Written by Mandy on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 in Family, Health, Linked Articles, Marriage, Multiple Sclerosis, Travel.
Q. What is it like to be married to someone with relapsing/remitting MS?
A. It requires a great deal of advance planning and a certain amount of anxiety.
Jake’s article for The Health Central Network allows just a small peek inside the mind of a spouse/caregiver.
Written by Mandy on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 in Conversations, Family, Friends, Linked Articles.
I was reading a post on one of my favorite blogs, Sunshine and Moonlight, recently, which really got me to thinking. The post, by contributing writer Mark Waggener, is titled, “You Are What you Think.”
In a nutshell, positive thinking attracts positive thinkers which, in turn, attracts positive events.
I realized that Jake and I had been letting too much negativity into our lives of late. We spend a lot of time together and have a tendency to feed off each other’s moods. Negative thoughts have been swirling around and preventing us from moving forward.
We had a nice talk about it and agreed to stress the positive. No matter what thought pops into our heads, we will find the positive in it! We’ll smile even when we don’t feel like it!
The first day, we went around smiling inappropriately and looking slightly maniacal. The second night, we were to meet a couple of friends for wine and snacks at our local vineyard. We ended up seated opposite our friends and took up conversation with those around us.
Wouldn’t you know it? The man next to me started speaking of making a major life change, and the opposition which would surely follow. Positive thinking, he said, would get him through. Positive thinking, despite naysayers, would lead him to reach for his dreams. After discussing this positive thinking theory in depth, I mentioned the thought process that was going on in our own home.
Did we come together as a result of the energy we put out? Did positive thinking attract positive thinking?
All I know is that I came away feeling uplifted and… well… positive.
Written by Mandy on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Societal Issues.
All aboard the self-esteem express! Carson Kressley is at it again.
Back for a second season of Lifetime Television’s How to Look Good Naked, Mr. Kressley works overtime trying to convince us that “how you carry yourself means more than having a perfect body.”
This is no ordinary makeover show. Here we are more concerned with fixing our perspective than fixing our bodies. It is about bridging the gap between what we think we see when we look in the mirror, and the reality before us.
Written by Mandy on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 in Family, Health, Health Care, Linked Articles, Marriage, Societal Issues.
This weekend Mandy and I traveled some hours to visit the home of my mother who is going to celebrate her 80th birthday this week. There was a big family party planned and everyone was looking forward to seeing each other. We were just ready to leave the house when the phone rang. It was my brother. “So, you’ve heard about Mom, right?,” he half-said…
Read Happy Birthday, Mom by Jake
Written by Mandy on Friday, July 18th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Marriage, Multiple Sclerosis.
Jake watches me struggle and fall. He stands by my side through doctor visits and medical testing. Every morning, before he wakes me, he opens the refrigerator door and pulls out a syringe. It’s a matter of routine, but its significance doesn’t escape him.
How many changes has he made to accommodate my need for assistance? Do I know even a small fraction of the silent sacrifices he has made on my behalf?
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 in Food, Linked Articles, Social.
We’re a little behind the times, but we recently had the pleasure of watching the 2000 movie, “Chocolat” starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. The story takes place in 1959 and revolves around a single mother and her young daughter, who move to rural France and open a chocolate shop — during Lent. Conflict with the mayor, interactions with the townspeople, and long-held traditions combine to create a fascinating tale of perseverance and acceptance. And, oh, the chocolate!
Written by Mandy on Monday, June 2nd, 2008 in Linked Articles, Societal Issues.
I write for a blog titled ‘Women Over 40 Rock!’” Whenever I say those words I force myself to stay quiet and observe the listener’s reaction. Invariably I get a look showing a lack of appreciation and am told that it sounds like it MUST be one of those anti-male, “feminazi” sites where bitter women do little more than complain about their lives and about men. Nothing could be further from the truth. Continue…
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis.
While thumbing through MSFocus magazine recently, I came across an ad for a yoga DVD. It was advertised as having been designed by and for people with MS. It boasted a beginner level, and even a portion dedicated to yoga while sitting in a chair. Now that sounds like something I can do! One week later, on a lazy Sunday morning, I load the DVD, place my chair in front of the TV, and push the “play” button. Continue…
Written by Mandy on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis.
I have a mind/body disconnect. See, my mind thinks it is 22. It really and truly believes this. Blissfully unaware of the 48 year-old body to which it is connected, my mind often takes on a life of its own. With little understanding of the ravages time and multiple sclerosis, it continues to dream big dreams. It envisions the future as an endless road of possibilities. It sees no obstacle or time limit. It does not know the meaning of the word, “impossible.” Continue…
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 in Family, Linked Articles, Marriage, Social, Societal Issues.
In the 60’s and early 70’s, I sported a hippie wanna-be look. In retrospect, the look was a bit clownish. Afterwards, during the 80’s, I wore – in public, mind you — tight leggings with an oversized shirt. Even today I cringe when I view photographs of my hairstyles from the early 90’s. What was I thinking?
Like many women over forty, I carry with me a fair amount of baggage from my past. Much of what constitutes this baggage is far from amusing.
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 in Friends, Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis.
Friend Wanted: Applicants must show aptitude for patience, understanding, and the ability to suspend disbelief. Must have own car. Must promise to accept last minute cancellations. Continue…
Written by Mandy on Monday, May 19th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis.
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis, Societal Issues.
When is a “handicapped accessible” hotel room not handicapped accessible? What if you can manage to get in the room, but not use the bathroom? Would you find that acceptable? If you are in a wheelchair, you don’t expect life to be simple, but you should be able to expect a reasonable level of accommodation when something is designated as “handicapped accessible.” Continue…
Written by Mandy on Monday, May 12th, 2008 in Family, Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis.
As far as I know, we have done nothing to create the MS which has unceremoniously barged into our lives. There is no evidence that it is caused by lifestyle or bad choices. It just “is what it is,” one of those curve balls that life throws your way, and you either handle it well or you don’t. It is not a choice. Still, I know that I am not alone in my MS guilt. Continue…
Written by Mandy on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 in Linked Articles, Multiple Sclerosis, Societal Issues.
How important is the internet for people with multiple sclerosis, and why has this method of information gathering, which did not exist until the recent past, become so important? Continue…
