By Nana Opong-Owusu

They say the habits, values, and choices we’ve planted in our past, shape the garden we stand in today — the decisions we’ve made, the habits we’ve formed, the passions we’ve nurtured, and the values we’ve carried quietly in our hearts. I didn’t appreciate these types of thoughts as a child, but as an adult I oftentimes find myself reflecting.

Growing up, I was always drawn to movement. Sports weren’t just a hobby — they were a way of life. Whether it was the freedom associated with biking around the city with my childhood friends, the camaraderie of my basketball teams, or the adrenaline of soccer tournaments, exercise and movement have always grounded me. Now as an adult, I see it gave me structure, perseverance, and most importantly, a familiarity with pushing through adversity. But alongside that physical drive, I’ve always carried something else: a caring heart. A giving heart.

Those two threads — a love for physical movement and a natural instinct to help — have quietly shaped much of my life. They have intertwined to bring me to this moment. Starting a foundation that encourages movement isn’t just a passion project — it feels like a calling to help others and myself through purpose. It’s a testimony of my journey. I’ve come to deeply appreciate how vital movement is, especially for those of us whose bodies are changing due to conditions like multiple sclerosis. It’s not only about fitness anymore. It’s about counteracting the negative effects MS can have, maintaining mobility, health, and independence, and pursuing a full quality of life.

None of this came out of nowhere. It is the decision of God. The person I am today is the product of years of small choices. If there’s one thing reflection has taught me, it’s this: the life we build is not shaped in dramatic, loud moments, but in the quiet, persistent ways we show up — for ourselves, and for others.

Nana Opong-Owusu is a clinical trials researcher that enjoys sports, health, and fitness (amongst many other things 🙂). Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2022, she is now the president, founder, and patient advocate behind The MiSunderstood Foundation. The foundation promotes exercise and movement for those living with MS, raises funds for minority-focused MS research, and spreads awareness of the autoimmune disease. “I’m just trying to help us all through movement — because movement is medicine.”