When Summer Really Arrives

 When the warm temperatures of (spring) Summer arrive, living with MS can become more challenging.  For some, extreme temperatures in either direction can make moving around harder. 

This year we had an early turn of the seasons which, briefly, made everyone wonder where their shorts and sandals were.  I was disappointed that spring seemed to have made its exit a day or two before the calendar said it was officially here.  It had finally warmed up just enough that it was possible to be out during the day without a hat and gloves.  And then our afternoon temperatures were well over 80 degrees and I just wasn't ready for that. (It cooled off and rained a week later.)

Summer finds me spending more time with indoor hobbies.  Reading, crafting, writing and painting are perfect indoor activities.  And, summer brings pro tennis and major league baseball, both of which can consume hours of your day.

It is valuable to have a strategy for coping with hard days.  Whether due to heat sensitivity or just because it's MS, having a way to keep your mind in a good place is important.  Puzzles and crosswords, maybe preparing a favorite recipe, knitting or sewing, woodworking or gardening.  Whatever works.

And if all else fails ... take a nap.

  

A Quiet Life

Recently I was contacted by a blogger for Web MD asking if I would be willing to participate in an interview and share my MS journey.  The central theme of the interview revolved around living with relapsing, remitting MS (RRMS) and how life unfolded around my diagnosis.

As I reviewed the sample stories I was provided, it looked as if a younger perspective was intended.  I responded to the blogger, letting them know I was well into my retirement years, and was deemed to be in the secondary progressive stage of MS.  The blogger confirmed that yes, a RRMS focus was their desired target and thanked me for my time.

It is such that those of us who are older people with MS (PWMS), do not have much of a forum from what I can see online.  Eventually, the struggles and issues related to MS blur into "normal aging" and the very real challenges become less interesting to the social media doom scroll community.   I don't have a story full of dramatic symptoms that turn life upside down.  Quite the opposite actually.  

I am no longer raising kids, negotiating homework, laundry and after-school activities while running on fumes.  I am no longer coping with the stresses and worries of maintaining my viability in the job market.  I am simply adapting to my changing physical needs while striving to be a good neighbor, friend and generous member of my community.

So, while my day-to-day life may not be as exciting as it used to be, there are opportunities that come my way that are fulfilling even with the challenges.  The love of family, the beauty of a winter sunset, good books and the occasional movie make for a quiet life full of simple pleasures.