A very wise lady told us today about her reaction to an incident at work. She could have got very upset and caused somebody to lose their job. They were doing their job as they should. Our sister reacted maturely and did not demand the dismissal of the individual. I feel perhaps we all could learn a lesson or two from how she handled the situation. Perhaps it is not always necessary to maximize our retaliation in all circumstances. Perhaps if we take a few seconds before we react. I think it is possible that our ms sister may have won an ally or two by her actions. Not every situation always requires full defensive posture, and an overwhelming retaliation.
Perhaps taking a second or three before “YOU” react is a good thing. A lot less stress on us and the possibility of winning some allies. If not allies, then people who might also think twice if “YOU” ever have an issue a later stage.
We have limited reserves, fuel in the tank. There is no need to empty everything in one burst. It may take a little practice, but “YOU” will learn when to scream and when to shrug your shoulders and walk away. This is all part of learning to live an ms life. Because I do things that give the impression that I am drunk I wear a wrist band saying I have Relapsing Remitting ms (RRms) It stops most questioning immediately. It does not hurt that I can be quite loud, aggressive. “YOU” decide the word. Unfortunately this is not all our cases, and we are sometimes targets.
Learn to put yourself in a position of strength. There is no reason to appear weak and defenseless. Unless that is what “YOU” want. Learn to control everything that “YOU” possibly can in your environment. Do things repetitively and pay attention to what “YOU” are doing. There is no reason not to prepare yourself for unfortunate events. Wear protective underwear. Believe me when I say bowels and bladders can be very unreliable. They seem to have a mind of their own sometimes. Know where things are and instead of walking the whole grocery store, go straight to the vegetables meat and milk. They are around the edges and the toilets(bathrooms) are on the sides, or worse luck in the back.
RRms is a lifelong condition. There is time for “YOU” to learn these things. If “YOU” can pay attention to your environment, make your long life easier. Do not be in denial. Accept what is happening to “YOU” and get about changing it, manipulating it, into what “YOU” want it to be. I have a friend a year younger than me permanently wheelchair bound because she refused to accept her condition. I know another young lady in the same condition. She expected the Disease Modifying Therapy to fix her. Get her back to where she once was. It does not and as much as I said DMT slows ms down, only slows it down. She could not accept this and the last time I saw her, well “YOU can guess. When I say I have had RRms for over twenty years, their jaws drop in amazement.
Look after yourself, be more like yourself in your early twenties pre-ms. There is time to be old and disabled in your 130’s or maybe never if “YOU” play this game(live your life) correctly..
Royce (the ms writer)
You will know that I have ms when I want you to.
