Tag: Multiple sclerosis
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Chosen Suffering
“I did not choose pain. I chose where it lives.” – Viktor Frankl Passion comes from the Latin passio. It means suffering. Enduring. What you are willing to undergo.”I did not choose pain. I chose where it lives.” Somewhere along the way, we softened it. Today, following your passion usually means following what feels good.…
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Crabs in the Bucket
If you are unfamiliar with the idea, the crab bucket metaphor is simple. Crabs placed in a bucket could easily escape if they acted independently. But when one crab starts to climb out, the others pull it back down. The result is predictable. No one gets out. This behavior shows up everywhere. In the workplace.…
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Coach Joe
“No one ever steps into the same river twice.” – Heraclitus I have taken on a new role recently. Coach. I have always been the guy people ask before, during, and after class. It felt natural. People saw me as someone who understands the game and can explain it in a way that helps. My…
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Why me?
I’ve seen no scientific data to prove this, but I’m positive that everyone diagnosed with MS has the same first thought: Why me? I remember thinking it wasn’t fair. Fair is such a bizarre concept. We’re taught early on that if we work hard and do the right things, life will reward us. But life…
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Rolling With MS: What My Training Partners Don’t Know
September 2021 I slap hands, bump fists, and start moving. To them, it’s just another roll. To me, it’s another battle against a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Most of my training partners don’t know what it feels like to roll with MS. They don’t know that some days my legs feel like they’re full…
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“Gift” what Richard Pryor taught me.
I’ve always loved comedy, especially the kind that pushes boundaries. As a kid, I didn’t fully understand Richard Pryor’s perspective, but his raw energy and sharp wit captivated me. Later in life, his story took on a deeper meaning because the same disease that stole his gift is the one trying to take mine. Saturday…
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Grappling With Multiple Sclerosis
My name is Joe, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2003. I was 27 years old, just two months away from my wedding. My body betrayed me, and I had no idea that years later, I’d be stepping onto a BJJ mat, learning to fight in a whole new way. Multiple sclerosis is…