Ms Warrior 46: Robert Anderson navigating the Hardest Days

[I wouldn’t even wish you’d understand. I just wish that God had a better plan. I’m so confused. I need a redo. A redo. There’s something that’s inside of me that’s begging and begging and pleading. I just want to feel free. I just want to feel lovely. I’m surrounded by love that’s in pain. Can I wipe your tears away? Please don’t hurt me. I hate that it’s for me. I hate that it’s for me.

Hi, welcome back to the MS Michigan Man 64 podcast. My name is Brian. I am the MS Michigan Man 64. In 1992, I was playing football at the University of Michigan in the 1992 Rose Bowl against Washington. And then five years later, I get diagnosed with MS, a chronic disease that will never go away. There’s no cure for it right now. I talk about my journey, how I’ve been living with this for the last 28 years.

And I talk with other chronic disease warriors all over the world just to try to help people understand what it’s like going through that diagnosis, the mental health part of it, the family part of it, the employment part of it. Today I am talking to a person with MS from the state of North Carolina. I met Robert on TikTok a couple months ago. I love everything this guy’s about. He was diagnosed with his MS just in 2023, so he’s really new to the disease, but the way he is attacking it is just badass.

I mean, this guy’s in the weight room. I watch his videos cheering him on, and I just love the way he’s fighting the fight, and he wanted to come on and talk about his journey. Please welcome to the podcast, Robert. How you doing today, Robert? I’m good. Nice to see everybody. Nice to meet everybody. Hey, good to good to see you, Robert. Like, when I when I seen you on TikTok and I, you know, I seen you in the weight room, Robert.

That was the first video I seen of you and I saw that you had MS and I just seen the way you were attacking it and I’m like, man, this guy’s he’s got the right attitude and you were just diagnosed in 23. Kind of take us through what was going on in your life at that time, Robert. that made you go to the doctor, the red flags that popped up, the symptoms that popped up, and then doc the doctor’s telling you that you had MS, buddy.

Okay. Well, for starters, I’ve worked I worked for Campbell Soup for almost 20 years. And in the last two years that I was working, I started having fatigue and leg issues, my left leg, and didn’t know what it was, but I’d be working towards the end of my shift, my leg is so tired, and then my foot starting to drag. I went to the doctor cuz I was worried and they were telling me that it was acute foot drop was coming on and some leg weakness.

But at the time they were telling me it was coming from overwork. I worked so much. I worked a lot of hours and going over the type of hours I was working. They were like, “You’ve been working too much.” They were like, “You need to take some time off.” They gave me a month out of work. So once I took that month off and they put me on some steroid treatment and within about a month I was good.

I’m walking a good I’m walking well again and I’m back at work. I’m fine. I don’t know nothing’s going on. So I’m thinking everything is all right but it really wasn’t. That’s when it led up and I start to experience things again and I’m like am I going through the same stuff again? And that’s when I started to realize it’s more to it. And so did they end up ordering an MRI?

I mean, how did how did it come to the doctors telling you that yeah, you got MS, bud? Well, they did do an MRI, but how it came to that, I was at work and I want to say it was August the 6th and I was washing my hands at the end of my shift. I was working QA for the last five years on third shift and when I washed my hands at the end of my shift, I noticed my fingertips were numb.

And that kind of was weird to me. I washed my hands so much in the lab. I’m like, why are my fingertips numb? And I went home and actually I went straight to the doctor to the ER because I was I don’t like this. I’m worried about it. go to the ER, they get me in the back. They’re doing a workup for a stroke. they were like, “We think you had a stroke.” And that was the first thing they told me.

And they doing all these different tests. Then they had me speak with the doctor outside of the hospital online and they went through everything. They were like, “Well, we don’t think you had a stroke cuz everything else is normal.” They told me, “Let me go home, but they put in for me to be off of work for a week.” And I sent that in. So, I said, “Well, within a week I’ll be able to come back.” Well, turns out I never actually went back.

I ended up having to go back to the doctor because I woke up and I went to go to the restroom and I fell. I had never fallen. And I don’t know what happened. I like fell on the wall. But that’s when I noticed that my leg was really weak and I kept trying to get up and I noticed like you’re woozy. All kind of stuff is going on with you right now.

