G’day beloved ms family. I hope “YOU” are well rested and ready to face yet another day on our long Relapsing-Remitting ms (RRms) journey. It goes on forever, there is no cure, so I hope that “YOU” have a plan. That plan can change as time progresses and your journey evolves, but at least “YOU” have an idea of where “YOU” are going. Having an idea, a really flexible plan does give “YOU” some sort of purpose, a reason for getting out of bed and facing each new day.
Life with RRms is not easy. It is by no means a pleasant Sunday afternoon stroll through the park. I was never taught at school what to do and how to do this RRms life. The amazing thing is that “YOU” CAN do it. Wether “YOU” call it a positive attitude, determination, or my favourite. Sheer bloody-mindedness (my favourite, Australian term), this condition IS something that “YOU” can do. I do not feel it takes a constant battle every day of your long life, merely a determination and a will most days to throw your leg over the side of the bed and get up. I think 5 or 6 days a week after 20+ years is pretty good. Of course if “YOU” are brand new (a newbie) “YOU” maybe should make an effort to get out of bed every day, but your life, your choice. It is really okay to have a slack, down day every now and again, just do not make it a habit, make it a really rare exception. If It happens for several days, pull yourself together and TRY TRY TRY. We were never promised that this life would be easy. It takes effort, and “YOU” must make that effort. “YOU” and nobody else, just “YOU”. This is your RRms, nobody else is exactly the same as “YOU”, they may be similar but your RRms is your RRms.
I have lived with a woman for over twenty years, and I still do not completely understand her RRms, and I often bewilder her. So remember your ms is yours. “YOU” are unique and what it is that helps “YOU” to get out of bed every morning and begin your day is unique to “YOU”. Besides bladder urgency.
So, how “YOU” try, what makes “YOU” try is up to “YOU”. What is important is that “YOU” do try and that “YOU” keep trying. If “YOU” stumble that is okay. If “YOU” fall get back up. Do not stay down and give up. Make an effort, pull your shoulders back, get on your knees, pull yourself up. Make the effort, try. get up brush yourself off and carry on. This is only RRms. It is not as bad as people think. It is something that “YOU” are strong enough to live with. It is something that “YOU” and I will have forever, but it is with some determination that we CAN live with, BUT we must TRY.
Royce (your writer and Brother)
YOU can try, I know you can and you know it as well
