Fall is upon us, I hope that all of you are well and thriving. Today, as is most of my days a good day whether it presents itself as good, bad or ugly. I choose to proclaim it as good, inspite of that annoying boogieman called  ms.

Today I will share a special writing of  mine that explains why I  decided to see everyday as a goodday no matter what it might look or feel like. This is how I maintain control of my life, and how I choose to experience life as I make this journey.

                                               THE BOOGIEMAN TREE
I remember the days of my youth, when I climbed trees, as nimble as a cat.
I purposely looked for the tallest, and the most impossible one to climb.

I never considered defeat; I looked forward to the taste of victory. I leaped from branch to branch, with no thought of how high or how dangerous it was.

That was in the physical...those days are long gone. But, I am now presented with the biggest tree of my life, "The Boogieman Tree Called MS."

I did not ask for a tree to climb...but here it is. So with the dawning of each new day, I mentally and spititurally gird myself with the attitude that my boogieman, ain't so bad he's just tall that's all.

And whatever branch comes up, the fatigue branch, the sluggish mind branch, the neuropathy branch, the emotional branch, the I hate taking these shots branch. As in the days of my youth, I go from branch to branch, steadily climbing.

No, I no longer leap from branch to branch, but I maintain a steady climb. I refuse to allow this boogieman to defeat me, define me, or steal my joy. Each day whatever comes, I continue to climb.

This tree may be the biggest challenge of my life, not in the physical, you see, but in the mental.
"But in the Mental I Rule." The boogieman tree ain't so scary or bad, it's just tall that's all.

Whatever the branches on your MS Boogieman Tree, remember...he ain't so bad, he's just tall that's all. Then begin to mentally climb. Some days the branches are harder to reach, but not unreachable. Expect "bark burns," grit your mental teeth and start climbing again.

I climb tired, I climb rested, I climb both in and out of pain, I climb happy or sad, for this is not a one time climb, or a one day climb, it is a... JOURNEY. Don't worry about the distance to the top of the tree, just continue to climb.

Then and only then will you win out over the "MS BOOGIEMAN TREE," every branch that you climb, count them at the end of the day. They are your VICTORIES...he ain't so bad , he's just tall that's all.
                                             KEEP CLIMBING MY FRIENDS
                                 Written by Shirley...Inspired by the Holy Spirit  

What is the name of your boogieman tree? I encourage you to give no quarter to any boogieman that you may be facing already, nor one that you may have face while journeying down the road called life.  
Shirley  
                 

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

                                       



Hello Everyone
Summer came in with a sizzle and now that the "Dog Days of Summer," are upon us it appears to be going out the same way. I for one am glad, I am waiting with bated breathe for "FALL, " to finallly arrive. Next week September 12th our support group meetings will resume after the July and August break.

The group is open to all minorities not only African Americans. Our group is the only one in our fair city that is inclusive for all minorities and people of color.  And our goal is providing support for all minorities in their journeys with MS.having and maintaining a good support system along with others who are dealing with many of the same issues as you are. It is sometimes difficult for some of our family and friends, to really understand what we go through on a daily basis.

It is not a question necessarily of loving us, but one of trying to understand the differences in some of the normal everday health issues, for instance the fatigue that we are dealing with, it is not just a simple matter of getting more rest, which normal fatigue responds to. It is not a simple matter of "Everyone is forgetful sometime," or girl I know just what you mean, I can't seem to remember anything either, or you have to be more organized and you'll be able to keep up with things.

They love you and they mean well,even though you might have tried to explain the differences numerous times, we have to accept that they may never entirely understand, and we have to know that it is okay, some experiences have to be personally dealt with. And if we're honest we have to admit that we also had to come to a place of understanding ourselves, that fatigue is not just fatigue, or memory issues just normal memory issues,and the list goes on.

In a support group you are with others who understand you because they are going through the some of the same things that you are. A good group is not a pity party, where you meet to wallow in gloom and doom, it is a gathering of kindred spirits that are shareing the ups and downs, and the laughter of Journeying through life with MS. People who build each other up with encouragement in the really,really tough moments. It is a time of sharing tips that has made some particular problem easier to accomplish, how to's of making changes where I can, and learning how to adapt and/or altermately accept some things when there are no changes to be made.

In a good support group you can collectively as a group share your triumphs and spit in the eye of MS, and proclaim, that we will maintain all the control that we can, we will not allow our MS to take control of our lives. We will fight daily to experience more successes than failures. We fight and never surrender whether it is a goodday, a bad day,or a just plain ugly day. This is not a one day journey, it is a life long journey.
Never, say I give up, join me in deciding that since it is "My MS, then I will live it "My Way.

I'll leave you with these words from a card that a friend posted on her FB page:
                      I Choose...
            to live by choice, not by chance;
               to make changes, not excuses;
                    to be useful, not used;
                       to excel, not compete.

                      I Choose...
            self-esteem, not self pity;
                 I choose to listen to my
                         inner voice,
                   not the randum opinions of other.
                             Shirley Johnson

Shirley out!