I’m many things, wife, mother, dog owner, writer, and public speaker. I don’t have any special skills, I went to an ordinary public school, and I have no particularly outstanding talents.
But I am a published poet and writer, I’d done some public speaking, and plan on doing a lot more of it, I have a wonderful life, and have many things I’ve done I’m proud of. Those published books, for instance …
I’m also a useful member of my community, and give to others in a variety of different ways. I am a community minded person, there is no doubt about that. I believe in the idea that the more you give, the more you will get.
I’m not talking about money here, I’m talking about other things, important ones, things like respect, kindness, assistance with things in life. I have family and friends who love me, I live in a good home with a roof and walls, as well as air conditioning to keep warm, or cool, as appropriate.
I have more than enough money for what I want, and I love the life I’m living … There are things that aren’t perfect, or course, but I’m dealing with them as best I can, and not suffering unduly.
There are things in my future I’m planning for, and my current life is a fine, one. I want more challenges in life though, some different things to pique my interest, and I certainly feel I will be able to organise. My life is like that – the more I have planned, the more things come to me.
But I am a person with a chronic illness, one that can cripple some people, but no me. This illness I have, Multiple Sclerosis affects different people in different ways, depending on where in their central nervous system they have been damaged by their immune system, causing scarring that can affect how messages/neurons get sent to and from the brain to the rest of the body, ie to the muscles.
When the scarring is extreme, the neurons can be slowed and may not work at all well for the person affected. There are medications to assist, and these are getting better and better. At the moment, the MS medication I’m taking seems to be working well, and I appear to others to be completely unaffected.
I know different but overall, I am going well enough, I’m able to move when and where I want to, walking without needing any mobility aids, which I certainly needed when I was first diagnosed. I’m eating a good healthy diet too, and only moderate amounts of this good food, so my weight is now within the ideal range for a person of my height.
Walking is my best friend, at the moment, and I’m glad to be able to walk our dog, and have in fact planned a fundraising walk, covering the distance from my house to a river nearby. The distance is one I never thought I’d be able to walk back when I was diagnosed with MS.
Back then, (in 2010), walking five metres without a walking stick was difficult, now, the walking stick I first got is being used by my husband who has a very damaged hip, in need of an operation, I sure don’t need it!
https://www.teammssant.org.au/fundraisers/carolyncordon/wear-red-for-ms
If you click on the link above, you will see the fundraiser I have just begun, walking to raise funds for the MS Society SA & NT. They have done much to assist people who have MS in the state I live in, South Australia, and I am grateful for the help I have received.
I recently attended a 6 week program – Falls Prevention, and I was inspired to do more for myself personally, and further, to help the MS Society by raising funds for them. Have a read of what I’m doing, and if you can, please give a little, all of the money raised goes to the MS Society, and I know how dedicated the people working there are, and how much good they do for people who have Multiple Sclerosis.
So even though I have a chronic illness, I am working to raise money for the Society, and even though I have this illness, I am working to be healthier, with exercise, and eating a nutritionally sound diet.
My positive attitude to life helps too, and even though I may sometimes have a slightly muddled head, I am writing many words, and publishing books! I have ideas, and time, and I like to use my time to get words written, and when possible published!
As a 59 year old woman with a chronic illness, I reckon I’m doing a good job of living my best possible life. If I can do it, yes, you can too!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 