b'MS Focus Activities Favorite (not so) Small Victories Four lessons learned living with MSBy Shambreki WiseWhen multiple sclerosis rst stormed intome. And if it ever gets too heavy? Please, talk my life, it didnt knock politelyit crashed in,to someone. There are people ready and waiting uninvited, and shook up everything I thoughtto walk you through this.I understood about my body, my limits, andCelebrate the tiny joys loudlymy future. I wont sugarcoat itthose earlyNo more waiting for the big moment to days were hard. The despair was real. I didntvalidate my joy. know if joy or stability would ever return.Ive learned to beam with pride when I But they did.can walk without limping, when my skin isnt Not all at once, and not always in the waysburning, or when I make it through the day I expected. But they camesmall victories,without a are. Those are huge for me. So yes tiny triumphs that felt like rainbows after an Ill get the cake, buy the shoes, take the trip, unexpected storm.and wear that (faux) fur coat to walk the dog. As I rehabbed my mind, body, and soul, II dont need the world to clap for me. I clap started to see life through a new lens. Thesefor myself now because the small victories moments may seem minor to some, but forare not so small after all. me, they were proof I was still growing, stillLive the way you want your children rising. Here are just a few lessons I learnedto see you thrivealong the way.My daughter is watching. And I want her Dont tell yourself what you cant do to see more than just perseveranceI want Inevertaughtmydaughterthewordher to see joy. When life disappoints her (and cant. (Now, I did accidentally raise a tinyit will), I want her to know the sun still shines, loophole-ndinglawyer-in-trainingatageeven if only for a moment. four,but wellsavethatforanothertime).On some days, I might not run, but I can still When I was learning how to live in this newwalk. And when I do, I walk with intention. body, I started auditing my boundariesnotWith gratitude. With peace. MS taught me to to avoid them, but to nd new ways through.plant mustard-sized seeds of gratefulnessMSforcedmetothinkdifferently.Itonesthathavegrownintoa wholenew sharpened my logic, deepened my creativity,perspective, for both me and my girl. andremindedmethateveniftherouteNow, Ill ask you this: What are your (not changes, the goal is still reachable.so) small victories? How have you taken the Grieve when you need to lemons this diagnosis gave you and turned Sometasksfeelhard.Somelossesfeelthem into a lemon meringue pie? Or maybe heavier than others. And thats okay.even a lemon drop martini? Life is short. And if something feelsItsokayif yourestillguringthatout. frustrating, dont ignore itprocess it. GrieveTake your time. But dont forget to look for the what you had to let go of. Then nd something newroses along the way. that brings you joy. One resource that helpedAnd perhaps the most powerful thing of me was The Good Grief Workbook. Though itall? I stopped letting the world dene what was written after the author lost her mother,beauty looked like. I dened it for myself. the emotional threads resonated deeply withAnd that, my friend, was no small victory. msfocusmagazine.org 26'