I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 23 and it is basically all I have known my entire adult life.

It is an extremely difficult disease that affects me every day in a myriad of ways. On the other hand, it has shaped who I am and I like who I am. And I really like my life. And I really like the people in it.

Finding what there is to be grateful for in every day is one of my helpful strategies. Another is singing. I sing and study with an amazing teacher and that time spent is more healing than any medicine I have ever taken or any therapy session I have ever received.

Eating right and exercising are not only good for me, they give me the smallest sense of control over a situation where my own body is attacking itself (and for a Type A personality trapped in the body of a passive aggressive, that is a huge win).

Surrounding myself with awesome people is the other secret and the secret to finding yourself surrounded by awesome people is to be awesome to the people around you. When I am at my lowest it is in helping someone else that I usually find relief to my own suffering.

Finally, I am blessed enough to have a partner who sees through the limitations that I see or that my physician sees. Someone who believes in me and in my future even when I don't. Especially when I don't. So, if there is someone that you trust, listen to them when you are full of doubts and can't break through the noise in your own head. Trust them when you can't figure it out yourself and give yourself a break. And then, do the same for them.

This song is about the kind of love that sustains us and it is about my husband. But it is also about my mother, my sister, my best friend, my physiotherapist, my singing teacher. We all need a team and I am so grateful for mine.

http://bit.ly/1DilRsx

Who's on your team? Whose team are you a part of?

Ardra

A Moodscope member.