Like so many others, I have been glued to the Olympic coverage seeing so many parallels to my own life: struggling but coming up short, needing my body to perform and dealing with the "twisties" in real time. Like Simone Biles, I have struggled with understanding my place in space because of the dizziness, yet another lovely MS symptom. And like Simone, I will continue to do what I need to do to ensure my own health and safety.

I have written and talked about MS heat intolerance for years but it bears repeating. Heat and humidity can exacerbate symptoms like fatigue, numbness and blurry vision although cooling the body off will usually return everything back to normal or whatever your normal is. No one wants to miss out on the summer fun because of heat related relapses so make the necessary adjustments and preparations to stay as cool as possible.

I had a full blown panic attack last night at bedtime forcing me to finally seek the therapy I have been putting off for so long. I understand why I am an anxious, codependent woman but feel powerless to get to the bottom of my problems myself. There is nothing wrong in seeking help when I need it and wouldn't hesitate if it were a medical problem so I'm a little embarrassed that I'm just now realizing I can't get through this alone....none of us can and it's alright to admit that.

Ironically, I didn't discover my true purpose in life until I was diagnosed with MS all those years ago now. I was in a vicious cycle of working myself sick while never feeling like I was really present for my family either mentally or physically. In a strange way, MS has given me a very strong sense of purpose that I might never have had otherwise. Because of the fear and isolation I faced when first diagnosed, I've spent my life since I stopped working outside the home trying to give back to the MS community in whatever way I could. Right now I am really enjoying podcasting while hopefully helping others who are facing this or any other health crisis of their own.

I am starting on my eighth disease modifying medication tomorrow and I'm more than a little nervous about it given my history with MS drugs. I am back to self injections with the newest MS medication on the market called Kesempta. Being at home to take this medicine beats traveling miles and sitting for up to 6 hours at an infusion site but at least there is a nurse on staff who can monitor my reaction to the drug if any. Although I have plenty of trepidation about this new medication, I am also curious to see if it will alter what feels like the quickening of my MS progression. I have a busy, full and enjoyable life for the most part and will do whatever I need to continue living it to the fullest including taking scary drugs with possible life threatening side effects.

Every year I say I'm done with fundraising for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society yet here I am again. I signed up to be captain of a small but mighty WALK MS team and since there's no actual WALK event this year due to Covid, I've been forced to be more creative than ever in my fundraising efforts. Asking people for money in this climate is very stressful making me feel more vulnerable than ever because I HATE asking for anything but I guess I HATE this disease more so as long as I'm still able I will do my part to continue the funding so necessary to finding a CURE for this disease once and for all.

I have spent years looking outward for ways to heal my MS but it's not working. In fact, I'm getting worse, weaker everyday. Had a lightbulb moment this weekend that I share in this podcast finally deciding that the answers are within me. I am unconsciously bringing more pain and disability into my life because that's what I'm putting all my energy into fighting. What you resist persists. I am going to let health flow through me and love myself back to better health.

Botox is not for just for smoothing out the wrinkles anymore. It's the miracle drug that helps me deal with an overactive bladder. After years of dealing with this frustrating MS symptom, I am grateful to have discovered this procedure which really has been life changing.When you hear people talk about invisible illness, overactive bladder is one of those symptoms that is easy to hide from others but can make life miserable for the person living with it.

I know it's human nature to compare ourselves to others so I'm not immune to this behavior. Life is too short to spend your time thinking about what you don't have instead of appreciating what you do. I know everyone has their own challenges but some days I wish that my disability did not hold me back from the life I once led.I have to constantly remind myself that I'm great just the way I am even on days I don't really believe that.

It has been a whole year since I have been on a plane but I am so thankful that I took this calculated risk to get out of the cold weather. I share the challenges of traveling when disabled for a couple of reasons, the first being to remind able bodied people to help out when and where they can and to challenge others like me to take a chance to get out of your comfort zone. I can almost guarantee that the hassle of traveling is well worth the effort. Besides, it those of us with disabilities don't take full advantage of opportunities that others take for granted then there is no need to make the world accessible for us.