Confidence gained from everyday victories…
While working on the May edition of the 12×12 project, I came a cross this video from the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MISIF) that I wanted to share. It really spoke to me more than any other video, pamphlet, website, etc about MS videos that I’ve seen.
(click on picture to watch the video)
It features people with MS living normal lives. (shocking, I know!) They’re not superheroes, just normal people doing everyday things. More importantly, they all appear to be comfortable in their own skin.
True, we all have the ability to smile for the camera and these people were probably selected for just that reason. That said, I found it meaningful that they were typical settings that were just a part of their routine lives.
My point? They were not self-conscious about how they dealt with living with life with MS. The just do.
Of course most of us are intrigued by stories of people who “overcome so much” and accomplish big things. It’s the Horatio Alger in all of us.
“Runner with MS finishes the NYC Marathon!” Ya, If I read this headline, it would impress me, particularly since I would have an idea about what crossing the finish line would mean for that person both physically and emotionally.
But for people with MS, everyday life can be full of little challenges and successes that are personal and go unnoticed by those who see (or don’t see) them happening.
In the video, I was stuck by the accurate portrayal of…
- Confidently walking off an escalator, making the simple everyday act look and feel natural.
- Looking in a full-length mirror in a store and being able to smile and even laugh at yourself, no matter how you walk or roll to get through the day.
- Being lost in the moment of self-realization that you now live with MS and being totally lost in the moment processing of a million thoughts that surge through your head for the first time.
Ok, so I can be pretty sure that the last one was played by an actress but the moments that featured “Elena” felt pretty accurate. They capture something that is not really talked about all that often when considering the lives of young adults with MS.
Many of us live with significant others who try so hard to understand what the heck is going though the head of the person they love.
To me, this is the most accurate 4 minuets about MS that I have ever seen.
