First day of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

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Not only are we halfway through the week today, but it is also the first day of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Of course, I am thrilled we are halfway through the week and that much closer to the weekend! How has your week been? I know there are still a few days left before the weekend returns, but is there anything you are looking forward to this weekend? This is out of character for me because I do not like or endorse violence, but there is a UFC fight happening on Saturday that I am looking forward to! The two fighters I am interested in watching are Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane. Of the two men, I am hoping Ciryl Gane wins because Jon Jones has allegedly hit his wife, and I cannot support anyone who does this!

Normally, I enjoy writing about things during the awareness months because it is interesting and provides useful information to those reading, but this one is a little harder for me because it is not just one month out of the year this affects me. I must deal with Multiple Sclerosis 365 days a year, and it never gives me a break. It would be amazing to get a break from this disease, even if it was just for one minute, but it is something that refuses to take a break. Honestly, I do know it could be worst, and I have an easier form of it, but for lack of better words, it still sucks!

Anyone that has been following my blog for any length of time, already knows that I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when I was 19 years old, which was over 20 years ago. It was a difficult diagnosis at such a young age, but in a way, it was better because I was able to start treatment early. Regardless of when I was diagnosed or how thankful I should be that I was able to start treatment early, it was terrifying because I knew next to nothing about the disease. This is just my first post of the month about Multiple Sclerosis and I plan to do more each week with the information I have learned during the years having lived with this not-so-fun and unpredictable disease. I do hope you will find the posts I shared with information useful!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed what I have shared and I look forward to reading your comments. Please know that I will respond to all comments as quickly as I can. I hope you have a wonderful day and remember that anything that does not get done today, tomorrow is another day. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

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Motivational Monday

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It is not easy to say this, but Monday is back again. I know it was not long enough, but I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I have been working on the paper I am doing for the writing competition and I was unable to write about the continued neuropathy I have been experiencing, but I will get to that another time. Maybe someone can tell me why the weekends are so short and why Mother Nature is so confused about the time of year it is. I guess it might just be an issue in the south of the United States, but it should NOT be close to 80 degrees in February.

I guess it does not matter if we are ready or not because the new week has started. I really liked the quote that I am sharing with you and hope it is a little motivating. I think this is a difficult lesson to learn because I do not understand why people do what they do or behave the way they do, but that is not my job to fix them. Maybe they are right and I am wrong, but I do not think most of the things people get upset about, such as who people love or who they want to be because, at the end of the day, it has no effect on my life. I do not understand why there is SO much hate in this world and causing the high levels of mass shootings. Why can we not all get along and be more accepting? Why does politics have to create so much hostility and anger? Yes, there are things I am unable to accept, but I will not be hateful to someone because of their beliefs, even if it is the opposite of mine. 

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed what I have shared and that you have an amazing start to your week. Even if today does not go exactly the way you wanted it to, I hope each day will get better for you. I am looking forward to reading your comments and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Memories Never Fade

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This post is about two and a half weeks late, but please know it was not forgotten. Several years ago, on February 7th, we lost our precious cat Chloe we had for almost 16 years. This loss was painful for me, my husband, and our other cat, Sundance. Chloe brought us so much joy, laughter, happiness, and so much more. Losing her was like losing part of our hearts because she was for lack of better words our first child. Yes, I know she was a cat, but for us, she was so much more, and she will never be forgotten.

It has taken me a long time to be able to see her picture or the place on our fireplace mantel where her remains are without crying. We did have Chloe cremated, so she is still in our living room watching over us. Honestly, even after the years that have passed, I do still have mini breakdowns because I miss that sweet little girl so much. I cannot explain how much everyone that had been around her loved her dearly. Chloe had an instinct in her little body that knew anytime I was not feeling well due to the MS and would stay with me until I started to feel better. She slept by my head every night and even the night before she passed away, she slept with me.

After we lost Chloe, we knew Sundance was grieving as much as we were. It was so heartbreaking seeing him sad and missing Chloe. To see a sweet cat like Sundance sad and not understand where his friend went was awful. I did try explaining to him what happened, but he did not understand and would continue looking for her and we would hear him crying. For the first few months, I apologized to him because I felt like it was my fault for not getting Chloe to the vet sooner, and even after the vet told me that it would not have mattered, I held onto the guilt for a long time.

