Friends,
No Regrets Event
It was heartwarming being at the No Regrets Event at the gym with so many other great people on Saturday.
One speaker that really resignated with many of us was Pastor Brady Boyd. Brady spoke about words. He spoke about how powerful words are when used for good and how devastating they are when used negatively. He made the point that we can choose our choice of words carefully as to not hurt other people. He also made the point of how we can make people feel good with our choice of words.
Until we can walk a mile in another personson shoes and totally understand how they are feeling from their perspective, let’s not be judgemental and let’s choose kind and loving words. We won’t have any regrets if we do this. After all, this was a “No Regrets” conference. 😊
Research opportunity
Here’s another research opportunity from Marquette University you can participate in if you have a disability. Research is so critical for all of us. I hope you will engage in this if your able. Here’s the link: https://marquette.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0PXVS4y5CLl7Q9w
Day of Endurance 2024 – August 24, 2024
Just to share, I turned in my longest training distance of each event I’m training for to Kate this week for my first two week period. I’m really happy to share that I was able to walk 6 miles and felt better after it than I did after two miles last year. I swam for an hour and my legs were cramping by the time I finished. I rode bike easy for about four hours through the No Regrets event. It was nice using that time for a long ride this early in the year. I felt good after it. With all the challenges I’ve had with my MS the past 20+ years, I’m feeling better this year than any other year. I contibute this to training for the day of endurance last year and then maintaining on the trampoline after the event. I’m really looking forward to this year’s journey.
Tom Holtackers shared his progress so far too. As you remember from last year, Tom turned 80 years old and was bed ridden for a year and half prior. Last year at this time, he committed to doing the Day of Endurance in Minnesota on a UBE machine (Upper Body Extension). He started out being able to do less than a mile at this time last year. He worked is way up to doing 15 miles on the Day of Endurance. This year he is going for 20 miles and was able to do 5 miles already this year and ran out of time. He says he could have done more. Way to go Tom!
Tom will be doing a presentation on Learned Dependency (Helplessness) and Using activities of daily living as exercise at the gym via zoom from Minnesota on Friday. I hope you will join us for that.
It’s really important that we’re active and we enjoy the journey of training for the Day of Endurance…preferably together. I hope you can find some workout friends to enjoy this journey with. It can be others with MS, neighbors, family members, movie stars, it doesn’t matter. It really only takes one other person to have show up and do whatever you’re going to do each day together. You can pick different people different days.
Let’s make this a recreational adventure. A social adventure. A rewarding experience. And… “share” it. So, let’s start inviting friends and family members to join us on this journey and have some fun with it.
Please share your progress with Kate. Kate and Mike are working together to come up with a way to share our progress all year this year. I hope you’ll engage in the journey and make progress yourself.
Bowling Tournament – We still need bowlers!
Good news! The Sunday lanes are full! We still need bowlers for some of the Saturday lanes.
Our first annual MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc. bowling tournament will be on February 24 / 25th. It’s going to be fun!
Please consider bowling with us and inviting your family and friends. THANK YOU to all who are bowling and volunteering!
For more information, please contact Bob Brandemuehl @ bandebeagles@wi.rr.com
Cardio and Balance Programs
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. I like that word “together” 😊. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the cardio class on Wednesday to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
Wednesdays 10-10:30am: Cardio exercise
Location: in the big room using aerobic equipment in front of big TV
Pick your favorite piece of equipment to use, bring a water bottle, and arrive a few minutes early to get the equipment set up to your height.
10:30 – 11:45am Tai Chi led by Ricky
Fridays: Balance training & Core strengthening and Spin Classes
9:30am – 10:00am: Spin Class in front room led by Mike Beiermeister. Bikes are limited so this will be first come first served.
10-10:30 am: seated balance class
10:30 – 11am: standing balance class
Pick the class / classes you feel most able and comfortable participating in. We will have chairs set up to sit on and/or use for balance support.
Email Kate at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike Ride
It’s going to be too cold this Friday…no ride. Let’s work hard indoors all winter so we’re ready to ride again in the spring.
Educational Sessions
Friday, February 9th 11:00am – Noon. Tom Holtackers will be doing a presentation on Learned Dependency (Helplessness) and Using activities of daily living as exercise.