So I actually called EMS and had them come and get me. And being carried out the stretcher was scary, but I knew something was serious and I had to get something looked at and find out what was going on. when I got to the hospital, I was they was transporting me in a wheelchair at that time. when I get to the hospital, whatever, I talked to one doctor in particular and he was like, “I really think it’s something more serious than what they were saying a few days ago because you didn’t have a stroke, but you’re going through all this other stuff.” And he actually told me, he said, “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m kind of leaning towards you.

Could be MS.” He said, “I don’t know if you know anything about it.” He said, “But I want to do MRIs and stuff on you. We want to [unclear].” He said, “You do what you’re supposed to do. We’re going to do what we’re supposed to do. We want to follow up.” And that’s what they did. He came in the room and talked to me and my mother and they was like, “We’re going to get some answers and we’ll come in the morning and give y’all the results.” Sure enough, they came in that morning and they said, “It’s official.

It is exactly what we thought it was. He has MS and that was going over the MRIs and all.” And he actually I didn’t have a lot of understanding. I have a first cousin who has MS Okay. All right. I mean when I was 27 and I got told that I had MS and then you know I mean I understood what it was but I didn’t understand the disease. I was scared.

Robert, I mean at 38 years old and you’re 12 years into a career with Campbell Soup. I mean were you scared when you when you figured out, you know, hey, I got something that’s chronic. It’s never going to go away. I was terrified because I’m a hard worker. I’ve worked all my life and I’ve devoted myself to helping people and doing work, you know. So, to know that this is something chronic that I don’t know if I’m going to be able to go back to work.

It really scared me. I have a cousin that had a first cousin that has MS, but she was she’s real secretive about it. So I never knew any much on it and everybody knows what MS is different from person to person. So you may not have the same kind of symptoms. So just being diagnosed and knowing what it was scary. Yeah. So when you did they when they told you that you had MS and I ask people this all the time and usually the answer is no was and this is really frustrating for me when you got told that you had MS.

Was anything mentioned about the mental part of it like saying you know hey this is a chronic disease this is going to be with you this is going to be a strain a stress and you really need to take care of your mental health. Was that ever said to you during that diagnosis? No, no. See, I have a problem with that, man. I you know, it wasn’t really brought up with me.

And I tell everybody that’s new like you, you know, I mean, the physical part sucks. I’ve been doing this 28 years, but God, man, take care of the mental part of it because that’s the hardest part. And, you know, and I don’t think I don’t think they tell you that in the beginning a lot of times, you know, they’re like, “Okay, we’re going to get you on a DMT and we’re going to take care of you and all that, but they don’t say, you know, make sure you take care of the mental part of this disease because it’s going to play a lot of games with your Yeah.

I was just curious. So, how did how did how did it affect you mentally and how are you dealing with that? It was a whole toll on me mentally because when you notice things that are different about you and you’re like wow because it hit it’s like everything hit at once because I’m literally working up to this happened and I’m like what’s going on with me? I’m out on short-term disability, mind you.

And I immediately started losing weight. I got spasticity in my hands immediately. And when it happened, my hands curled up and I couldn’t open my hands. And that lasted for about a month. And then I realized that weakness was terrible. I couldn’t hold a pot. And if you know me, I love to cook. So, not being able to hold a pot and cook or hold your plate, it was it took so much of a toll out of me.

And then losing all that weight was I was about 198 lbs and I dropped down to 174 lbs in a matter of about a month and a half. And I literally thought I was dying. I remember my last appointment was actually a more encouraging one because my PCP had dealt with so many people with MS and she knew people in her family with MS. So, she was positive and it was uplifting for me.

So, talking with her and I was talking about how much weight I was losing, am I dying? And that’s when she started to encourage me. She was like, you’re not dying. She said, but I got a question. what are you doing physically? She said because I know you loved working out. I worked out 30 years just about. So I’m like that’s part of my life. And she was like so what do you do now?

I said I’m not working out or nothing. She was like I said I was told I couldn’t work out anymore. And she was like that’s not true. She said you can work out and it’s actually good for you. It helps with the body and it helps with the muscles retaining some strength and or rebuilding strength in your muscles so you’re not completely weak. So that made a lot of sense to me.

She said you’re going to have to tailor your workouts, but I encourage you to go ahead back to the gym. For one is your passion. She said this disease is going to take a toll on you mentally. She said, “So being able to go back to your passion takes a load of stress off of you. You’re not even thinking about that. You’re able to work out and do something that you love.” So I took her advice and I immediately went back to the gym.

