I read this article and just sat and thought wow. I was able to relate to this post because I was completing a disability application and for 3 pages there were questions about my hobbies and the only answer I could give was I don't have any because of MS.
I had a very active social life. I was always moving and grooving. I belonged to several groups that were apart meetup.com. I took exercise classes for free ie crossfit and any other extreme exercise class that was HITT. I was that person who walked into the class and looked like what the hell did I sign myself up for, but by the end of class I was hanging with the muscle bound guys who where impressed that I was able to keep up with them. Yes, I look like I need to eat a sandwich or two but I had the skill to rock it. The dr told me when I had my relapse my muscle strength helped lessen the blow of it because it would been more severe.
Excellent post! I quilt and sew like a mad woman. Lately I have been trying to use up my ginormous pile of fabric and turning it into another ginormous pile of quilts. It is fun. I agree with the article that 'ms' has somewhat altered my approach to making quilts, I will never give up quilting. Sure, my hand sewing days are pretty much limited, but I now use my sewing machine for that, if at all possible. Sew, I adapt!
Where there's a will, there's a way. Just need to find a safe and enjoyable way to do it!
R.J., great article & post,👍 I still Sing🎤🎤🎵🎶🎼🎹Play the Synth, I will get to riding 🐎Again & I love to walk our River walk here @ our community center gym. Thanks & Love ya!👍💐💗---Jazzy💜🌹
Hi Rjones, your friend NeeC. I can relate to this, I'm not being vain at all; but many times I have had an infusions, the nurses would say to each other guess her age? I do Zumba and dance, the youthfulness is my parents genes (God bless them) and maybe me doing holistic health and organic foods. But you have something here....we shock a few folks my friend. I have grandchildren and on a good day I can hang with "Twitch" from the Ellen DeGeneres Show! Your Awesome and thanks for sharing Happy Thanksgiving early!
I've given up most of my myriad hobbies to settle on the few that I can still do well. For instance, I used to love piano, but my coordination isn't so great, and I don't have much strength or stamina. I still play for church, but that's only a testament to my church family's forbearance!
Since MS, I've settled in to sewing and quilting, mostly for charities, since it's easy to start and stop and doesn't take a huge amount of energy or coordination with the machine.
I think we can still learn new hobbies that fit our energy and strength levels. Adapt, adapt, adapt. Carol and I will teach quilting, won't we, carolek572 ?
I still write and play music. My playing abilities are getting very poor, but I’m just working with what I have left. I paint and I still work on guitars. None of it is easy, but I find so much joy in it all. I highly recommend finding something to do to occupy your mind and body. Don’t let this damned disease take your life away. We’re in control!!
Rjoneslaw, it's Fancy. Ms just not have to take away all your hobbies unless you simply wish to give them up. Sure I can no longer play competitive volleyball or backpack with my sons but age was sneaking up on me and it was a matter of time before both those Hobbies became fond memories. Look for new hobbies that you can enjoy and do even having MS. There are numerous Hobbies out there that are not physically demanding and that would be enjoyable even with MS. You can draw, paint, birdwatch, and do numerous other things while having MS. As far as exercising have you thought about doing water aerobics or simply water MS. classes which are simply wonderful for all forms of MS. Join with educational Ms classes and meet new people with Ms by doing the MS exercise classes that are so popular these days. My doctor's office does a monthly and this informative and educational class and there are many close friends there now that I have made. We are now starting to do things outside of the class as in go to flea markets, go to movies and lunch together, or go to the races together xcetera. It's up to you to expand your Horizon and to find ways to keep from becoming a Hermit with your MS.
I refuse to allow MS to stop a 50 year long passion I have had involving horses. In about 2 weeks I am going to buy a new little horse. One is small enough that I can get on and off by myself with help from mounting aids. So I firmly believe it's about adaptability and flexibility on our part to keep up our old life as much as possible. If your friends that you used to run around move on with a busy life that you can't keep up with find new friends that you can. If your athletic sports Ironman type Hobbies are too strenuous for you to do tone it down and find exercise that will improve your MSN you can still do like water aerobics or water MS classes. Simply be flexible and adaptable and keep your mind open to the new possibilities that you can do and do them. Don't remorse and cry about things you can no longer do. That attitude will do you in so get the attitude that you can do and you will do an adapt to what it is that you can do today and find friends to do that with. Hope this helps? Remember together we are stronger! Fancy.
