A few weeks ago me and Dizzy did a blog post on 10 things about living with MSĀ for MS awareness month. Living with any chronic illness is ridiculously difficult but I wanted to counter my 10 things about living with MS and think about the positives that comeĀ from it.Ā Sometimes you doĀ really have to look for them but they are there!
‘At every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss.’ – Paulo Coelho
- Trying different things. Having MS meansĀ I can’t always do the thingsĀ I use to do butĀ thisĀ does mean I’ve had time to discover new things!Ā This hasĀ included blogging, photography, volunteering and my splashing around classes.
‘You have no idea what you’re capable of until you try.’ – Unknown
2. Appreciating yourself more and learning to looking after yourself. Having MS has taughtĀ me the importance of looking after myself. IĀ have always been very sensible but had never considered what I could be doing to really help my mind and body be as healthy as possible.Ā I now do yoga, meditation, eat super healthily, have relaxation timesĀ and exercise.
MS has also made me appreciateĀ me!Ā I remember thinking how ridiculous it was that my own body was attacking itself but then I thought how I had spent a lot of my life having negative thoughts about myselfĀ and realised how that was abit ridiculous too!
‘How others see you, is not important…How you see yourself means everything.’ – Unknown
3. Realising you’re stronger than you thought.Ā I always remember seeing people on the telly with progressive chronic illnesses andĀ being so grateful I wasn’t one of them. It was something I thought I would never have the strength to cope with.Ā I’ve nowĀ realised there’sĀ no choice but toĀ cope but I’m doing it and I’ll count that as being strong. š
‘You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only option you have.’ – Bob Marley
4. Learning more about who you are! I feel I’ve learnt more about myself in the last three years than the whole of my life put together!
‘By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before.’Ā Edwin Elliot
5. Finding new paths.Ā I’m realising all the paths I’ve had planned out aren’t looking exactly how they use to anymore. It doesn’t mean giving up on any of my dreams but just that I now have the opportunity to explore some new paths too!
‘Alice: What road do I take?
Cheshire cat: Well where are you going?
Alice: I don’t know.’
Cheshire cat: Then it doesn’t matter. If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.’
6. Appreciating the small things in life.Ā I’m learning to fully appreciate all the little things in life.Ā I’m realising how happyĀ the simple things can make me.Ā š
‘Enjoy the little things in life…for one day you’ll look back and realise they were the big things.’ – Robert Brault
7. Learning to say no! I use to get really annoyed with myself for the amount of times I would say yes to people when I really wanted to say no. Since being ill I don’t seem to have this problem as much. š
‘Whatever is good for your soul…Do that.’ – Unknown
8. Seeing life abit differently. As well as learning a lot about myself I have also learnt a huge amount about life. Part of this isĀ realisingĀ how a lot of things I use to fuss about just really don’t matter. It’s made me realise what’s really important in life.
‘To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.’ Ralph Waldo Emerson
9. People!Ā You learnĀ who the people in your life are that really love and care about you! Being onĀ this journey is also always giving me the opportunity to meet new people and that’s pretty amazing too!
‘Friendship isn’t about who you’ve known the longest. It’s about who walked into your life, said ‘I’m here for you’ and proved it.’ – Unknown
10. Realising it’s ok to not be ok… I always thought it was very important to appear as though everything was wonderful at all times. Not being ok is a part of life though for everyone and opening up about things can help others to do the same. š
‘Don’t hold together what must fall apart. The familiar life crumbles so the new life can begin.’ – Bryant McGill
Me and Dizzy hope you’ve liked our post about the positive aspects that have come from ourĀ MS.Ā What positives have you discovered from an illness or any difficult times in your life? We’d love to hear them! š xxx
‘Stars can’t shine without darkness.’ – Unknown
Also published on āThe Mightyā HERE. 
Great post! Thanks for sharing xx
Thank you! š xxxx
It’s always gr at to have a positive attitude, and enjoy life. Great post and lovely photos š
It’s not always easy but I found this really helpful to write to remind me of the positives. Happy that you liked the post and photos. š xxx
I’m so glad to have seen your reply. Checked out your site and the cool wheelchairs. šø
I agree with all ten of your points and it also makes you creative in finding ways of making the new normal easy to understand !
It definitely does that! š I hadn’t thought of that one when I was making my list! š xxx
I absolutely love this positive look on it, you’re honestly an inspiration!! Plus…that picture of Dizzy with friends is adorable!! ā¤ļøā¤ļø
I found more knitted donkeys! š Dizzy was very happy about this. Thank you Tabi for your lovely comments as usual. š xxx
The quote about friendship is spot on- it’s during times of struggle that you truly realize the meaning of friendship, and which “friends” actually fit the definition.
