b'myfamilyandfriendsfortheiryearsoflovingsupport,encouragement,andenthusiasm!Fromthere,Iadoptedanewwayofthinkingbybelievinginmyabilitiesandmyself.Iamnolongerafraidtotrynewthings,noramIafraidoffailure.Tome,Ifeelthisisanexcellentmentalityforsomeonewithmultiplesclerosis,orforanyonewhofeelsthingscouldbebetterintheirlives.Thischangeofmindhasbroughtonmanypositiveresults.MyfamilyandIliveinanoriginalLevitthome,which isn\'t very roomy, and I have manypaintingstakingupspace.Oneday,mywifequestionedwhatIwasgoingtodowithallmyartwork.Areyougoingtogetridofthem?sheasked.Immediately,Iheardthesoundofa needle scratching a record in my head.Ratherthanreact,Ithoughtaboutit,andafewmorningslater,Iwashavingcoeewhilelookingoutatmyyard.Anotherlightbulbturnedoninsideofme.Ithought,"IfIcangureoutawaytogetmypaintingsonthe wasthereanoverowofsupport,butIgottofence to display, I can have a one-person passmyworkalong,too.Itwasamagicalday.showrightinthecomfortofmyhome! MyreasonsforpaintingandhowIcopeIinvitedasmanyasIcould,andprepared withMSparallelsinthatIchannelmyinner-thefoodandbeverages.(Iwasachefand mostthoughtsandemotionsofeverydaylifedidn\'t believe in serving only cheese.) Of throughmywork.Justthecolorsalonehavecourse,weaddedmusictosettheatmosphere, aprofoundeffectonwhatIgothroughandtodistractusfromthecloudsandwind. momentbymoment.MystudioiswhereIgetSure, it wasn\'t your typical gallery in toreleasewhat\'sinsidewithoutlimitations,Manhattan,butIdidit,andIdiditmyway.At totrynewthings,andpushtheenvelope.theendofthenight,salesweregood;however, Qualityoflifehasincreasedalongwithmyitmeantmoretomethatmyguestswere condence,andknowingthatthereisplentytherebecausetheywantedtobe.Notonly Icando.Have Your SayWewelcomeyourquestions,suggestions,opinionsandfeedback.Reachusateditor@msfocus.org,call800-225-6495,orusethecontactformat www.msfocus.org.49 msfocusmagazine.org'