did them with. 

This summer I’ll have close family visit me. Our primary goals are to spend time together and relax. Still, it’s the perfect opportunity to create an indulgent staycation for me and a fun vacation for them. They’ve already visited many times, so my goal is to do more of what we’ve enjoyed in the past and find new experiences for us to enjoy together. 

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My Inner Cheerleader

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By Stacie Prada

“The reward of a thing well done is having done it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sure, Ralph. Sometimes, having something done well is enough. It’s a relief to have it off the to-do list. It’s not nagging at me, and I’m not stressing about doing it anymore. But sometimes I still need acknowledgment for my hard work. A quiet nod or smile to myself in recognition: a star or smiley face drawn in my journal.

A lot of living with multiple sclerosis for me is invisible, and the effort it takes to prevent or delay physical decline is huge.

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Singing for Wellness

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By Stacie Prada

Last year, my naturopath suggested I take deep breaths each day, and I agreed it would be good for me. I approached it like a prescription and made sure to do it. I followed guided meditations, and they were fine. I’d set a timer and count deep breaths in and out to meet the goal. It seemed good for me, but I didn’t love it or look forward to it.

Then I had an “aha moment.” I’ve long wanted to improve my singing, and I realized I could make progress with singing AND practice breathwork in a way I’d enjoy.

My inspiration was a music app. It would allow me to do breathwork and improve my musical knowledge and skills. Most importantly, it could be fun. I’ve now been doing singing lessons for a few minutes each day for 22 weeks. Because I want to keep my streak, I make sure I do it every day. I love that it’s a bite-sized daily commitment, and it’s doable.

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Bittersweet Advocacy

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By Stacie Prada

I’m proud to advocate on behalf of multiple sclerosis issues, and I aim to normalize discussing human health experiences without shame. If we live long enough, almost all of us will experience big health issues, and learning from others is a huge help for navigating them.

I’ve participated in Bike MS, Meat Fight, Walk MS, and self-help group leadership. I write openly about my MS experience, I contribute regularly to MSAA’s blog MS Conversations, and I let my community, colleagues, and legislators know that I have MS. I’m happy to answer questions and have spoken to newly diagnosed people and family members quite a few times over the years. If I’m the only person they know with MS and they would like to chat, I’m there for them. They’ll have a unique MS experience, and I want to support them in their journey. I’m eager to encourage kinship, help where I can, and remove any cloak of shame regarding health issues.

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Intention & Expectations

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By Stacie Prada

Lately, I’ve been pausing periodically throughout each day to ask myself, “How do I want to show up today?”

It only takes a moment, just enough time for a brief inhale and exhale. It allows me to shake loose whatever thoughts are running through my mind and start fresh. I like to imagine I’m shaking a marked-up Etch-A-Sketch toy to create a clean surface ready for whatever I want to draw.

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Vision & Values

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By Stacie Prada

I created a vision board years ago that included images of women doing yoga poses I couldn’t do. I attended yoga classes weekly, and I loved how it combined calming breathwork with some of the gymnastics, athleticism, and flexibility that my multiple sclerosis issues had curtailed.

I placed the collage vision board near my makeup vanity, and I didn’t put a lot of effort into tracking it. About a year later, I looked up, and I was startled to realize I could do all the poses on my vision board! Without realizing it, I slowly worked my way toward poses that seemed completely out of reach a year prior. Dancer, feathered peacock, and crane pose had become regular movements in my yoga practice without any periodic notice or celebration. With this realization, my glee absolutely overflowed.

Looking back, I think about how dreaming and acknowledging my aspirations, combined with regularly showing up to yoga class, were the key. They helped me achieve things I hadn’t been convinced I would ever do.

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2025 Year in Review Through Bingo

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By Stacie Prada

December is the perfect time to reflect on how the past year measured up to hopes and goals. In January, I created a 2025 Bingo card that reflected various priorities I have. It proved useful and motivating as I checked in throughout the year. In November, I created a second Bingo card for the holidays that featured more self-care items, and it added a lot of value to my life. I didn’t complete every item on either of the Bingo cards, but I did a lot more of them than I think I would have without them.

Things I accomplished this year:

1. Dry January – 30 days with no alcohol.

2. Read three books – this one I exceeded greatly with the help of my local library.

3. Virtual painting party & complete a paint-by-numbers: This was a really fun project. I had a paint-by-numbers created from a photograph of my sisters and me. I gifted it to each of them for Christmas last year, and the plan was to have a virtual painting party, complete with berets and a photo op. It was a lot of fun, and now I have a really cool painting of us!

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