Two Exciting Pieces of News for the MS Community

Being an advocate for the multiple sclerosis community means sharing information to help you stay aware of trending topics and credible information that can help you make informed decisions about your health. By sharing this information I hope to simplify and empower you on your MS journey.

Two organizations recently reached out to me about their new initiatives that I thought you'd like to know about.

NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY (nmss.org)

No one plans on being met with a life-changing diagnosis like MS – but whether you’re newly diagnosed or not, we can all use a little extra support. Our friends at the National MS Society put together a wonderful new resource called “Now What? Resources to Keep You Moving Forward with MS” and you can download it for free today.

From wellness to community to understanding symptoms, this guide is great for those with MS and those supporting loved ones with MS. As the NMSS website explains:

"Whether you were recently diagnosed or are processing a shift in your disease progression, you came to the right place. With you in mind, we created Now What? Resources to Keep You Moving Forward with MS. It's your introduction to the top resources and information from the National MS Society – news you can use to keep moving forward.

There's even more to discover on our website. This guide, however, offers the latest and most relevant information about MS.

Check it out by clicking HERE !

HEALTHLINE (healthline.com)

Photo: Courtesy of Healthline

There's a new CBD landing page and content hub we've built at Healthline. As cannabidiol (CBD) becomes a highly discussed product touting benefits across the board, especially for those suffering from chronic illnesses, we wanted to create an extensive resource for our audience to learn about what research has proven and what we still need more information on about CBD benefits. Specifically, research on how CBD can help autoimmune disease with articles covering topics such as how human studies have found that a combination of CBD and THC is effective in treating pain related to multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

CBD is helping to change lives, so we wanted to answer all our readers' questions. We hope you'll find the landing page a useful resource. Click HERE to find out more!

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Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I always enjoy hearing from you. Have a lovely day!

NOTE: This post does not endorse or recommend any school of thought or product. This is for informational purposes only.

Healthline Announces its List of Best MS Blogs of 2018

I'm thrilled that Healthline named An Empowered Spirit one of the best MS blogs of 2018. This is the seventh time my blog received this distinction and I'm as honored today as I was the first time.

Thanks to Healthline for not only recognizing my work but also the work of other MS bloggers and organizations. They are helping us amplify our voices to reach a wider audience. I am deeply grateful.

The world of MS has changed drastically since my 1986 diagnosis. It's hard to keep up with announcements about FDA-approved medications for MS and also those being tested with the hope of approval. There are also clinical trials, ongoing research, and important conferences, webinars, and podcasts to stay aware of. With so much information readers need to know who they can rely on to learn what they need to know.

We are fortunate to have so many MS organizations and bloggers who are dedicated to furnishing readers with the kind of information that will educate and enlighten them. No one needs to "go it alone" anymore.

I'm lucky to call many of these MS bloggers my friends - some I even spent time with at conferences or on panel discussions - and I'd like to introduce a few who share the honor of being named to Healthline's list. They are all exceptional people and I urge you to check their blogs. I guarantee you'll be glad you did.

While you're at it I hope you'll tool around An Empowered Spirit. Please come back often to read what's new in the world of MS. I promise to do my best to help you manage your journey in a more informed and (of course) empowered manner. Let me know what you think!

Here are some of my friends. Congratulations to all of them!

You can check out the entire list of Healthline's "Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs of 2018" by clicking here.

What Is The Best Way To Thank You?

What is the best way to thank a group of people for helping me achieve a goal? By using what I know how to use best: My words.

No one can succeed in life without the help of others. It's impossible. Movie studios would fold without moviegoers. Books would not become bestsellers without purchasers. Children would not thrive without a supportive community surrounding them.

It really does take a village.

In the world of blogging the same is true. A successful blogger has to provide quality content and share it throughout social media. But their blog would never succeed on its own. Bloggers must engage in communities of bloggers and non-bloggers who, hopefully, become loyal readers.

In those communities the magic begins. New friendships are born and old ones are strengthened. You support each other through comments, shares, likes, tweets and pins. In doing so you're growing each other's audience, and your vision becomes a reality.

