Friends,   

As we live with MS in Wisconsin, how can we make the winters shorter?  Stay active and keep moving.  How can we do that?  Show up every Wednesday and Friday morning for starters.  Have you been to our website lately and checked out our calendar?  Here’s a link  http://msjustkeepmoving.org/ecwd_calendar/calendar/  As you’ll see on our calendar, there are lots of opportunities to keep moving and have some fun.

Keep in mind that the indoor triathlon training at Westwood will be starting on February 13th.  There’s a sign-up sheet at the gym.  I’d highly recommend and encourage you to sign up and do this event even if you don’t think it would be possible.  There will be volunteers to help you however you might need help.  There’s more information on our calendar on our website.  http://msjustkeepmoving.org/event/triathlon-training/2020-02-13/

How’s your winter going?  For many of us living with MS, our winters can get pretty long.  I’m happy to share some good news with you about me personally.  My foot continues to heal and I’m confident it’s going to keep healing this time.  After the two surgeries I had last year (full knee replacement and bones fused in my foot) I feel I’m closer to walking pain free again.  Now that I’m moving without as much pain again, my MS is behaving much better.  Why am I sharing this with you?  Just to let you know that it’s easier for me to make progress with my MS when I’m not in so much pain cause by orthopedic conditions.  It’s critical we keep moving.  Believe it or not, this winter is going pretty fast for me this year.  It’ll be spring and we’ll be riding bikes outside together before we know it.

I’ve been riding outside already and enjoying it.  I’m so thankful!

Cal was in Marquette Michigan riding bike and snow shoeing last week too.  Check out the pictures he shared with me.  Thanks for sharing Cal!  Beautiful!

Hills are your friend in the winter time too, aren’t they Cal?  Keep going!

Mike Helbig went outside and took a picture of the beautiful snowfall we had the other day and shared it with me.  You’d think we’re all enjoying the wither this year, wouldn’t you?  We are!

Hopefully by sharing these experiences, you’ll enjoy the winter a little more as well.

Let’s share!  A few weeks back Suzanne asked if we could start a sharing group.  This would be a group that we share gadgets, ideas and experiences of things that have helped us living with MS.  Let’s get together Friday @ 11:30 in the lunch room and see what kind of ideas we can share.  Living with MS is challenging.  Perhaps we can make it a little easier for some by sharing.

I’d highly recommend you sign up the MS Bike ride August 1^st and 2^nd.  You can do that by clicking here.  Once you sign up, there’s a motivational factor that kicks in and helps us get prepared for it.  We want you on our team…we have fun!

We’ll be getting together again Wednesday @ 11:30 for our prayer group.  We’ll be giving thanks to God for our blessings and praying however God leads us.  Wow!  I’m hearing some powerful comments about this time together.  Prayers are being answered weekly…thank you God!  Feel free to join us.  If you need to come in a little early to get your exercise in before this starts, feel free to do so.

Let’s “Just Keep Moving” again in 2020.  It doesn’t matter where we start.  We can all start with laughing which is great exercise in itself.  Other than that, we start with the body parts that will move and keep moving them as much as we can.  Let them rest and then move them again.

I know there are still many of us going through other life challenges in addition to our challenges with MS.  Let’s stick together, keep our chins up and keep sharing our journey.  Better days are ahead.  For those of you who haven’t been able to make it by us on Wednesdays and Fridays lately, please know you are missed and in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope you’re able to make it back soon!

I hope you’ll join us both Wednesday and Friday again this week.   Remember…consistency is key.  With MS, it takes a lot of consistent effort every day to make small improvements.  Yes, it’s frustrating so be patient and consistent and you’ll be amazed how your quality of life will continue to improve.  It’s been about 17 years of exercising just about every day for me and I’m still making improvements (encouragement, love, support, nutrition and proper rest help immensely too).  It takes time so please be patient.  It sure is better than MS getting worse.  I really don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t do this (nor do I want to find out).  I’m so thankful you are all joining me on this journey of making progress with our MS and quality of life…THANK YOU!  We’ll continue to learn together…there’s so much power in the love and support we all share with each other.

In the past, I’ve been telling you to bring a friend.  Unfortunately, we’re going to need to start a waiting list for new people.  Please feel free to continue to share your experience and what we’re doing together.  Let me know of anyone who would like to join us.  I’ll communicate with these people through e-mail or phone and help them any way I can.  When we have room for them to join us, I’ll encourage them to do that.  If you’ve joined us in the past, please continue to join us.

We are here to help you and anyone with MS…no strings attached (well maybe an occasional story about the progress you’re making, smile, high five or a hug).  I remember how challenging life used to be when my MS was bad.  I get great joy sharing what I’ve learned and feel blessed with the progress I’ve made.  I hope you make progress in some way too!

Place:  W228N791 Westmound Dr.
Waukesha, WI

When:  Wednesday morning from 9:30am – 12:30pm (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)
Friday morning from 9:30am – 12:30pm  (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)

Dan Erschen

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