To try to help Sundance heal from the loss, and I guess me and my husband as well, we looked into adopting another cat, but NOT to replace Chloe because she was irreplaceable. After looking online for a while, I kept going back to a picture of this beautiful female cat that had the most innocent little face. I submitted the application, and we received the call that we were chosen to be the ones to adopt her. Little did I know, when we went to adopt the little girl, she had a smaller little girlfriend with her. Of course, we could not leave one behind because they had been close and grown up together.

I still do not regret adopting the two little girl cats because they have made a huge difference in Sundance’s demeanor. Sundance is about 12 years old now and the two girls are keeping him feeling young, and I think healthier overall, despite his asthma. Of course, I will always miss Chloe and she will always have a very special place in our hearts. I decided to finally write about this today because out of nowhere, I had a massive emotional breakdown earlier. Both of the girls and Sundance came to my side trying to figure out why I was crying and would not leave until I stopped. Animals are truly amazing little creatures that have so much love in their hearts. I have a really hard time when I see anything about an animal being abused and neglected because even though someone harmed them, they would be forgiven. The only thing any person or animal wants in life is love and it should not be that difficult to provide!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. If you have pets and consider them family as I do, please give your pet or pets a little extra love because they will not always be here, and you do not want to have any regrets. If there was a way to bring Chloe back, I would do so in a second and without any hesitation. As always, I would love the chance to read your comments and will respond as quickly as possible. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Let It Go Friday

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I am so happy to finally be able to say, HAPPY Friday, y’all! I hope you have had a good week and your weekend is filled with nothing, but joy and relaxation! When our weeks start to feel longer and we look forward to Friday on Monday morning, the weekend should be spent only doing what we want. I have been feeling a little more fatigued lately, which I assume has something to do with the weather being unpredictable and frustrating. It seems like Mother Nature cannot decide if it is going to be spring, summer, or winter like it should be. I did take a short break from the paper I am writing for the competition but need to get back to it and I hope to do that this weekend!

I always think that Friday being the end of the week, is a good time to let go of any negativity caused by the week. There is NO use for us to carry negative emotions into a weekend that is already too short. People often know how to push our buttons and stir up negativity, but sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away to avoid saying anything you might regret. I think the quote I am sharing today is one of the best pieces of advice anyone could get or give. A long time ago, my husband told me his grandfather would tell him, to keep his mouth shut and his eyes open. This has always stayed in my mind because it was the BEST advice, so when I came across this quote, I had to share it!

What does your weekend have in store for you or are you just going to take it easy? Honestly, I think after a long week, taking it easy and having nothing planned sounds perfect. The medication I must take to keep my Multiple Sclerosis at bay is very costly, if it were not for the Gilenya-Go-Program. I have been dealing with them for over a month and think I finally got things handled yesterday. They claimed they did not receive the fax I sent them last month, so I sent the paperwork via UPS mail, which can take a long time. They finally received my paperwork but said they did not have the information from my doctor. Of course, I was frantic and sent my doctor an email and they “claimed” they would get it faxed. We will see!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed what I have shared and the quote resonates with you. I look forward to reading your comments and I will respond as quickly as I can. I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Pick-Me-Up-Thursday

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Happy Friday Eve, y’all! I hope you have had a good week and you are looking forward to the weekend! Remember, just because it is the weekend, does not mean you must have plans because you can simply do nothing at all😊, which is exactly what I plan to do! It has been a long week and I believe we should not have to be forced to have a schedule. We already were forced to maintain a strict schedule all week.

The week is close to the end and I think we could all use a little pick-me-up. I hope you will find the quote that I am sharing helpful. Unfortunately, we all face random struggles and challenges in this life. It is important to not dwell on these and turn them into something positive. This is the reason for this quote today because I thought it was a nice reminder of what we have survived. No matter what we face in life or how difficult something may seem, look at what we have already made it through because everything we have witnessed and overcome has made us so much stronger!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed the quote that I shared and I look forward to reading your comments. I will respond to all comments as quickly as I can. I hope you have a wonderful day and it is not a busy or long day for you. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Inspirational Wednesday

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Happy Wednesday or as I prefer to view it, happy halfway to the weekend! We have made it through the first and hardest part of the week, so the last part of the week will be easier😊. It is always challenging to get into the groove of the work week, especially after our weekends seem to be getting shorter. The good news is we have made it through the worst of it and can only expect things to get better and much easier. At least we are getting closer to the weekend most of us look forward to. Speaking of things getting easier and the weekend getting closer how has your week been?

