b'Life with MSOOuuttoofftthheeCCoommffoorrttZZoonneeAAgguuiiddeettooccrreeaattiinnggjjooyy,,ccrreeaattiivviittyywwhhiilleelliivviinnggwwiitthhMMSSBy Chris PruittWriting this article is a huge step outside ofto offer. I auditioned for every honor band and my comfort zone. As a former high school andorchestraIcouldbeapartof.Isacriced middle school band director, I have had morecountless hours of sleep to be a part of those practice helping others express themselvesensembles because while performing, even and their ideas through creativity, rather thanif only for a moment, all the distractions of expressing my own. But isnt living with multiplelife went away. I wasnt the poor kid, the sclerosis every day taking a huge step out of ourfat kid or the brown kid. I was a musician.comfort zones?Once I was diagnosed, I reected on my As a band director, I asked my students tocareer path. Teaching gave me the opportunity practice the following three things:to create that same space for my students asBelieve in yourselfmy teachers created for me, which brought mePractice positivitytremendous joy. However, it did not compare toShow gratitudethe feeling of performing. I decided to believe in Before my diagnosis, I believed my phrasesmyself and leave my full-time teaching position were nothing more than the equivalent ofto pursue more performance opportunities. cheesy 90s inspirational posters that wouldMy diagnosis pushed me to use my talents make me laugh when I saw them in officeand feel like a musician again. buildings. Honestly, I struggled with practicingSince then, I have played in several bands them as a teacher, but these ordinary phrasesandmusicaltheaterpitorchestras,andI have helped me to survive and thrive whilebooked a small tour for this year. No matter living with MS. the venue, the feeling is the same. Every time I Believe in yourself perform, all the limitations of MS go away, and I dont just exist, I thrive. It is as if I rediscover Music has always been a part of my life. Mymyself every time I sit behind the drum set, mother is a fantastic singer; my stepfatherlike I can still feel a piece of the person I was and uncle are both great drummers. While Ibefore MS. My choice to believe in myself was always surrounded by music, I didnt knowand chase my passion has led me to nd that how big of a role it would play in my life untilsame joy in other creative ventures such as my high school music teachers gave me thecomposing, producing, and teaching private space to nd my passion and truly be myself.lessons. Had I not believed in myself, I know I joined every music class my high school hadI would not be as happy as I am today.msfocusmagazine.org 16'