I would say by the end of the year in 23, I had gained my weight back. I was at 203 lbs. And I was just so ecstatic cuz I’m like I’m doing what I love and I actually gained back weight back. So I realized I wasn’t dying. And my brother had helped me. He had u shipped in food for me where I wouldn’t have to cook. He was like you just freeze these and then you cook them.

He put them in the microwave and you can eat these whole meals for every part of the day. He said, “Now, I want you to continue doing this until you’re filling up to cooking and stuff again.” So, I did that and got back into working out and it just it worked tremendously for me and for me being the type of person that I am working at Campbell Soup, I was in leadership for probably 17 years.

So I work with thousands of people and I interact with so many younger people as well, older as well but younger people and they always felt comfortable coming to me and talking to me about stuff because I’m one of those people who will give advice who will talk and listen and I understood that was like one of my callings of being there for other people. I’ve always done it. So, that was something that I would do.

So, it made me feel better to be able to work out and talk to other people because people in the gym were coming to me like when different people would meet me, they were like, “I didn’t even know you were sick. I didn’t know you had anything because I’m working out.” They was like, “Your body looks great.” I’m like, “God be the glory, but I’m working.” That’s all I can say. I’m putting in the work.

I love that. You know, I love that attitude. Robert, I you know, I was the same way when I was 27 and I went through my diagnosis. I was I was I was a gym rat. You know, I just done I just finished a triathlon and I went through my diagnosis. And I asked my doctor the exact same question. I’m like, “Doc, do I got to shut it down in the weight room?

Man, I love working out. It’s been my life.” And he said the same thing to me. He goes, “Brian, no, you do not have to shut it down.” He goes, “You’re going to have to change the way you work out. you’re not going to be able to work out like you used to. He said, “But and your body’s going to tell you when you can’t do something.” He said, “But yeah, exercise is so important.” And I hear a lot of people tell like say the same thing, you know, like they think that they can’t do anything after that diagnosis, but I mean it is I think movement is so important and I’m sure that working out probably helped you gain your function back in your hands.

Yeah. I because movement is just so important. Robert, it is I try to tell people all the time. So, let me ask you this. When you when you I know you’re only a couple years in, how did what road did they take you down the DMT route? Immediately, I will say I feel I was blessed. I got a u a neurologist. He was younger. He’s actually younger than me. But I remember him telling me, he said, “We got to be aggressive.” He said, “And the fact that you’re doing the work and you’re putting in your part.” He said, “I want to do mine.” He said, “I want to start you on Ocrevus.” And I didn’t know anything about the medicine.

And he said, “I’m telling you this because in the beginning, the insurance and all is going to say, hey, we want to start him on a cheaper medicine and just see how he reacts and then change accordingly.” He said, “I don’t want to do that.” He said, “I would like to be more aggressive and get a more expensive medicine that I know does work.” He said, “Let you try that out and see how that reacts to your body.” He said, “I’ll fight for you.” He said, “It’s just that I don’t want to start at a lower rate medicine that’s not going to do the job and you keep having to go through the process of changing DMTs.” So, we did that.

The first time they rejected and immediately he appealed it. He was like, “No, I want to start here. I don’t want to start lower grade.” He said he needs a better medicine. And that worked and I’ve loved it. I haven’t had any issues with Ocrevus as of now. the only issue I’ve ever had was the very first infusion. I started itching and immediately they gave me something for that. And other than that, I never had anything else again.

That’s awesome. You know what I’m You know what I’m hearing that I love what you just told me, Robert, is that your doctor fought for you. I think that is awesome because I hear a lot of neurologists, you know, they don’t do that for their patients and that doctor had a game plan. He went over it with you. He told you what would happen. That I like that, man. That’s a good neuro there, you know, and I think that’s important to have a neuro that you like and you trust.

I that’s that’s really and I’m glad that Ocrevus is working for you, you know, that because that’s a journey in itself. I know when I first start when I first started out there were only three DMTs and my first one was Avonex and it made me sick as hell and I went to my doctor and he switched me you know I mean you got to advocate for yourself and find Yeah. Find the DMT that works for you with your body.