Do you think it is more important to stay inspired or to inspire others? This is not a trick question, I promise😊! Honestly, I do not think it is possible to inspire others if we are not inspired ourselves. How could we ever expect to inspire anyone else, if something or someone does not inspire us to do more? This is the reason why I am sharing the quote I am today. I hope you find it as inspiring and positive as I did and that it helps get you through one more day of this week. I think it is important in life to have something that is inspirational and it does not matter what it is because it is only about what it means to YOU!

This week has not been too bad, so far at least. Yesterday, I had my monthly one on one meeting with my supervisor, which like always, went well. I really enjoy working with my supervisor because she is genuinely a kind and caring person! This is so uncommon in this world, so I consider myself lucky to work with her. Most people that I work with are nice and some I honestly prefer to avoid, I guess that is another positive thing about working from home, I never have to be face to face with those I try to avoid😊!

Thank you for visiting my site today! I hope you enjoyed what I shared today and I am looking forward to reading your comments. I will be responding to all your comments as quickly as I can. I also hope you had a chance to visit my family friend’s amazing website where he showcases some of his brilliant work. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Tuesday, a day to support others dreams

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Happy Tuesday, y’all! Normally, my post would be “Tranquil Tuesday”, but I am doing something a little different today. The reason I am trying something different is that I think too many people do not realize how important it is to build others up. Of course, there are some people that are born into wealth and possibly have an easy life, but this does not mean they are happy and feel fulfilled. Normal people are not privileged and must work for everything they have in their life and many people have a job they work just as a means to pay to take care of their family and have a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, many people dread their jobs and if they had another way to make a living they would.

It takes a strong and determined person to attempt to start their own business, especially with the economy the way it is. When someone has a certain skill that allows them to make incredible products with their bare hands and talents. Small businesses need to be recognized and helped when possible. I have a family friend that has started an amazing small business that allows him to use his talents. When we have to shop for a birthday gift and do not know what to get them, I am going to encourage you to check out this website. I am certain that you would find a brilliant gift for family, friends, or even yourself. https://www.tushkacreations.com/. These would be gifts no one else has and they are very special and beautiful! I can speak with my personal views as this man has made me several pieces that are gorgeous!

I am not encouraging you to check out the website I mentioned above because I am trying to sell anything, I just want this man’s small business to be as successful as it should be. I can promise you he is an honest and good man, who will create something you can be proud to own! Many people, especially in the United States enjoy shopping and purchasing new things, so why not give a small business a chance to meet and exceed your expectations?! Plus, this man has an adorable little four legged co-worker that is precious!!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you will check our my family friend’s website as I am sure you will find something that is spectacular! I hope you are having a good week so far and it only gets better with each day that passes. I would love to read your comments on what I have shared today and I will respond to your comments as quickly as I can. This post is 100% dedicated to you B! Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Motivational Monday

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Well, Monday has returned and we have another week that will hopefully, be filled with amazing new opportunities! The weekends are always too short, but I hope you were able to enjoy each day. Unfortunately, I did experience another headache over the weekend, so mine was not too wonderful. One good thing was, I was able to sleep a little later than I normally do, which is a positive thing. Are you looking forward to the week ahead of us or is there something you are dreading? I hope if there is something you are dreading that it turns out better than you expected.

One of the most important things in this life is the way we treat others. It is also extremely important to never allow anyone that treats you in a negative way to change who you are on the inside. No matter what happens, we should stay the kind and loving people we are and allow our loving ways to shine as brightly as possible. It is possible we can change the way another person treats others moving forward because we were kind to them. Maybe they are being treated badly and that deeply impacts them. We never know what someone else is struggling with in life and because of some difficult things they are going through, they behave in a negative and mean way.

What are the things you look forward to for the start of a new week? Of course, I do understand we will all miss the weekend, but there is something great about each new week. We might have things we did not accomplish last week and the new week allows us to try again. Never give up or accept defeat because we are all stronger than we know. The only way we can truly fail is to not continue trying!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you enjoyed what I have shared and it provided you with a little motivation. The new week does not have to be a bad thing and I hope you are offered many new and amazing opportunities. I look forward to reading your comments and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa

Grudges and Forgiveness

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Letting go of anger, bitterness, resentment, and grudges is easier said than done, especially when you have been holding onto it for too long. Unfortunately, many of us have been hurt by the words or actions of another during our lives. Maybe this was inflicted by a parent who disappointed or criticized you multiple times or a friend or partner that deceived you, or possibly you encountered a traumatic experience, such as a form of abuse during your life. Deep wounds from the past can create these negative emotions and so much more, but we do not have to be held prisoner by them.

