MS Challenge

I reached 200 activities with a few extra days (months). I officially completed the 200 day MS Challenge in April 2018. This was not the EXACT goal I was reaching for, but the way I look at it, it’s like running a marathon – I didn’t make my desired time, but I finished. Not that I know anything about running a marathon. 

The other day I sat down and scrolled through the list of activities completed. I am so grateful for the places I travelled to, the meals and calories I devoured, the laughter shared and for the invention of credit cards.

When I begun this journey, I didn’t know what to expect. I simply wanted to get out more and try new experiences while making a small difference. I never thought it would change me like it did. For example, it changed my walk the day after the Barre class. 

There were times that I felt ‘stuck’ or too busy. Then on November 25, 2017, Peter Fordham – the creator of the 200 day MS Challenge, contacted me via this blog and expressed his gratitude and offered some motivation. Peter informed me that he continues to vigorously exercise to help keep his MS at bay and raise funds for the MS society. This was exactly what I needed to push me to the finish line (whoops, another running reference… people are soon going to think I enjoy running). 

The people I shared these experiences with were the highlight. Almost every activity was joined by others. Except the spa… there I was simply trying to escape people.

I’m glad my friends are just as quirky as I am such as these instances:

• Laughed until I cried with a good friend at Potted Potter
• Cuddled with a friend in -30 degree weather while dogs zig zagged through the mountains pulling us on a sled
• Pretended I did not know my friend who crawled across the Olympic Park skating rink when she should have been skating 
• Watched the Backstreet Boys jump up onto the bar for an impromptu concert at the Paris Night Club in Vegas
• Bluffed my way through a friend’s husband’s art viewing 
• Escaped an abandoned asylum (Escape Room) with possibly a little pee in my pants

I can’t forget about the many moments shared with my family like:

• Practiced my downward dog pose next to a baby goat for a cousin’s Bachlorette Party
• Indulged in rum tasting in Hawaii with my Mom
• Blended in at Regina Folk Festival with my brother
• Attended a Hitman hockey game with my sister in law who was worried about the hockey players’ well-being
• Watched my niece experience her first Rodeo
• Accompanied my grandparents to Banff for their first time in years

There were some events that were not all they were cracked up to be like:

• Glow Downtown Winter Lights Festival – still trying to figure that one out YYC. Let’s just say Niagara Falls Festival of Lights has you beat
• Hockey Night at Point and Feather Pub – the date was the problem, not the event
• YYC Cookiedough – yummy dry cookiedough
• Galentine’s Event – The free spa products were nice, but I would have preferred a man
• Calgary Corn Maze – We could see the end point over top of the corn and I am not a tall person

There are so many more memories I could list, but you really need to stop reading and get back to work…

Canada may have the highest rate of MS in the world, but we also have some pretty determined people. So I encourage each and every one of you to take advantage of the events occurring in your area, experience something new, take that trip you’re contemplating and find those leisure pursuits that define you; that simply make you feel good – wow this should be printed onto a canvas for your kitchen wall.

With your help I donated $300.00 to the MS Society of Canada!! 

So just do it! (not a Nike ad depending on where you sit with the Colin Kaepernick controversy…) 

#ENDMS

Yes, I am officially back… stories to come!! Stay smiling  and thank you for your continued support