Looking Back

The Last Word

     I began this year with one goal: Write one poem a week for the entire year, using predetermined topics and genres, about different aspects of my life with this MesS, also called Multiple Sclerosis. I am not sure how seriously I can take these textbook examples of doggerel, but without further hesitation, here is the last.

So, now a year has come and gone.

This collection is almost done.

Poems for a year,

Giving me a clear

And sincere

Denouement.

-Josh Evitt, 2019-

New Year and New(ish) Blog

        So, here is my first attempt at a second shot. I recently read an interesting article in the National MS Society's magazine Momentum that deals with balance issues and how to help with them. Now, balance is one of my worst symptoms, and I know that I'm not alone in that. So, I thought that I'd give a brief summary and highlight, what to me are, the most important parts. 

     First, the article gives a very clear explanation of how easily MS can sabotage balance. Basically, since balance uses so many parts of one's CNS (central nervous system), and MS damages the CNS the chances of causing balance issues is very high. The article then explains how physical therapy can help, but that is up to the patient and a doctor, or therapist, to develop exercises that fit one's own balance issues. 
     Next it mentions a thing called, "Vestibular Rehabilitation," which seems that it might work, but, since it focuses more on inner ear complications with balance, would only work for a very small subset of patients with MS. It also briefly mentions using a device that is a type of treadmill that makes one feel lighter, the Alter-G.
     But, the most interesting part, as well as one that I am going to try to implement for myself, was to combine four different types of exercises: breathing, stretching, relaxation, alignment. I plan using these four, along with an already prepared regimen, set up by my physical therapist, to help me maintain and hopefully improve my current balancing issues.

     I am not going to sugar coat this.

It's going to be tough. 

But, I am going to do it!

New Year Resolution(s)

     I remember when I foolishly began this blog that I had two noble goals:
👉Vent my frustrations with this disease safely and quietly
👉I hope to benefit, at least, one other person

     However, I am not sure that I was able to do either of those. While looking over my past entries, along with their accompanying Twitter notes, I have reached a conclusion. I am not a good blog writer, but there really is only one way to get better: keep at it! So, as the song goes, "Second verse, same as the first: a little bit louder and a little bit worse."

     So, I've recommitted myself to doing this blog thing better. I've been reading other blogs and I've noticed three commonalities:

     Purpose: the more popular ones that I've seen have an explicitly seen goal. They have a reason to be.-After thinking on this, I decided to re-state my purpose for this blog. Rather than simply allowing myself a place to vent and hoping to benefit 'others', I am going to focus on listing, researching, and offer help on problems which I have faced, or still am facing with this MesS.

     Structure: they are highly and creatively organized, using polls, articles, references, and sharing endorsements from other writers.-When I started this blog, I really had no structure whatsoever. I thought it would be amusing to make it as sporadic as MS. Little did I know how frustrating that would become. So, in short, it's been 'fixed'.

     Demeanor: generally speaking the 'popular' blogs are very optimistic. They're not always 'happy', but even in the most troubling stories that I have seen is an air of hope.-This is going to be the most difficult change for me to make. I am a pessimist. I do not see the glass as either half empty or half full. I see it as containing poison. I am stating here that I am going to try to sound better, not idiotically happy, but also not as despondent as I am wont to be. I am not going to exult in my problems just as much as I am not going to wallow in them.

So, with all of that said, please allow me to wish you a happy new year!