I haven’t become a hermit yet. I go to exercise classes and I’ll cover a court call for a friend when needed just to ask continuation
I never liked or did water sports. I never felt the water was clean. The beach made no sense one block down it’s closed because of something in it but the one next too it is open. Did they forget water moves/ travel? The pool don’t get me started
I have been without a car since 2010. My husband does all the shopping and picks up my son from school. It is so lonely but where would I go besides to visit my mom in the nursing home? I don’t have funds for hobbies or classes. The MS water aerobics that I did in 2001 were like $11 each back then. Don’t let yourself become a hermit because even when I have access to the car I forget and still don’t go anywhere. I am like the puppy mill dogs - you open their cage and they don’t even try to run out. They don’t know anything but their cage.
I needed that encouragement. Thank you. I am so thankful for the hobbies I can sort of do now. I am slowly learning new ones and some abilities, like getting out on my own in my car (much smaller perimeter). I just having a hard time accepting this is the level of oboe I can play after being able to play professionally. But I did play in church on Sunday; and I was tired.
I am so thankful for all these wonderful, uplifting comments. You made feel more useful. I now must learn to enjoy whatever level I can play oboe and garden. Right now this disease is giving me a hard time and being home alone is overwhelming.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to all. So much to be thankful. And the original post and article was great.
With love
Tonyia
Tonyia, Ì bet you play the Oboe beautifully? Anyone who can play a musical instrument totally impress and amaze me. You inspire me! You simply need to think outside the box and remember when God shuts a door he opens a window. What we need to do is find the courage to step through that window and adapt and be flexible and look for new ways to broaden our Horizons that can be safely done despite our MS. There are exercise classes you can do that don't involve water if water is not good for you that will help strengthen and work on your balance. If you're okay with water there's the water aerobics in the water classes I spoke of previously. I like to do cramps and have a good time making something out of nothing. I also am in the works of continuing my love of horseback riding by purchasing a new smaller horse that I can ride safely in that will babysit me as I continue on with what's left of my horseback riding Hobby. I know that the hippo therapy for horseback riding is one of the best therapies you can do for MS and I simply need to get back to it and see how much I can improve this monster we live with! Remember you inspire me! I have often wished I knew or could play musical instruments but it was not something we were exposed to in my house growing up. I was more of a farm girl and helped outdoors with my dad and worked with the animals and rode horses. Take care and look in the most mundane places and you will find things that you can develop into new hobbies. Remember Tonyia together we are stronger! Fancy.
rjoneslaw Oh, you don't know how I want my old life back! Hobbies? That was what I did when I wasn't riding my bicycle🚴♀️ 200 miles a week, swimming laps and walking on days I didn't ride. Then I was making my own patterns for my cycling jerseys, sewing them and anything else I created. Then, when the mood would strike me, I would crochet and knit gifts for any occasion, Holidays, babies, lots of hats and scarves for homeless. Newborn caps because I love babies, donated to local hospitals.. Oh, and then painting, I did oils years ago, but fell in love with watercolors. loved to take a beautiful picture and recreate in watercolors. I haven't done anything but crochet and some pencil coloring since MS. When I was waiting for DX and many tests, I crocheted 12 afghans because all I had was lots of yarn. Thought that would continue, but as I got more active, decided to rebuild my reading library and bought tons books and yarns. Books all over the house now, yarn hidden in every possible place. Haven't read any book but the Bible, have only made 1 afghan and a couple of baby blankets.. my focus on any project lasts about as long as it takes to think of it... My husband even bought me a new sewing machine to peak my interest, bought the accessories, yardage and it's sitting there..😊 Darn MS!!!
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