Welcome to Thankful Thursday. My goal for this blog is a place where people can learn something new. I hope that my blog becomes a place where we can learn from each other. My subscribers are from various ages and genders. Leave your ideas in the comments section. Hopefully, we’ll get some dialogue and learning taking place for each other. Living the Encouraged Life…Lynn

I knew I needed to be kind to myself. It was frustrating enough not being able to do my earlier sports, I did not need myself feeling bad to compound the issue. So, I made my goals to align with current reality.

So, I dug in my heals and learned that my love of gardening, writing, and walking were a part of my new life. Twenty years after my initial diagnosis, my body needs nine hours sleep a night to live well.

My energy level now mandated that I plan my activities and organize my day around it. A few years ago, a close High-school friend was diagnosed with A.L.S. She lived about 40 minutes drive away from me. I made it my goal to visit her weekly.

I became incensed by a “non-disabled” person parking in handicap space. I decided that I did not want to live with my frustrations. So, I designed a short, non-defensive, educational flyer explaining the importance of the “blue handicap” parking spots.

Living with my earlier salary I did not think much about money because it always seemed to be there when I needed it. What is fascinating to me now, is that in living with less, I have more in my saving accounts than I had previously.

I only knew two people who had M.S., the one woman was bitter and angry. The other woman was wheelchair bound and tried many of the “alternative therapies” (bee sting therapy and others). I had no desire to live my new life like either of them.

It was during my pondering that I felt throughout my entire body that I needed to be a teacher. I was extremely fortunate to eventually teach junior high and senior high school students and be the principal of an elementary school.