My biggest challenge..... coaching people to accept their disabilities.

[Fancy1959]

I used to be an athlete and play competitive volleyball and ride horses Non-Stop. I could do things on the volleyball court that nobody else could do spinning to get balls landing on my knees and using my momentum to slide across the floor another 10 to 15 feet to get to a ball that nobody else could get to. Jumping with enough vertical leap to block really good men hitters on an 8' foot tall men's net which meant I had to jump about 9 foot high to get both hands over the net far enough to block their hits. I backpacked across Red River Gorge which is a very hilly and mountainous Gorge with a 25 to 30 lbs pack on my back without assistance from one single man on the trip. I was the only woman to ever backpack with the group because no one else could do it. The entire time I participated in these extreme physical Sports, I have to admit never once did I consider all the poor souls out there who had trouble simply going from point A to point B. Well that is no longer the case. Now I totally understand anybody who struggles with their balance and or their Mo. bility.

I try to keep positive positive attitude about what I can do and what I can as well but like I said every once in a while that green-eyed monster rears its head in me. Sometimes, as I watch young people and even 50 and 60 year olds walk without thinking anything about it and talking with friends and kicking their feet up so to speak without any care in the world.

I think that admitting that to yourself though it's all part of the package of understanding your limitations and a learning to cope and to accept them. I don't feel like I've let the world down when that monster with the green eyes rears its ugly head. I just simply tap it down and wish that were the athletic in able-bodied me once again as I Venture Ford on my scooter or with my walker. I hope that if because of my athletic background if anything it will help me to help others who find themselves in the same situation that I have found myself in. It's hard to cancel and help people who are having a hard time adjusting to the disability they are currently facing when you haven't had the same issue attack you. By wading through my disability and by slowly watching my athleticism drain away and be replaced by lack of balance and mobility I can hopefully become a guiding light to those who find themself in a similar situation. I have to believe this is how I can make a difference and go about trying to help those who need a coach in this new world of disability. Of all the things I've coached in my life, which were many and which most were active and athletic, I have to admit I never thought my greatest challenge would be to become a coach for those to learn to deal with their disabilities and except their new path in life. But, over the past few years I have found it to be extremely challenging and extremely rewarding!

How about you ? How have you adjusted to your new path in life. It is not easy that is for certain but at least we have a path in life to adjust to . Please share any information or stories you have about how you've adjusted to this path we were forced to travel down and what your biggest challenge in adjusting to this path has been . I can't wait to read your replies . I think this can be a very inspiring post for many people in our family. This is just another great way to share our stories and to prove that we are not alone on this journey and perhaps we can help each other adjust to the path we find ourselves on. Remember you are never alone on your journey as you have 4500 people in this chat room that are walking similar paths to yours . Together we are stronger Fancy.

[jimeka]

Like you Fancy my mum used to say that I was born in the saddle. Riding horses was my life, and the one on one relationship you get with your horse, is so rewarding. I trained as a teacher, while at uni, I was one of the first British three girls to climb the High Route no 2 in the Dolomites, Italy. I then moved to Canada where I did anything that I could turn my hand to. I was a sales clerk in Steadmans shoe shop, manager of the Pizza Factory, assistant manager of Consumer Distributing, fitness director for a fitness club in Sarnia, the list goes on. My fitness days came to an end when having had 3 children and all their sports activities, back in the U.K. I started riding again and teaching Sunday school. Unfortunately I came off my daughters horse and ended up having to have a mri and that’s when they found out I had ms, and everything else. Since then it’s been a learning curve, not only for me but also my family. It’s hard seeing your children now all grown with children of their own, not being able to accept what you yourself have a hard time accepting. There’s so much to get your head around, foot drop, dragging the leg, in continence, diet, medicines, headaches, the worst I think is pain, but the list is endless. Knowing how to channel your good days into productive ones is to say the least is a challenge. BUT, you just have to keep smiling, people often say to me, it could be a lot worse! Now really ? Blessings Jimeka 🦋

[Hidden in reply to jimeka]

Just once, I'd like to say to one of those people "How?" How dare they presume to know what you or I have lost? It could be a lot better too! But yours is the best approach, smile and move on! Hugs!

[falalalala]

My avatar photo is one of me having a meltdown at the moment I realized I could not drive a golf ball the way I used to.

I simply adjusted my swing to make up for my lack of balance and everything was great from then on! NOT!🤣

I did make some adjustments and it helped but I am not anywhere near where was before MS. Not by a long drive.

The bright side is that my friends can now beat me which almost never happened before.

I haven't stopped trying when it comes to golf but MS does effect my decision on how much money I will spend to have a meltdown.

Other surprises for me,to name a few (things I took for granted) are walking in soft sand,taking a few stairs at a time,jumping down the same stairs,simply walking without having to pay attention to every step,sudden urges to pee-nothing will make you feel on high alert more than that one! remembering the reason why I went into the basement...🤣

I have had to adjust to these changes as the alternative would be to b!tch all the time about how unfair life is and why me? trying to find something or someone to blame for missed opportunities (that I see as a weakness I don't want to indulge in) etc etc.