“When one person succeeds, we win as a group of people. Support others dreams so we can all win.” ~Bianca Frazier

I've learned a lot about blogging and social media since my first blog post in 2012. What surprised me the most was what I learned about myself a few months after I began to blog. I felt in my heart that I wanted to not only write about midlife, which was my original mission, but to also dedicate myself to helping the Multiple Sclerosis and disability community.

I now know my purpose in life is to help others. I can't explain why doing so makes me feel complete except it simply does. That may sound Pollyanish but so be it. After half a century it was nice to finally become acquainted with myself.

"The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others." Albert Schweitzer

But I wouldn't be able to reach my goals without the guidance, support, enthusiasm, constructive criticism and love from all of you. In these last few weeks of Healthline's Best Health Blog Contest of 2015, despite all of the glitches, I've been overwhelmed by your kindnesses. I am extremely grateful for your support and I thank you.

I dislike contests because there are winners and losers and that never feels right to me. Take a look at all of the nominated blogs at Healthline. Every single one is a winner. Each one is amazing by making a difference to countless people. Kudos to every one of them.

I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me. You were incredible despite the many glitches that happened every single day. It was maddening for all of us and I thank you for sticking with it to get your vote to finally count. You inspire me to keep doing what I do, letting me believe that I must be doing something right. I hope I am.

I'd like to thank a few people in particular whose generosity in sharing the contest, and inspiring me to keep on trying when I wanted to give up, helped me more than they know. You are all amazing people and it's an honor to know you:

Helene Cohen Bludman (Books is Wonderful)
Shelley Zurek (Still Blonde After All These Years)
Kim Jorgensen Gane (GANE Possible)
Theresa Dillman Lennox (Writing Creatively)
Doreen McGettigan (Doreen McGettigan: They say every one has a story...this is Mine)
Denise Gabbard (Denise Gabbard: Helping Businesses Thrive)
Terry Crawford Palardy (Terry's Thoughts and Threads - also nominated. Congrats!)
Gabrielle Seekeley (Thursday's Child Consulting)
Elena Peters (Living with Batman)
Walker Thornton (WalkerThornton.com)
Nancy Hill (Women's Legacy Project)
Joan Bickley Stommen (GramCracker Crumbs)
Julia Miles Robinson (Library Park Dental Julia is working on other projects as well and will return to her own blog soon to write incredible posts!)
Alicia Searcy (Spashionista)
Michelle Poston Combs (Rubber Shoes in Hell)
Lee Gaitan (Lee Gaitan: Just Don't Bounce, Bounce Back)

Last but never least I'd like to thank my mother. She put together her own email list to ask friends and relatives to vote for me. She's always been my biggest fan and the first to privately tell me her thoughts on my work. As a parent I now understand how difficult my diagnosis must have been for her. Thanks, Mom, for your constant love and support. You are an amazing lady.

*My sincere apologies if I inadvertently left any names out.

How You Can Help Me Make A Difference

When I wrote my first blog post back in 2012 I knew I wanted to make a difference by providing support and encouragement to people in the Multiple Sclerosis and disability community. I remembered the isolation and frustration I felt when I was diagnosed in 1986. With no FDA approved medications or Internet to lean on the MS landscape looked very different from today.

At the young age of 28 I was frightened about my future and worried I might never have the happy life I dreamed about.

Fast forward to 2016 and the words I write and advocacy work I do makes a difference to countless readers. If that sounds arrogant believe me when I say it's not. I'm truly humbled by what reader's tell me, their heartfelt words revealing that I must be doing something right. Some say I've inspired them, giving them a reason to keep fighting the difficult fight.

Others say I've provided them with comfort and a renewed sense that there is always hope. And they thank me for my work.

When I won third place for Healthline's Best Health Blog of 2014 it directed many new readers to my blog. It was also a way for a variety of health websites to find out more about me and what I do.

As much as I dislike contests I can't quarrel with the exposure it gave me and for that I am grateful. My mission to help others by spreading awareness and educating readers about Multiple Sclerosis was multiplied tenfold.

So I humbly ask you to head over to Healthline's Best Health Blog of 2015 today to vote for An Empowered Spirit. Scroll down to "Load More" until you see An Empowered Spirit. If you have a Facebook and Twitter account you can quickly vote using both every 24 hours. The contest ends on January 21.

Please help me continue to do the work I chose to do of paying it forward to the MS and disability community.

I thank you for your interest, encouragement and friendship.