I recently wrote this piece for the MS Society of Canada, so I thought I’d share it with you here! And as a bonus, here’s a fall-themed “You Are Not Alone” tech download. Enjoy!

My whole life I prided myself on my independence. I set goals. I worked hard. I accomplished them. It wasn’t like I made a conscious decision to block others out, but I did. Every time I chose to go through something on my own. Every time I refused to ask to for help. Every time I did my own thing, I sent the message, “I don’t need your help. I can do it on my own.”

One year ago my world was turned upside down as I sat nervously in a small examination room and listened to the doctor relay the words I was dreading, “Kim, you have MS.”

I was devastated. Confused. Broken. What was I supposed to do now? I braced myself for what I believed was going to be one of the hardest, darkest seasons of my life. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and I was terrified.

I recognized I had a choice to make; I could choose to live my life in independence, holding this new diagnosis close to my chest and away from the rest of the world, or I could open myself up, allowing people to walk alongside me, support me, and help carry me as I journeyed into the unknown.

One by one I began to let people in on my journey. I began to open up and tell my story, experience their support, and before I knew it I was wading through this mucky mess of a disease with people all around me. I was not alone.

I expected this last year to be one of the hardest, darkest seasons of my life, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. As I’ve opened up myself to the people around me, I’ve experienced one of the most life giving, encouraging seasons of my life so far. As a community of people has rallied around me in love and support, I am reminded that I do need help, every single day. I am reminded that I am not alone.

This past weekend I participated in Muck MS in Chilliwack, BC. I was surrounded by some of my closest friends, members of the MS community who I’ve met over the past year, and hundreds of others who united together in the fight against MS.

Our Muck MS Team – Saturday, October 3rd, 2015.

Your presence and participation in events like Muck MS impact far more than you may ever understand. It’s not solely about the money we raise for MS care and research; it extends far further than that. Long after the funds are spent, the cheers of spectators still ring in my ears. The high fives from fellow participants still bring a smile to my face; and I’m still experiencing the presence of friends, family and strangers who chose to stand alongside me and remind me that those who fight MS don’t have to do it alone.

The truth is, we all need help. We can’t do it on our own. All you have to do is take a good look around at the masses of mud-runners, volunteers and cheering squads to see it. We’re wading through this muck together, and we’re better for it. 

You can download this graphic for FREE for your desktop, iphone or ipad as a daily reminder that you are not alone. 

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