I like to remain happy and usually am in spite of golf tantrums 🤣

[Jazzihorsecat]

Fancy, sweet dear, yep twas me as well, born to be on a horse, & I am agreeing there w/ Jemika sweet, that wonderful, awesome feeling of bonding w/ the horses /my pretty white w/ brown spot appolusa.🐎🐎🐎👍😍🐾

It was very hard to forgive my adoption-dad sold all the horses & moved to city! Yuk, 😡😕😾👎ugh! I totally lost my identity. @ 10 years old,😳😢 💔 That literally broke my heart in pieces!

So, I turned to M.J., drugs (crystal Meth), i went bollistic already an alcoholic, thnks to drunk-adoption dad!😡😡just like all teenagers & before have. & @ 17-18yrs. Old I noticed my nerves are shot,, kept shaking & tremoring.

I just shrugged it off, then when I tremored so bad, I dropped my baby @ 19yrs. Old, I knew something was wrong, but didn't do anything about it, I have always disliked Dr.'s.

So, I didn't get DX'd properly till last year 201i, @ 49 years old, every1 else in the quacks🐣🐦!😡😡

Wrote me off, But long story shorter! lol!😀 I feel my mess has turned into a message, & to help those disabled like me, cuz now I do get it!👍💗Thanks for post, it is Gr8! L🌈VE YA! Many Blessings.

Jazzy🌹💜

[Hidden]

I was never good at sports. I was a fast runner and was good enough doing the high jump to make the track team in junior high but not good enough continue it into high school or beyond. I was limber and had rhythm and coordination, so I was good at acrobatics and dancing. I was never into jogging, but now when I see a jogger running down the street or even an older couple walking their dog – like Fancy put it walking and talking and kicking up their feet without thinking anything about it - I look at them with envy and say to myself ‘gee, I wish I could do that.’ I have a desk job and am very thankful for that as it enables me to continue working. I am an RN and I worked ICU. I like the adrenaline of emergencies and being able to rescue someone who almost didn’t make it. I gave that up 6 years ago and I miss it. Helping people through their crisis was my thing, my identity, along with being able to travel and do stuff with my kids and grandkids that I also can’t do any more. I don’t like swapping roles – once the rescuer, now at times needing to be rescued. I’ve been on a spiritual journey to keep myself mentally and emotionally afloat and I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned that I am not my ego. My ego let me down a while back as my abilities dropped by the wayside and I am no longer able to use the skills that I have. But in a lot of ways I’m a better person. I just took 2 weeks off work for a ‘staycation.’ When I returned yesterday the group I work with, all who are much younger than me, let me know, individually and at various times over the last 2 days, that they really missed me while I was gone, that I bring a good vibe to our work place, that everybody laughs a lot more when I’m there. I was surprised and heartened that they felt that way. They don’t know what’s wrong with me. They don’t know what I’m battling. They know I walk with somewhat of a limp, some days worse than others. I’m 13 years older than the next oldest person there, and I’m 30+ years older than a few of them. And I love that they treat me like one of them, not like the old lady in the room. I think because I love to laugh and be goofy, and genuinely feel so thankful to be there still working and using my knowledge. And I see my co-workers as a second family because I spend as many waking hours every week with them as I do my husband. It gives me a great deal of joy and gratitude and apparently it rubs off. I didn’t know though that they actually noticed whether I was there or not and that it made a difference until today. I have my green-eyed monster days too, but I work through my low attitude on those days and get back to a place of gratitude. It helps when I can focus on what I can do, not what I can’t. Some days it feels like the monster might win, but thankfully those days have been few and far between. The path is always changing but I don’t assume it will only get worse. I know it can, but maybe not. Hopefully I can inspire whoever I spend my days with to smile and be grateful. We all have things to be very grateful for.

[pamgarner]

oh,oh,oh! this disease has certainly been an adjustment,I try to remember for everything I have lost,I have gained something in return.I certainly have obtained new talents,going down steps on my rear end purposely,using my cane to reach things on the top shelf in the grocery store(people will watch me then ask me, can you reach that for me) It gives me value that I can help someone,I think that is one of the thing I miss most,volunteering to "jump"in to assist someone instead of having to plan it.but the gifts I have received in return is humility,thankfulness,patience,lots of love,understanding to name a few.so in some ways this is a gift,i don't know if I would have learned the important lessons in my life yet.But the people that love us the most try to hold us back at times with "you shouldn't do that" let me bravely go if you care about me please

[Hidden in reply to pamgarner]

Beautifully said.

[Tigerlilly81]

Sold my last horse 2 years ago. Absolutely devastated me. But my balance and coordination are no longer what it used to be and after taking two falls in one day from minor spooks I knew it was over for me. I do not know if I have MS for sure but I know what it is like to have you give up on things you love

[mrsmike9]

I'm jealous of all you sporty people. I have always been very awkward and not graceful at all. I've never even been able to dance! But I used to hike through the woods with my family and now can't as the fatigue hits and I wonder if I can make it back to the starting point again!

[Sandydemop]

It’s been a challenge Although I was never an athlete. My MS got diagnosed from cognitive issues. I couldn’t keep doing my Full time job. Now, It shows Up in my walking. Accupuncture has made a tremendous difference. I walked like I didn’t have MS. I got my hopes up and then it only lasted a few days. Then I go back and it works again. It’s really amazing. And a roller coaster.