The phrase “Do what you love and love what you do” is generally associated with finding a job that you want to have, that makes you satisfied and happy. It’s a great  sentiment! Articles with this title often mention, “If you find a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” But I associate this with living with MS.

We all have things that we love to do—that may be currently difficult. They may even seem impossible. I strive everyday to achieve success in the things that I want and love to do. When I reach what I thought I didn’t have, I realize it was there all along! I will share a couple personal examples, with the hope that readers will get creative in their own lives as well.

Regaining Independence

back in the driver's seatDuring the pandemic I became anxious, which may have contributed to an exacerbation that I experienced. The cog fog (aka brain fog or cognitive fog) and fatigue made it difficult and dangerous for me to drive. So when I wasn’t working from home and needed to be in my office, my husband would drive me to and from work. More and more I felt like a failure. I was doing a great job technically, but I wasn’t the independent person that I wanted to be. I did not drive my car for more than a year. I finally told my husband, “I want to drive my car!!” So I would drive with him as a passenger occasionally. And although that was a small step, it wasn’t really independent driving. One day I got brave and put my MINDSET into gear. I took a deep breath and drove my car. I drove and drove for an hour, including through 3 cities. I even went to the gas station and filled the tank. I did it!!! After that tiny success, I continued to practice with my regained freedom. Today I can drive the 4.5 hours to my son’s house near Philadelphia. I love driving my car.

Stick to it

Cleaned up yardAt the beginning of the summer, I was on my lawn mower. There is a tree in our backyard that had all kinds of loose branches piled up underneath it. I mowed around this tree and those unsightly branches for years. I always wished that I could clean that area up. My first thought on that summer day, while I was still on the mower was this: “I can’t do that. How will I ever be able to move all those branches and pull all those weeds? It will just be too difficult.” But the more I thought about it, the more determined I became. I pictured in my mind how great it would look. So I bought a garden cart that I could push wherever I wanted to. I picked up those sticks and pulled those weeds. I  made that area what I wanted it to be. I wasn’t walking unassisted, but I got the job done. It made me so happy. It was a small step towards me doing what I love and loving what I do.

My on and off MS symptoms for the past 40 years have tried to remind me that I might not be able to do what I want. You may have this feeling as well. But I’m here to tell you that you can find a way to do what you love. You just need to be clever and creative.

Here are some of the tips that I use:

  1. When I have a negative thought show up, I kick it to the curb and replace it with a positive one. For example, if I feel an MS symptom, instead of letting that bring me down, I remind myself that it will pass and celebrate the symptoms I no longer experience. It cheers me up right away.
  2. Don’t be afraid of failure. For example, when I practice walking independently, some times are better than others (notice I didn’t say that negative word “worse”?) Every time you try is a new chance for success!
  3. Stay in the present moment. Don’t think about the past. That is in your rear view mirror. I don’t know about you, but I don’t drive in reverse…only forward.
  4. I know driving is one of my common themes, but think about driving at night. You can only deal with what your headlights allow you to see. In other words, don’t worry about the future. It will be the present soon.
  5. And super important for me is to engage in activities that promote relaxation. For example, breathing exercises and meditation. These can be as short as a couple minutes.

Take one tiny step at a time and you will be doing what you love, and loving what you do before you know it…❤️