Girl with MS - Tips & Tools for Thriving with Multiple Sclerosis

Self-Care Challenge #2: Eating with Intention

#selfcareMVMT

Challenge 2

EATING with INTENTION

For five days bring awareness and positive intention to your midday meal.

Register at the Health Storylines App,
use the My Journal tool.

Bring the intention you developed in the morning challenge to your afternoon routine. In addition to your morning intention, set some time aside to create a more substantial life during lunch. And I mean life-changing substance, not some fly by night quick fix.

Sure, it will seem medial. Trite. But start this habit and watch what happens.

Eating meal: Sit in a quiet place. Be mindful of your surroundings. Do not have distractions. No computer, device, television. Not even the newspaper. Put your full attention into the meal and nourishment that you are placing in your body.

use the My Journal tool.

Look at each piece of food. Admire the colors and aromas. Chew each bite with positive intention and gratitude toward life. Be careful not to gulp your food. Appreciate what time you do have to consumer. Place your fork down and take a deep breath. Enjoy the process of eating and the nourishment that is coming into your body.

1. Carefully and with intention eat the meal.

2. What will this nourishment bring to your body, mind and soul?

3. Appreciate the moment.

4. Record feelings in My Journal

5. Share the moment: #challenge #dowhatyoucan #takeTHATms #selfcareMVMT

As you grow in your practice be mindful of your awareness and intentions. You will find that your morning intentions will blend in with afternoon creating a full morning of gratitude. Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.

use the My Journal tool.

SHARE:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#EMPOWERStudyMS #dowhatyoucan #spon #takethatms

#selfcareMVMT

And it doesn't matter what you're eating. It could be some vegan cucumber hummus toast in California with homemade potato chips or fried calamari and a beer in Nova Scotia.

The point is all about intentions and awareness.

#selfcareMVMT

#empowerstudyms #spon. #slowdown#selfcareMVMT

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS and Health Storylines

Self-Care Challenge #1: Mornings with Intention

It’s time for 2018 Self Care Challenge!

brought to you by @theGirlwithMS, Caroline Craven, and Health Storylines

Hi Everyone!

I am excited to share with you that I have been selected to be

a Self Care Ambassador! As part of this role, I’ll be helping to create a

community where individuals encourage and empower each

other to take good care of themselves.

To join and track your progress, simply download the Health

Storylines app or go to healthstorylines.com and make an

account for free.

Click here for a video on how to use the app.

Thank you for joining me in learning about how we can take control of our lives and health with Self Care!

xo,

Caroline Craven

@thegirlwithms

“Make a Change – Make a Difference”

For the next few months we are going to focus on making some small changes in our lives that can lead to significant differences. Individual results will vary depending upon what we put into each challenge. Also telling will be how we are willing to grow during this process. Think baby steps and do not have grandiose expectations. In fact, do not have any expectation. Stay in the present moment and keep you mind open to whatever these practices may bring to you. Then record your experiences in the Health Storylines app and share on social media!

CHALLENGE #1: Morning Intention

For five days straight: Drink 1 glass of cool water first thing in morning with intention.

Before consuming any coffee or other caffeine or sugar, grab a cool or room temperature glass of filtered water (not ice water). Drink it slowly and with intention. Use this time to focus your mind and energy in a positive way. Be quiet with yourself during this time, no television/devices or other distractions.

While sipping this refreshing water, use these tips to direct your thoughts then record your answers in the journal of the Health Storylines app:

1. Assess your body and mind. How do you feel? How is the MS affecting you? On scale of 1-10, with 10 being awesome, record this feeling in the Journal section.

2. What kind of day do you want to have? Productive/relaxed/social/healing? Visualize the day you want to have. If it helps you, think of a movie or television character to help put you in the role.

3. Bring to mind positive thoughts. Say one thing nice to yourself. such as, "I am worthy of a happy and healthy lifestyle." Using the Health Storylines App, under the My Journal tool, write this blessing down. Then, repeat it to yourself through out the day.

This practice begins a new level of awareness between body, mind and soul. While it may seem very medial, give it a chance. Give yourself a chance!

RECORD:

At the beginning and end of the day, how are you feeling? Record this feeling in the My Journal tool in the app:

Once you click on the My Journal tool you have several options. For this challenge choose "Reflection on my condition today" and record your experience.

SHARE social media:

Help others learn about MS by sharing your challenge!

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#morningintention #ad #takethatms #selfcaremvmt

END Challenge #1

#empowerstudyms #spon. #slowdown#selfcareMVMT

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS and Health Storylines

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Surviving Christmas with MS

I found this from 2013 and it’s reminding me of some very important points in life.

What a wonderful week of family, friends and the foes of MS. Yes, wonderful even with the nagging MS stuff going on: The emotional roller coaster, the fatigue, the foggy brain. Not to mention clumsy foot, balance issues leading to a broken toe. But despite all the MS foes, this was a grand Holiday.

While I love Santa and the stocking he provides, it's often the intangible gifts that mean so much during the holidays. The gift of life, of friends, of family. Even if our family is just one other person, or that most of our friends are acquaintances on Twitter, we do have a family.
My morning chat from Christmas Morning:

Yesterday included some great food with me grilling a wonderful piece of beef tenderloin from Sprouts market. Love their meat! Grandma made all the fixings and family helped with the dishes. Girl with MS had to take several rests during the day. By now my young nephews understand when "Auntie Nonnie" needs an MS break.

This is a family full of converse shoes, time outside and basketball. Go Lakers! Go Clippers!

