I got an email from Shift.MS just now as I was doing some work and remembered how when I was first diagnosed I reached out to get a Buddy. It kind of blew me away because that was back in 2019, before the world went through what it did. And I sat here a few minutes wondering 'hey, how did I come through it all and be in an even make it to a better place than before? huh?" I've also been thinking alot about community - about how we, as people, only survive and live because of others. With everything that happened these last few years I am reminded again and again how "I am because you are". So I wanted to also reach out in intentional ways to be part of communities, and even perhaps help in building our resilience in this hectic world. So that's been on my mind anyway when I saw the email. I have been through quite an MS journey - I quit a very nice job that earned me very nice money (twice in two years), suffered the hell of Avonex on my body, got very immobile, had to do a charcoal flush (and cried helplessly like a dying animal - i can be rather dramatic), got thrown off a clinical trial because of a false positive TB test, started my own business (even though I was freaking SCARED), got very angry at "my MS", and then.... found my way, gently, slowly, to where I am now: very happy and content and at peace with all of myself, even MS, living a joyful life. Also not bad that I can walk on beautiful Cape beaches every day. the Shift.MS network is part of that. Will be forever thankful. Much gratitude and appreciation to everyone in this!