Friday, February 16th 11:00am – noon. Becky Thomas and Gayle Caya will be doing a presentation on safe transfers.
Friday, February 23 11:0am – Noon. Meg Walker who is a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor exercises which help our core strength, bladder issues, etc. Meg will be here to teach us some of these exercises
Friday, March 8th 11:00 – noon. Rob Multerer, President of the National MS Society – Wisconsin Chapter will be here with a couple of board members to discuss the National MS Society.
Future topics could include: emotional health, nutrition, yoga, tai chi, wellness topics, safe use of gym equipment for your body, best exercise for you and more. What topics would you like to see? Please let Kate, Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. I hope you’ll join us!
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday @ 11:00am.
I just love the way we share, pray and laugh together while we witness prayers being answered weekly. It’s truly amazing!
Thanks goes to God and to everyone that joins us. Let’s get together to share, listen, talk, give thanks, and pray however God leads us.
MS-Just Keep Caring – Our Caregivers support group will be the first and third Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30am. The next one will be Friday, February 16, 2024. If you’re a caregiver of someone you love with MS, please join us and share your experience of caring for your loved one. This has been very helpful for many. Thanks to all who participate!
Our Facebook page is private. That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress. We’re now up to 473 members. That’s awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Our Facebook page is very active and fun. Lots of people are doing more and sharing their journey on Facebook. Feel free to join, post and share your experiences and comments.
There were some awesome pictures, videos and comments shared again this past week. Thank you to all who are sharing!
Thai Massage with Ricky Heldt
Ricky will be here Wednesday and Friday doing Thai Massage.
Many continue making great progress with chronic pain relief, range of motion, walking better and a new sense of hope when Ricky works with them. Please keep in mind that consistency is key. Not only with Ricky…with exercise too. We need consistency to realize the benefits long term. We want you to have long term benefits and relief.
Ricky has a sign up board based on first come first serve. You can pick the time slot that works for you. I highly encourage you to take advantage of Ricky’s Thai Massages each day and sign up for your time slot as soon as you get there.
Reiki with Linda Linda will be here on Fridays doing Reiki. Many people say Linda’s Reiki work is “magical”. We’re thankful for Linda sharing her gifts and talents with us. Feel free to let Linda know you’d like to do Reiki with her. She also has a sign up sheet.
Inspirational Humor with Adam Wollert
We’ll be having our inspirational humor zoom call with Adam again next Tuesday. Adam is a gift to all of us. Thanks to all who joined us today!
Please join us if you can.
Tuesdays @ 1:30PM
Here’s the link to join us…I hope you do!
Join Zoom Meeting with this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9431389152?pwd=bWlYbFNaazVnM1M1cWxWMitlODdXUT09
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152
Passcode: 3qP2hu
Phone: 1-312-626-6799
Let’s reach out
I encourage you to share a smile and encouragement with someone. Perhaps you could call someone that you have not talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they are doing. We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.
MS is tough. Let’s have faith, remain calm, be flexible, help each other and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day as we make good choices.
Let’s keep moving, loving and smiling 😊
In God We Trust…we are in good hands.
Dan
P.S. This past week, I got out for a walk with Cal in Delafield. We saw a Sandhill Crane that forgot to fly south for the winter.
The ducks that are hanging out there are beautiful.
This one was walking like it was on top of the world.
We found a nice milkweed plant along the river too.
I also got a tip from a friend that there were some Goldeneye diving ducks in Oconomowoc so I thought I would see if I could find them. I found them but they were pretty far out there.
They’re beautiful birds too. It was fun watching them dive. All of a sudden, they would all be under water.
We had a visitor knocking on our porch door this week.
I’m thinking he liked his reflection in the widow. He was there for several hours pecking at our window.
He would also strut his stuff out in our yard. Beautiful bird!
For those who can’t get out and enjoy nature due your challenges with MS…my heart is with you. You are with me every time I’m out there. I enjoy being out there and I also enjoy sharing with you. I know how hard it is not to be able to get out and enjoy nature. Let’s enjoy nature and God’s beauty together this way.