Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) changed my life. At 27, it was not necessarily a welcome diagnosis – one that came with far too many unknowns and potential grim outcomes. If I’m being honest, I’m lucky enough to live most of the time in unaffected by the disease. But, when I reflect on this journey of living with an invisible disease, I see I’ve learned some valuable lessons that have filtered into all aspects of my life. Lesson 1: Focus on what you can control.

“You should have died by now, you know that right?” After detailing my nearly 5-year journey of living with anorexia, this was my therapist’s response. At only 19, I simply laughed. Dead? I don’t think so. Hospitalized? Maybe. I’d shared with my therapist how I ran with an off-hand comment from my high school track coach to have less soda and more water. How no one really knew until my physician didn’t clear me to run cross-country my sophomore year. How my parents gave me we

Imperfection. Something uncommon to strive for, yet, often what we achieve. "Imperfection," by Elizabeth Carlson, beautifully describes the process of learning to love our imperfections. This poem was shared with me in a mindfulness facilitation course. It resonated deeply, not only with my own mindfulness journey, but with my journey of life. Read and reflect. Read again, if need be, and simply sit with what is. Imperfection Elizabeth Carlson I am falling in love with my imp