Absolutely. So let me ask you this, Robert. you know 38 years old you already had kids and a fam like talk to me about your family support and the importance of that family support you know going through that diagnosis their understanding of it and how they are there for you well that’s that was a good and a bad thing I went through a divorce right before I was diagnosed But some of the symptoms has started showing up already and foot drop was one of them and a pain in my not a pain but it was like a glob in my cheek and didn’t know what it was. it was a nerve issue and going through the divorce.

I didn’t know then, but I realized later in talking to the doctors, it was a stress from that, which helped bring out the symptoms and all. And so that’s when it started coming to a head. But outside of that, my kids are phenomenal. I’ve always been close with my kids. My father was never in my life. So, it was important for me. I’m going to be the best father that they could ask for.

You know, no matter what, no matter the circumstances, I’m always going to be a great father. And I’ve always instilled that in my kids as well. So, the fact that they understand and we talk about everything. when they see me stumble, when they’re seeing that I’m weak, they’re immediately there. They’re helping, you know, and it just feels good to have your kids show up for you like you would for them. And they’re like, when they say things like, “Dad, you keep pushing anyway.” They were like, “Yeah, you may stumble sometimes.

You may use the cane at times. you know, when I’m feeling extra weak or I’m tired or I’m moving for a long time, I’m I’mma carry my cane. Other than that, I try to walk here as much as possible. But they’re so encouraging and they’re always there and they jump in. Hey, you need me to carry this, you need me to move that, you know, and that kind of stuff. It goes far for you.

You know, when you see that you raise your kids the right way, that encourages you and keep and even in the gym, that motivates me because I love working with my kids. So, you’ll see videos where I work out with my kids when they’re in town. And they love it. And they always say, “Dad, I want to be as strong as you.” I said, “No, I want you to be stronger than I got.” I said, “I want I want you to do your best, you know, and just the fact that they love working out with me and going out with me, all kind of stuff they just like to do with me, that’s encouraging.

That just keeps me upbeat about it.” Yep. And they’re learning about the disease, too. You know, when I when my kids were young and they were and they were like growing up, I tried to teach them what MS was, you know, so that they weren’t afraid of the disease. You know, if they see dad if they see dad fall, I didn’t want them to freak out. So, I kind of like I made it into a joke.

I’m like, “Hey, just make sure make sure dad’s okay and then you can you can laugh at me and you can grade me on my falls.” You know, right? I didn’t want them to be scared. And I just think that is so important to have that bond with your kids and you know and that’s what you have. I have that with my kids. And you said something else that I think is really important that I think people need to hear because it was something that took me about 10 years to figure out with my MS.

Stress is a killer. Stress will cause you to go into flares. It’ll cause you to go into episodes. I you could have you could have you could have set a clock on my MS. Every year the stress of the holidays I would have an episode like every 12 months I would I would be in the and I finally figured that out 10 years into my disease. I’m like man you got to avoid stress at all costs.

And I know that’s hard that’s hard to do but I mean you got to figure you got to figure something out to do to use as a stress relief and working out for me. Yeah. We definitely relate there. Yeah. So, tell me like what it I know the community that we met in on TikTok. I use that as a tool, Robert. I love that community. I met you on there. I met just about everybody that I have recorded a podcast episode on TikTok. and I love everything about it. talk a little bit about that community, how you’re using it, how you’re meeting people, and what you think of that community.

Personally love TikTok. I actually got on TikTok, I want to say in 22, and I got on it because my wife at the time, she was on it, and I’m like, well, let me do something to interact with you more, you know. But getting on TikTok and finding the community, it’s the knowledge of it for one. there’s so much I didn’t know about the disease and I wanted to know. I’m a I’ve always been into the books and smart.

I love to learn stuff. So immediately when I found out about it, I started educating myself because I think that’s power. You need that. So I on TikTok I noticed that you could Google pretty much you could put in MS or anything about MS you find out so much and that is so powerful. just being able to interact with people on MS has just been life-changing. I’m a part of so many groups and we’ll get together and get on lives together all the time and that it’s therapeutic for me.

Been able to talk to others in the community that suffer from the same type disease that you suffer from is game-changing. I mean, for one, I see others who can’t walk, who can’t do a lot of things that I’m still able to do, and it encourages me even the more to put forth more effort. You know, keep going because this person over here would love to be able to do what you’re doing right now.

