I cherish the quieter pace of the holidays when everything else seems to accelerate. As daylight shortens and nights lengthen, this season naturally invites rest, reflection, and a turning inward. As the year winds down, I seek stillness amid the holiday noise and take time to consider what has been—and what I’ve learned.
This year brought some frightening challenges. In March, after returning from travel abroad, a stomach illness triggered a severe MS attack. For the first time since my MS diagnosis in 2006, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with transverse myelitis. My medical team—both conventional and alternative—suspected that an overactive immune response to the stomach bug led to myelin damage, resulting in complete numbness from my diaphragm downward and other alarming symptoms that left me stunned and in shock.
When shock hits, my instinct is to slow down and search for healing. I intentionally focus on a positive outcome and create the internal conditions that support recovery. That meant cultivating hope, using faith and reflection, and making deliberate choices to protect my energy and attention.
My immediate support network made a critical difference. I retreated into the care of my small, close-knit family—my incredible husband and our two sons, who are 17 and almost 16 at this writing. They intuitively understand when I need privacy and space, and that wordless support has been a lifeline. That external compassion complements the inner work of prayer, reflection, and determined optimism that I practice during difficult times.
Part of my recovery plan involved stepping away from social media. I adopted a strict social media diet because healing requires focus and presence, not curating a public timeline. If you noticed my silence this spring across my channels and this site, that was the reason. For me, healing happens internally rather than as a continuous public performance.
I don’t dwell on setback. My approach is to assess, adapt, and move forward. Still, I want to keep you, my readers, informed and share what helped me through the year. Below is the practical game plan I relied on to navigate this difficult stretch—and to maintain balance when life gets bumpy.
Navigating the Ups and Downs of Life
- Conscious Compartmentalization
- Connect Only with People Who Nourish Me
- Social Media Diet
- Research Bio-Medical Therapies
- Spend Time in Nature
Each item on this list is intentional. Conscious compartmentalization means protecting mental energy by separating medical concerns from daily life tasks so I can focus on recovery when needed. Surrounding myself with people who nourish me—those who offer encouragement instead of fear—helps preserve emotional resilience. A disciplined social media diet allows me to conserve attention for healing. Researching bio-medical therapies gives me options and confidence about treatment choices. Time outdoors—walking, breathing fresh air, and grounding in nature—recharges both body and spirit.
You might have noticed I also paused responding to comments here. I read and appreciate every message, but with roughly 25,000 visitors every day, there’s simply one of me. When I’m recovering, I must choose where to invest my energy.
Looking ahead to the coming year, I plan to share more about the specific strategies and resources that supported my recovery—not to relive trauma, but to offer practical tools. I’ll describe the approaches I’ve researched and used, including natural and conventional options, and how I balance body, mind, and spirit to move forward. Some resources I’ve found helpful are collected below for those who want a head start.
- Natural Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis
- How Busy People Can Slow Down and Listen Within
- The Complete Guide to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Five Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep
Thank you for being part of this online community. Your kindness and patience mean more than I can say. Wishing you a peaceful and restorative season—and a blessed 2016!
Love,
Elana