b'IILLeeaarrnneeddttooLLeettiittGGooBy Ashley Peterman IIIYoutellmetwo weeksbeforemy25th Iwasstillreasonablystubborn.Followingbirthday I am diagnosed with an autoimmune MRIs, my doctor insisted I slow down becausedisease that Ive never heard of? my MS had progressed swiftly for my age. IfI say bs. Which I did. I did not take proper care and control of mysymptoms, indeed I could die. Fromdiagnosistotoday,Ihavebeen By year three, MS and I were still merelyworking on leaving resentment and anger associates; it was now a permanent inhabitantbehind to focus on becoming my best self of my body. I knew I needed to address myand have peace with my disease, but it is not now-diresymptomsandconsequencesofeasy.Ihaveexperiencedmanysetbacks my prideful neglect of MS. It was dicult forthese past four years, but there is an intense, me to admit loss, especially to a disease withigniting force within that pushes me to want mostly unseen traits, affecting millionsto live the best life I can, not haunted or worldwide. Life is far from easy, but thesetormented by my illness. diculties are what make us warriors. AndMy early days of multiple sclerosis were although I was determined to ght til thestrenuous from the extra energy I used, and death of me, I grew increasingly aware of theagonizing from thinking I had to hide in fact my life was best served alive. silence. Outside of my overzealous type-A Presently, in year four, I am still tenacious,personality, this irritable soundless condition yet tempered, persevering through the hardalways waited at the door for me. Between knocks and pitfalls, some of which are avoidable.the rst and second years of my diagnosis, I I am growing to learn how not to feel piercingignored my illness and was sorely resentful it shards digging in my legs and spine the nexthad barged into my life. In this abrasiveness, day. By definition, a warrior shows vigor,I unknowingly caused myself additional aggressiveness, or courage. I accept theexacerbations and more physical and emotional nondisabled young woman I was is dead andimpairment.gone. But since, I have risen from the ashes,In the terrible twos of my diagnosis, I embracingthenewbeingIvebecome,exercised patience, coping, and yielding, but prepared to move forward. Peterman III is an ambassador with The National MS Society. To read more of Petermansstories, visit www.TheMSMuse.com. 37 msfocusmagazine.org'