mser's, have YOU ever noticed that it is not always the strongest, biggest most intimidating person that wins? The New Zealand football team before every game lines up and performs a very old tribal war dance, watch it on YouTube one day. Now I am not a New Zealander, but my understanding is for it to instil fear in the enemy and to beef up the courage of the national football\rugby team.
Start developing your very own tribal dance. Develop an air of confidence, the biggest baddest, do not mess with me look. I am talking about how YOU are walking into that club, the second day at work. Or meeting that hot potential spouse or one night stand. I never tried to pick up a young lady long ago by being weak or seeking pity conversation. I always let her think I was doing her a favour, in having the chance to meet me. YOU have been there, YOU know of what I speak. That certain something, I just can not put into words but look at YOU, YOU have it. Carry it with YOU, wear it on your chest like a badge of honour. Be proud of it, be proud of YOU. Why ever would YOU let people look at you with pity in their eyes?
Yes, YOU are disabled but that is no excuse to be weak, to be pitied. YOU fall, YOU slipped really. YOU soil yourself, YOU wear Depends, nobody but you knows. YOU park in the handicap spot and people look at you. YOU ignore them or look back and say "Am I not straight" Always YOU do everything that YOU can to control a situation and give yourself power. People will leap on weakness and take advantage. Do not give them the opportunity, and if they catch YOU unaware feel free to use the injured card. YOU, do not have to broadcast that YOU are disabled, but YOU most likely can use a little white lie.
It all boils down to YOU regain, and YOU maintaining your power. This should be used in every situation. YOU go into a GP\Primary care doctors office, YOU do not let them say "its ms" for every problem YOU have. At the neurologist learn some basic terminology about ms. Keep records and read them, ask questions. Do not just be a pill popper
know what YOU are taking and why. be informed, knowledgeable and have confidence. Do not just be another $50 copay.
Have that air of confidence and YOU will start to carry it with YOU into other parts of your life. Work, relationships, everywhere. I walked out of a toilet in a restaurant with my pants in my hand. Held my head high and commanded the situation. Scared beyond belief, but they did not know that, because I held my shoulders back & strutted out the door past the people.
Perception and confidence are what will get YOU through most situations. People are not used to it, so if YOU practice it, YOU my friend will win, and YOU want to win. Perhaps in your studies, YOU might want want to look at some books, stories, movies, about people that beat the odds. You do realize that Napoleon was short for his time and Prince wore high heels.
Take every advantage that YOU can, and if YOU can not take one. Make one, nobody said that YOU had to play fair. WE, are disabled and look normal, sometimes YOU have to do things to get through the day that YOU normally would not. Do them and get through your day.
Again it leads to that 3 am pain fear. It is another little deposit that YOU can put in your ms memory success bank account. Yes 3 am has been very challenging for me. experiences that I hope YOU never face.
Royce
Just prancing along, proudly
MS...... and the power of exercise in the water!