Gifts came in all forms. Here is the Day of the dead doggie in honor of all of our lost hounds.

We did it! The emotional roller coaster has subdued. Gifts exchanged. Tears of joy and love shared. Frustrations as well, but all in all a Cherry Merry Christmas.

Posted with Blogsy

a New Year, a New Blood Test and 2 MS Companies making a difference.

thrive

Happy New Year 2023! Six years later and it mostly holds true!

Happy New Year! (well, almost)

2017 was amazing in so many ways but after these holidays I definitely need to get back on track. Late nights, rich food, more drinks and desserts...my body began to rebel. It just about quit on me yesterday. Maybe it did.

Two pm, and helping mom with yet another holiday function and finally found myself crashed out on the bed. Been a beautiful but long holiday!

We kicked off December going to Nashville, Tennessee to learn more about iQuity's blood test to help diagnose multiple sclerosis. Click here for my article about this blood test called isolateMS. This is definitely company to keep an eye on in the future. The blood test is already helping some patients with their diagnoses. It could be an effective alternative to MRI's and anyone who's had an MRI knows how uncomfortable it can be.

iQuity Advisory Board

iQuity Advisory Board

Caroline Craven (www.GirlWithMS.com)

Kathy Reagan Young (www.FUMSnow.com)

Kim Standard (www.StuffCouldAlwaysBeWorse.blogspot.com)

Cat Stappas (www.ItsOnlyABruise.com)

Beth Prystowsky (www.ModernDayMS.com)

Stephanie Buxhoeveden (www.JustKeepSmyelin.com)

Matt Cavallo (www.MattCavallo.com)

Dan and Jennifer Digmann (www.DanandJenniferDigmann.com)

Laura Kolaczkowski (www.insidemystory.com)

Kim Standard, Caroline Craven, Jennifer Digmann

There were ten of us MS bloggers in Nashville and it was awesome to connect and meet in person! We ended up at the Grand Ol' Opry after a good day of brainstorming, sharing and learning.

The next week found us in Boston, Massachusetts. This trip we worked with another company and their activities helping MS patients live better. It snowed on us and we got to experience an almost white Christmas!

Enjoying Boston with some of the EMD Serono MS team!

It's really amazing and wonderful to feel the connection between medicine and quality of life. These two companies understand that this is important. I appreciate this greatly.

Caroline Craven and Carolyn Kaufman - from Without the Weight.

So much appreciation and gratitude as 2017 comes to an end. GWMS was active in many great programs this past year to help others with MS live a better life. AND I met the man of my life who has been the most wonderful support system imagined. This is good for Girl with MS. Oh so very good for GWMS.

As the holidays come to an end, my body is ready for cleansing and reflection. For movement and for routine. The rich foods and excess alcohol was felt in every muscle and nerve. I also indulged in some cigarettes which I know are terrible for us - but tasted good at the time. And the coffee/caffeine consumption was nearing epic proportions.

But the binge/festivities are over and easily my body, mind and spirit slide back into a healthy routine. Today I'm sipping royal chrysanthemum tea. Yesterday my cup was full of "pitta" tea to help reduce heat and inflammation, followed by some fruity Acai berry tea full of anti-oxidants. And it has the most beautiful bright blue flowers in it. Violet blue.

Today I am working on an exciting project for Self Care Catalysts. This is another company that is making a difference in the lives of MS patients.

They understand that patients want to take control over their wellness and they are doing something about it!

Their homepage says it all:

Mabel and Caroline Craven,
@thegirlwithms

HEALTH INNOVATION BEGINS WITH ME

UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC ILLNESS THROUGH SELF CARE, STORYTELLING, DATA, AND INSIGHT TO IMPACT HEALTH OUTCOMES.

It's that whole, "Begins with Me" that knocks it out of the park. So true. We are only as good as our actions.

As many of you know, my whole gig is about creating our own wellness, about self-care. Now this does not mean you abandon all medicines or disease treatments. Self-care is about the big picture. The whole enchilada. The wholistic approach. this includes nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, medicines, and all things consumed and ingested as healing treatments.

I'm working on some challenges for the coming year. Weekly resolutions that can be done in five days to help guide us into a healthier 2018...

Watch this spot - more to come.

and #takeTHATms!

Join an MS study from the comfort of home. Receive $50 for your time.

Are you interested in helping advance research for MS but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Taking part in a research study for MS can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

A new at-home study called EMPOWER (Evaluating Multiple Sclerosis Patients ShOWing A GEnomic Signature of Therapy Response) is seeking volunteers with MS nationwide to better understand how MS affects the body. The goal of the study is to develop a blood test to help monitor disease activity and treatment response for people diagnosed with MS. The study is being conducted by DxTerity, a genomics company developing tests to better manage autoimmune diseases.

Do I Qualify?

If you’re 18 years of age or older and have been diagnosed with MS (any type), you qualify.

Why Should I Take Part?

EMPOWER is an at-home study that can be completed in your free time. All you need to do is sign up online and a study kit will be mailed to your home.

What’s Next?

Follow the instructions in the fingerstick blood collection kit to collect a few drops of your blood (much like at-home glucose monitoring). Mail your sample to the research lab using the prepaid envelope.

When you’re done, log in to the secure study portal and complete a short survey online. You will be compensated $50 for your complete study participation, which you can keep or tell DxTerity donate to an MS charity of your choice. That’s it!

Ready to make a difference in MS research? I know I am. Click here to get started.