I love your optimism and positivity! š
It is so true and something you only really find out during times of struggle. I’m very lucky that my close friends have all been there for me.
Thank you for your lovely comment aswell! I do try and be optimistic and positive in life. š xxx
Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Dinosaurs and Donkeys writes on MS as a teacher.
Thank you so much for the reblog Bob. Hope you’re having a lovely week! š xxx
I love this post. so many truths here. Thank you for this very positive and thoughtful post.
Thank you Anne! I’m glad you love it. Hope you’re having a lovely week! š xxx
I have a notebook where I write down things that speak to me. Your 10 things made me a new page…Thank you and blessings on your journey <3 I too know about life's journey <3
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I feel honoured that my 10 things have made it into your notebook! š xxx
Reblogged this on Nesie's Place and commented:
Another great post from Dinosaurs Donkeys and MS! Many who suffer from other chronic illnesses will relate to these!
Thank you so much for the reblog again Felicia! Hope you’re having a lovely week. š xxx
I was recently in a course about Living Well with MS and came to the realisation – i am a better person with MS than i was before i had it. Your brilliant post reminds me of that.
I’m really glad my post has. I have realised the same thing aswell. I am definitely a better person and just know so much more because of my MS, which I think would have taken me many many years to learn otherwise. I would love to go on a Living Well with MS course, that sounds so useful. xxx
Really a great and positive post š
I have learned to be more egoistic and give myself more me-time, to listen to my body and mind, when I need to relax. All good.
I’ve learnt that aswell and I think it’s a brilliant thing to learn! We’re always all so busy I think the importance of self care gets forgotten sometimes. xxx
Thank you for sharing this uplifting post. Definitely a great read on the bad days as a reminder of all that can be good. So relatable no matter the diagnosis too and many living with a variety of illnesses will be nodding and agreeing with you! Love how you used positive and uplifting quotes too xx
I find it useful to remind myself of them. Sometimes the negatives can be abit overwhelming and I think reminding ourselves (even if they’re only little positives) can help. Glad you loved the quotes too! š I always find quotes uplifting. xxx
A lovely positive post full of wisdom for all. Thanks for sharing. š
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. š xxx
A Fabulous post with some very wise truths. Please give Dizzy a hug.š
Thank you! I’ve just given Dizzy her hug from you now! š xxx
Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
Dinosaurs, Donkeys and MS!
Thank you!! š xx
You are welcome!
Reblogged this on Fearless and commented:
Thinking about the friends that have come into my life since I was diagnosed with MS, I can definitely say they haven’t enriched my life to a great extent! I also would never have written a book if it weren’t for the MS diagnosis. Writing a book has always been something in the back of my mind, now it’s reality!
Thank you so much for the reblog. Writing our own book is a massive achievement and positive to come from your diagnosis! Thank you for sharing your positives. š xxx
You are welcome!
Reblogged this on Steve Boseley and commented:
Check out all the positivity surrounding MS. I think DDaMS has missed a big one, at least according to my children: not having to queue for rides at Disney…
Thank you for the reblog Steve! I have only recently heard this about Disney. If I knew this before this post it would definitely have been on my list. That’s a massive positive! š xx
Massive!!
Thank you! I was chatting with a radio colleague just last night (he sufferes from post-traumatic stress disorder), and we said these very same things about our various situations! You’re spot-on – as usual, M’Lady!
Thank you! š I’m really glad others relate to them aswell. That sounds like a really uplifting conversation to have! xxx
U R GREAT…
PLS VISIT MY BLOG
Thank you and I will do. š xx
Love the quote, and verybtrue.
Glad you like the quotes. š I’m abit obsessed with positive quotes at the moment. š xxx
Just tumbled upon your blog and enjoyed reading this. Btw, you take the cutest photos! š
Thank you for much your lovely comment. Glad you enjoyed reading this and thank you for visiting my blog. š xxx
The thing standing out to me is that those luckiest are those that are surrounded by people who love you! ! I am only just (at age 51 and 30 years with MS and a ‘plus one’ chronic illness since birth) working this out? ! You may say that I am a slow learner!! But I am getting there!!
This is so true Elizabeth. xx The people around you make all the difference. I don’t know what I would do without the people who love and support me. š xxx
I am happy to have read this, it is such a warm and fuzzy post! I like the positive pointers you shared above. I agree with all of them and I do try my best to follow this way of thinking too! š
Aww, thank you Christy. š It’s not always easy to remember the positives, but I do try to remind myself of them. š xxx