You've got the light to fight the shadows

I always try to talk positively, sticking to my motto;

"MS is my opportunity to be legendary" 

And that's great... except sometimes there are just those days where it all becomes a bit too real.

You realise what the future may hold
You ask yourself question after question
You feel like people STILL don't fully understand and perhaps above all you're just frustrated with the day in day out battle with such a powerful condition.

It's tiring and sometimes you have to let yourself let go and take a moment, half a day, or even a day or two, to simply let yourself readjust. THATS OK! You shouldn't let it build up or you'll find yourself releasing that frustration and anger on to others and in ways you don't want to.

TIPS on managing those low moments:

• Remember why you are fighting - Yes you will have low days, but remember why you fight so hard every other day of the week, month, year. You're fighting for your health and for your future. 
• Be inspired. Find someone or something who inspires you, who's words or actions can motivate you through tough times. Sometimes all it takes is a few words to completely change your outlook on the day ahead. I find motivational Twitter accounts helpful as they are so easily accessible. I also find the words of Muhammad Ali incredibly powerful. 
• Don't bite your tongue. Try talking to others with MS who you know you can turn to should you need that level of empathy you perhaps don't get else where 
• Talk to your friends/ family and let them know that you're having a bad day or a moment where you need to get something off your chest... you'll probably find they have a lot more to say than you ever imagined. 
• Take moments to yourself. I don't suggest you literally talk to yourself but reconnecting with yourself and finding that balance again will really kelp you regain clarity. I find an outdoors jog or an early morning gym session with headphones in really helps. Even immersing yourself in something you love such as a hobby, cooking, reading... whatever allows your mind to switch off. 

Do not be fearful... instead, be courageous and think of all the ways in which you can overcome MS and all it's baggage.

I try to keep myself busy every day with various things to keep my mind off the worry. I'm constantly reading about the condition and looking to learn more about it because one day I WILL take it down. 

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

"YOU'VE GOT THE LIGHT TO FIGHT THE SHADOWS"

"WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, THERE'S NO NEED TO BE ASHAMED"

P x

COMING SOON...

Coming up next in the life of DOING MS MY WAY....

It's COMPETITION TIME - Follow me as I start the ball rolling working towards the MIAMI PRO fitness competition 

MOTIVATION INSPIRATION GYMSPIRATION - everyone needs them once in a while

DIET OVERHAUL - NEW  discoveries I've made about certain foods and how they affect your body AND your MS

MS and life at WORK, how to adjust, how to ease yourself back in AND how to ensure your workplace understands you too

P x

Raising Awareness

As you know I try to do all I can to raise awareness of MS, Life with MS and MS in young people.

Over the past two weeks i've been fortunate enough to be part of some amazing projects and experiences allowing me to spread the positivity and MS love... not literally.. I make it sound contagious!

The first was the opportunity to film with a production company who, like me, are also trying to raise awareness and break down the barriers between MSers and the general public, doctors and even neurologists.

We had SUCH an amazing day filming at my house and then went on to David Lloyd to film part of a training session with my PT - Antony.

Not gonna lie, I felt like a bit of a celeb... a celeb with MS, a celeb with MS and a Nemo arm, a celeb with MS, a Nemo arm and injection bruises...

ok so NOT so much of a celeb but STILL..I had a fab day and the crew and staff at DL were just lovely.

Apparently, it's going to be shown at a neurology conference in October and will also be used by an american production company...

Only a matter of time before I make my big move STATE SIDE in an attempt to crack America!

(getting slightly ahead of myself?... yah) WATCH THIS SPACE

The next exciting thing to happen in the life of Paula was this.... 

An invitation to THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
By Mr Mike Freer himself (Local MP for Finchley and Golders Green)

Excited much? Apparently he had seen my article in the Times about the MS Cake Break and fundraiser I hosted with Rhiannon back in April...

*cough* RAISING A RECORD BREAKING AMOUNT *cough*

which you can read if you click.... here :)

SO...dressed in our snazziest outfits Rhi and I made our way down to the House of Commons. After what seemed like an HOUR trying to figure out how to get into the place we made it!
IT.WAS.AMAZING

(please excuse my tired appearance, I was momentarily taking a break from helping my friend give birth as of 7am.... obvs NOTHING was going to stop me making this appointment at the HOC! )

Mr Freer treated us to a tea and scone in a room looking over the Thames with some stunning views! He then gave us a tour of the building which felt more like a palace from the inside!!

On a serious note though it was SO encouraging to have our fundraising efforts recognised. I will never ever stop raising awareness and hosting fundraisers so to have the backing and recognition from such influential people really makes such a difference and is yet another motivational boost.

And there it it.... my day at the House of Commons in pictures.

until next time, P xx

A little inspiration from Hannah Barrett - X Factor

"We're all wonderful, wonderful people
So when did we all get so fearful?
And now we're finally finding our voices
Just take a chance, come help me sing this
I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream 'til the words dry out
So put it in all of the papers,
I'm not afraid
They can read all about it"

We all love a bit of an X Factor sob story..but when I watched Hannah Barrett's audition, I was so encouraged by her attitude. Its empowering. She carries a sense of vulnerability around with her but has taught herself to be strong. It's clear to see that she has been faced with difficult situations, like many, but it's the attitude me must adopt to deal with those situations which keep us above water, keeps us fighting. 

We have to make ourselves be heard...so with every post I upload and with every bit of filming or meeting I attend...It will all go towards raising awareness of MS and teaching people to understand the condition as well as helping those who have it, live with it. 

Summer Summery

Summer is over and it's back to reality. (For those of you who don't know, I work at a school so the glorious summer break has come to an end)

Every day is a challenge in small ways and some days in slightly bigger ways. But this was my first
summer living with MS. I didn't go away but I didn't need to! The glorious summer days here were enough to handle.

As you may have seen in earlier posts at the beginning of the summer, the heat caused my second major relapse resulting in Optic Neuritis. I lost the sight in my right eye for 5 days before I was put on an incredibly high dose of steroids, with its own set of side effects, to bring my sight back to perfection over the course of a week. I have never appreciated seeing so much in ALL my life! 

As a result I decided to be the ultimate tourist in London!

MS doesn't and shouldn't stop you from doing anything

I learned very quickly that I need to pace myself. Learn your limitations and work within them not against them. If you push yourself too hard you will fall backwards. If you do whats right for you, you'll soon find you're doing more than you could ever imagine.

Here's my summer in pictures...


BUCKINGHAM PALACE: STATE ROOMS & QUEENS CORONATION EXHIBITION 
(I Heart Norman Hartnell and yes I will drop in the fact that he is an OLD MILLHILLIAN!)

V&A MUSEUM: FASHION THROUGH THE AGES AND THE 80'S EXHIBITION

 A TRIP TO DEVON WITH EMMA

KENWOOD BAKE OFF AND VARIOUS AFTERNOON TEAS (Paleo Paleo Paleo right? hmmm...)

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (OBVIOUSLY. If I were a dinosaur I would be the small one in the bottom centre...what a dude)

All in all I had a wonderful summer in London and was able to do and see so much. I'm so happy I got to experience so much and it's also doubled as research and inspiration for my Wedding Planning, Styling and Design course which I started this summer also!!

Until tomorrow...

P x