Birth of a Passion & Purpose (pt.1)

So for years I really struggled with annoying, debilitating or painful symptoms that I was just told were to be expected for someone with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis.  I didn’t know any better, so I just assumed this must be true.  I was raised to believe that the doctor had all the answers, and whenever you didn’t feel well, that was the route to go.  I think the first time I started to question in my own mind if this was may not the truth was when although I was doing everything I was told, I was still getting sicker and sicker and my doc said “yeah, I don’t know.  Let’s keep going, maybe it will get better”  That just didn’t sit well with me!

I first got the idea that food could make an impact when I stumbled upon a TEDx video in 2012 from Dr Terry Wahls who had reversed her MS symptoms through diet.  I wish I could shake her hand and thank her directly, because this one video was the start of the journey over the next 7 years of my life which took me from a point of wondering when I’d have to cave and go on disability, to feeling better than ever have.  It wasn’t a direct path.  It wasn’t sunshine and rainbows the whole way, and there were definitely many times along the path where I was tempted to throw in the towel on the whole thing.  There were even times where I felt like “if this is the way my life is going to be, I don’t really want to be alive”, however today I can tell you the journey was so worth even the biggest of bumps in the road.

In 2012 I made a pretty major diet change.  I was the multigrain cheerios with almond milk junkie, who counted calories, ate lots of carbs and avoided fat like it was ultimate enemy of life.  Pretty much the complete opposite of the protocol Dr Wahls was suggesting, but I was so tired of living the life I was living that I was willing to give it a try.  I wanted off the laundry list of meds I was living on, and I wanted the ability to start dreaming of the life I wanted again, knowing I actually had the chance to make that a reality.

Paleo = no grains, no sugar, no processed foods, no legumes, no dairy.  Long story short, real foods don’t have ingredients.  Steak = steak.  Apple = apple. Carrot = carrot. Focus on those.  Did this diet help?  Yes.  Eliminating all the processed crap is a good idea for pretty much everyone, in my opinion, however while I did feel some changes, I still felt there was more to the story yet I didn’t know what that was.  After 5 years of following the Paleo approach, I was still living with cognitive struggles, chronic fatigue, and 24/7 nerve pain that was really threatening my mental health.  In 2017 I was at the point of thinking “if I’m destined to live in pain forever, I don’t want to live anymore.” When I was in the darkest of dark places, my girlfriend encouraged me to try this ketones supplement thing a friend had been talking about.  It was another of those times in my life where I was desperate for hope, and really had nothing to lose.  I was also a major critic!  I had try things in the past and just ended up disappointed, but I owed it to Amanda to at least try.

Major Rant

I’m at the point where I need to say this.  I’ve held back for quite a long time because I’m nice and don’t like to offend anyone, however sometimes a little anger can be the spark that leads to massive change.

If you’re not happy with your life, albeit your health, your body, your happiness, your marriage, your job, etc and you’re not actively working to improve it, stop complaining.  Take responsibility for the fact that your life is up to YOU.

Where do I feel I got the nerve to make such a bold statement? 14 years ago I was diagnosed with MS.  I had a little pity party for myself, then picked myself up and carried on.  I listened to my doctors and did what I was told, but continued to decline in quality of life.  One day I realized I need to take my power back.  I didn’t blame my doctors for their ignorance in actually helping me.  I didn’t blame god/the universe/or whatever you call it.  I didn’t sit there and say “well, I guess it just is what it is.”  I also didn’t accept that MS was WHO is am.  Yes, it’s a part of me, but it does not define me.

I’m at the point today where I needed to share this because I’ve spent the last 2 years working to share my story and help others and faced so many situations where people struggle to see that they have the power to at least work towards improving their situation.  Yes, I sell a supplement that has been so incredibly life-changing for me that I think everyone could benefit from at least trying it, yet that’s not at ALL what this post is about!  I don’t know if anyone is solely responsible for giving themselves MS, yet even if I am, it was doing the best I could with the tools I had at the time.  Whether or not your situation is the result of actions you have taken, I’m not placing any blame on anyone, however I can pretty much guarantee blaming anyone or anything else for your situation is just crap.  Shit happens, but it’s how we deal with it and move forward that matters!  What small steps could you take TODAY to help improve your situation?  Who do you know who’s been where you are and gotten where you want to be?  Start there.  Find out HOW they’ve done it and get moving.