I believe your second to last paragraph, "There are a lot of heroes...," says more about reality than anything I've ever read.
I think each who continue, as much as they can, to live outside their affliction should be able to plant a victory flag every day. The mountain they climb is no less steep, the challenge no less difficult. That's my opinion.
If you haver the time and money and the desire, then the fact you can do something newsworthy while having MS, or other disabling disease, is still no more arduous than completing each routine day, finding the strength and incentive to do a load of wash. There is no fame for that, no public admiration, and so, it may even be harder. I admire those who can still talk about other parts of their lives, how hard that is. This is one of your best.
Awww shuckaroo...thank you Paul!
Yes I would like a flag or medal each time I do a load of laundry...that sounds great. lol I don't disparage any mountain climbers...really I don't. It is just...that isn't the big enchilada for me...it is someone sharing how they survive the day to day. That is where the hard stuff exists. Thank you so much for your comment.
Another great post, thank you. I too find that many of the people who are held up to people with chronic and disabling diseases for inspiration are those who somehow are able to surpass the physical abilities of even those with no physical challenges. MS magazines have highlighted people with MS who run marathons, bicycle races and other major accomplishments that I couldn't ever do, nor ever wanted to really. I have lived with a back problem and pain for over 40 years and MS for the last 13 years as well, so there are times walking to get the mail is my equivalent of a marathon; where's the applause when I complete the trip. My motorized scooter gets me around instead of a bike, and believe it or not there are times that I get home from a meeting and after getting the scooter on and off a bus two times, getting into a building with a door too heavy for me to open, squeezing my scooter onto a very small elevator and then waiting so chairs can be moved to allow me into the room where the meeting is being held, I feel like I have just completed a triathalon, but there are no award ceremonies. Instead there is often an expectation that I should be ready to do more, after all I only had one meeting that day.
We know what it takes to climb a mountain or, for some of us, to reach the peak of our physical ability or perhaps to achieve the daily activities expected of a woman, mother, worker, wife, or whatever role we have in life. It takes guts, inner strength, sometimes creative ways of taking that next step, support from others, and very often, the wisdom to know that you can only climb so far and the rest will have to wait.
You express things so well, and I think you are an inspiration for giving us so many important things to think about, and I am sure there are days that writing your posts, and completing whatever else you do in a specific day, are as exhausting as climbing Everest, and yet you continue to write. Thanks.
Denise...this is such a poignant and beautiful comment. I want you to know that I think you are amazing and I would definitely give you an award or medal if I could. I love the strength of your spirit and I can totally picture you out there with your scooter on the bus. Your story made me feel like...hey...no matter what happens...there is always a way to adapt and enjoy my life. The heroes I talk about in this post...you are definitely one of them. Thank you so much for your comment.
Thank you for your kind remarks, but trust me, I do not deserve any medals. I am struggling every day to maintain my independence and to continue to live a productive life. So many times it feels just easier to stay home and not take on the struggle of getting to a meeting or activity, but I try to fight through that and not take the easy way out. If I don't, then before I know it days and weeks can go by without my leaving my home, seeing friends, participating in any activities and I know the next step is severe depression.
Websites like this are wonderful. They allow us all to gain strength and find support from others who are experiencing similar obstacles to a full life and many times can suggest possible ways to meet the challenges we face. I encourage everyone to participate and share your story so we can all benefit from your experiences as well.
I hear ya. I have been there. Am there a lot of days. I get very depressed and wish to shut out the world. There are days when I don't get out. But then it always passes and I venture forth. Got to take it one day at a time as you well know I am sure. Yes thank god for the internet. Thanks for being here Denise.
You make a good point. I should think raising three kids is challenge enough for anyone. And with MS, all the more so. I do not totally agree though, for clearly you have to look inside the person doing ... whatever it is...and what they are seeking. If this person is climbing to try to prove someone with MS can climb mountains... I suppose she did that and that is all she has. There are lots of people without MS who can not climb mountains. Not sure what exactly that proves.
I have climbed a mountain. I like the view, and the way it feels up there. It is a good place to think, to feel small, to get away. I am sure you know what i mean. If someone with MS needs to climb a mountain... I understand....I guess I understand the challenge a little, but it should have to do with who they are, not who others can be or should be.
I like how you have put this. It isn't a black and white thing. And you nailed it with your last sentence. The emphasis is not on the action so much as to how you got there. I would always want to hear the personal inner story behind the external one...if that makes sense. Good food for thought and I do thank you for your comment.
wow. see this is why I write...to get comments like this. I would absolutely love to hear more of your story. I like what you say here...it is about that attempt to try things. I get so much more out of your little story here than some "inspirational" tale of someone climbing a mountain because I can feel *you* in your writing. You talk about your vulnerabilities as a human being. Anyways...I would be most honored if you would share more of your story here. Great stuff.
This line resonanted for me as a reader and writer: "Telling me you climb mountains doesn't grant me any of the essential information I need for authentic inspiration. In order to feel inspired, I need to be able to relate to you as a person complete with strengths as well as human weaknesses."
We all have to cope in our own way and I'm all for marathon running and mountain climbing if it works for you. What I also need is the compelling personal story to go along with the tale of heroism in order to get inspired.
Hey Nadja!
I am so glad to see you. I hope you are doing well. Yes so true...I like to know the story behind the actions to be inspired too. This mountain climbing lady was actually at an MS conference I attended. I skipped her lecture...perhaps I should not have. I just didn't want to hear it at the time. I really appreciate your visit and I will come by to read you soon.
I have have had Ms for 13 years and it is progressing as I write this. I am in the secondary progressive stage at this time. I am in extreme pain, face many physical challenges all while raising my daughter. And I am very lonely. People in your life tend to run and hide when they find out you have a chronic illness. They can be with you through something short lived, but chronic, on and on everyday.. they don't want to see it! I say all this with a bit of anger, it's just my stage today. Tomorrow I could wake up with a smile of acceptance. It changes all the time just like the unpredictability of this illness.
My main point in writing , though is to say, that if these Msers can climb mountains , run and ride bikes that very good.....HOWEVER, there are may of us climbing other Ms mountains everyday. And talk about anger, my mother gets these Ms mags read this stuff, cuts out articles, writes notes and sends them to me with the expectation that I
should be sble to do all these things if I tried harder. I don't have to tell all of you other MSers how hard I try. NEVERTHLESS, I stupidly attempted to run one day. five minutes into the excursion I was flying through the air, and landed on the hard gravel road! I injuryed so many parts it's 4 weeks later and I'm still recovering!
Some of us just have to climb our own mountains with our canes walkers and wheelchairs, and especially our emotions. As for me, I need to never be influenced by my mother again.
Thanks so much for your inspiring posts.
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Oddly enough, "More" used to be the name of a brand of cigarettes--which you, in your old age, may even remember. Nonetheless, I must add that you're looking damn good for 44.
And this mountain climbing stuff really does get tedious, doesn't it? Even if I were in perfect health, I wouldn't run out and climb a mountain. What, does MS make us stupid as well as crippled? For that matter, I had no particular desire to run out anywhere or climb anything. I guess I just wouldn't fit into the magazine world.
But yes, living with this day to day, keeping your sense of humor, learning through illness how to be a better person on the inside is where the real guts are to be found.
Thanks for the insightful post.
LOL you are too funny. I think I do remember those ciggies. I don't smoke but my mother did...winston salems were her choice.
Yeah...I ain't no mountain climber. Main reason is that I am afraid of heights.
And thank you for the lovely compliment...you have made my day.