MS Insights: It matters to this one!

Everything I know and everything I have learned came thanks to the surprise that life had in store for me: MS (Multiple Sclerosis), a supposedly incurable and degenerative disease. All of what I write, even if it is not specifically related to it, came from the broadening of awareness that I got in and through the process of learning to deal and eventually heal from illness.

I have always had this popular story close to my heart: “While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a young man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die.

But, that is foolish, I said. There are thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference.

He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, “It makes a difference for this one.”

I know I can’t help everyone, but when I can help someone, it makes a difference to them and to me too!