The fact is that holding onto and dwelling on the pain will only cause you more heartache. When you can embrace forgiveness, you will feel peace and less pain. Embracing forgiveness may lead you to physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

What does forgiveness mean? The actions that caused you emotional pain may always stay with you, but forgiveness can release and reduce the grip the resentment has on your heart and soul. Forgiveness can give you freedom from the control of the one that hurt you, In time, forgiveness may even provide you with a sense of understanding, empathy, and compassion for the person that hurt you.

When we are hurt by a person that we love and trust, it can be easy to hold a grudge. The feelings that are involved with this grudge can steam from anger, sadness, confusion, resentment, and hostility. Allowing these negative emotions to take hold and derail the positive thoughts can cause you to become overwhelmed with bitterness.

Holding onto a grudge can be toxic and have several negative effects on our lives. A few negative effects a grudge can impact our lives with may include:

~Carry anger and bitterness into new relationships

~You may become so consumed with your anger, you are unable to enjoy your life

~You may experience depression, irritability, and anxiety

~You forfeit valuable and rewarding connections with others

Letting go of a grudge you have carried and moving into a state of forgiveness is a commitment that takes practice and time but may offer you several benefits. Forgiving someone for their wrongdoings does not excuse their behaviors nor does it mean you will forget what happened, but this is necessary for your mental well-being.

A few benefits to forgiveness may include:

1. Building and maintaining healthier relationships

2. Improve our overall mental health

3. Reduce anxiety, stress, and hostility

4. Lessen symptoms of depression

5. Lower blood pressure

6. Maintain a strong immune system

7. Enhance self-esteem

8. Improve heart health

I hope you found this post helpful. I do try to not hold onto grudges, but there have been several times when I have failed miserably. It is not healthy and will only hinder you in life holding onto grudges and resentment whereas letting go and allowing for forgiveness will only free you from the negativity. I do not think it would cause anything negative if we try forgiving those that have wronged us. Again, this does not mean we will forget what happened, but it can allow us to be less burdened with negative emotions!

Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend doing what brings you the most joy and peace. I am looking forward to reading your comments and I will respond as quickly as I can. There are many people that I can forgive for what they did wrong, but there is only ONE person that no matter how hard I try, I will NEVER forgive. Even though I am unable to find forgiveness in my heart, I do not allow this person’s wrongdoings to prevent my happiness. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes! 

Always, Alyssa

Enjoy your Saturday

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Happy Saturday, y’all😊! It is SO nice to have a weekend because as I said in my post yesterday, this week has been extremely grueling! I do believe some of the reasons the week felt so long is because of the headache I experienced for three days. Of course, this is nothing new as I have dealt with them since I was a small child. No matter how many years I have had mean headaches, they never get easier and I never get used to them. There is a small part of me that thinks the headaches continue to occur because my eyes are getting worse and I do have an eye appointment this afternoon, so hopefully, it is my eyes and nothing else.

Of all the issues I deal with living with Multiple Sclerosis, many of them are manageable. Just because they are manageable, does not mean that are easy or always tolerable. My legs end up bothering me more at night or when it rains. This just seems a common trend. There have been a few times when they bothered me bad enough to cause pain when sitting, needless to say much more painful than it is to stand or walk. Unfortunately, there is nothing that helps. I used to think the heating pad or a hot bath helped, but it makes it more intense. Since nothing helps, it certainly does NO good to dwell on it or even cry about it.

What is your favorite part of the weekend? I mean the obvious is there are no work or alarm clocks😊! I am just wondering if there are any other reasons why you love the weekend. Of course, the weekends are short, so it is important to make the most of every moment. Although I rarely sleep past my normal 7:00 AM time, I do still love knowing I do not have to get up and if I want, I can take a nap! I love knowing I have two days that I am able to do what I want, and I am not being forced to do something that I do not want to do.

Thank you for visiting my site today. I am sure you are just as happy as I am that the week is over and we can enjoy the weekend, but I hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend! I hope you enjoyed what I have shared today and I look forward to reading your comments. I will respond to all comments as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa