G'day, beloved ms family, I hope all are well. I am on my 6th cup of coffee so of course, I am well. Maybe a little wired but well.
From yesterdays question we got some very good answers. Made me think and ponder. Always a very good thing, we are after all so much more than a strange mystery illness. It made me think of the book Dune by Frank Herbert. In the beginning scenes, the hero is tested by a mysterious female society. He (our hero Paul Atreides) is forced on pain of death to put his hand into a box called the Gom Jabbar. If he removes his hand from the box he dies, but he is told that with his hand in the box is extreme pain, and he believes it. A male will pull his hand, and die, a woman will bare the pain and live. It turns out to all be perception. The pain is intense but it is all in his mind. He is not crazy but perception can do horrible things to your mind.
When my Trigeminal Neuralgia was going crazy, I got through most of my pain by imagining waves crashing on me at a beach. It worked for a long time until I could bare no more and finally got surgery. This disease lasts a very long time. For me, starting around 30, if I make it to 80, it will be 50 years. That is a long time. For "YOU" it may even be longer. Lots of things will happen to "YOU", it is the nature of this illness. It may look very dark and hopeless right now, BUT I will tell "YOU". It is NOT. It may be difficult, BUT with some courage and perseverance "YOU" can live a very good life with this affliction. Make a few smarter decision, have a will to live your best life possible and "YOU" will end up doing ms. Do NOT live other peoples perceptions and beliefs as to what "YOU" should be like, live YOUR life. If "YOU" end up using an aid, decorate it and make it your statement, maybe saying "I have ms what of it?' Thumb your nose at ms, laugh at it and if "YOU" must shed your tears, do it alone in private or with us your ms family.
Wear a mask that says, "I have multiple Sclerosis, what of it", Maybe ms orange.
My quote is, "Fear is the mind-killer" I will not live in fear or be afraid, what will happen will happen, bring it on.
Royce (your ms writer and Brother)
Be brave, be courageous, live well and be YOUR BEST