I know you’re in pain, but I always say, “If I can do it, I’m going to do it.” It’s crazy because you can be in pain, but once I start moving and I start working or moving and working out or whatever, I start to feel better and I’m like, just get up and do it. Do what you can. It makes me grateful and thankful that I’m able to get up and do it because there’s others who can’t.

So when I see other videos of people in wheelchairs and rollers and stuff, it makes me grateful that I’m not at this point. And it makes me want to push myself even more. And on top of not just me, meeting other people with MS has been a really big thing for me because my heart always goes out to people. Always has. So meeting younger people with MS who were scared about the disease and were like lashing out and wanted to take their life, all kind of stuff.

That allowed me to reach out to them personally and talk to them one on one about things they were trouble with, what they were scared about, letting them know. I several of them have my number where you can call me directly if you need someone to talk to. And I love that because if nothing else, it makes me feel good that I’m able to help the next person. Even if there’s no cure in my lifetime, the fact that it could be in your life, I love that.

So that keeps me going. You know, I thrive on TikTok. I look forward to getting on TikTok just about every day and talking to people that I have met two and three years ago. And I’m 56 years old. You know, I was no social media guy, but I mean that community is unbelievable. I’m 28 years 28 years into this disease. I didn’t know anybody personally for first 12 years. And then I finally met somebody that I actually coached her son in football in high school.

Then she got diagnosed and we became friends. But other than that, I didn’t know anybody with MS. And then when I got on TikTok, I just meeting people and seeing how they’re dealing with it and it affects them differently and how they deal with theirs, you know, like I didn’t I didn’t realize I knew that MS can affect everything, you know, like your eyesight, your vision or I never knew that it could take your voice away, you know.

And I met the swab on TikTok and I met a guy named Gary down in Louisiana on TikTok and Eric down in Texas on TikTok and I seen these guys and it affects their voice and I’m sitting here going, “Holy man. These guys, they can’t they’re they’re struggling to talk and I that’s what I want to be their voice, you know, they can’t tell their story, so I want to be their voice for them, you know, because people don’t understand that.

I didn’t even know that you can lose your voice with this disease. So I, you know, I want to be other people’s voices and I appreciate people like you coming on and talk about their journey. I just think we need to come together. It’s like a team effort, you know? Have to. We have to. It’s important. Absolutely it is. So what is your motivation to keep on going? Robert, like just to wake up in the morning and just to keep on pushing and keep on driving.

And I know I used my kids a lot as my motivation. I used my job when I was still able to work. What is your motivation just to keep on getting up and keep on fighting this fight? My kids are my number one motivation first and foremost. Absolutely. But outside of them is people in general. I’ve been contacted by so many people when I meet them and then they talk to them and they’re like, “You’re so upbeat.

You’re not down and you’re not so mad and angry.” I said, “There’s nothing I can do to change it. So, why not embrace my new normal and keep moving? This is a new life for me. I can’t go back and get my old life back.” It would be great. We mourn our old life at times, but at the same time, you got to embrace your new life if you want to keep going and I try to do that as much as possible.

And I always stop and I think the same way my kids watch me growing up and even now listen to them and their mannerisms and certain things they say and do. I’m like, they really paid attention their whole life. So I’m like, there’s others looking at you. I actually met some people in the MS community. I met a couple. I would love to meet many. I want to go out and go to events with others just to be around the family, but I’ve actually met some and they’re in worse conditions than me and they able they watch me and it makes me feel good that I can encourage someone else.

You know, don’t give up on life. This isn’t the end for you. Do what you can. I try to encourage them and tell them anything that I know that worked for me, it may or may not work for you, but you can try it. You know, if it’s something that worked for me, it could possibly work for you. So, that just that keeps me going. I love helping other people. I think that you’re you being as young as you are in this disease, Robert, I think you’re you’re amazing.

You know, I know people that, you know, they go through that diagnosis and they go into a bad depression and you know, it affects them mentally and just to see what you’re doing and how you’re you’re managing it and, you know, you’re taking a negative and turning it into a positive and you’re just trying to help people. I just love everything that you’re about, my friend. I will have I will have you on again.

I just enjoy talking to you. I watch your videos. If anybody wants to connect with you on your social media, how would they reach out to you on TikTok? what’s my handle? yep. I know my name on there is Ms. Warrior. Okay. All right. Yeah. If you if anybody wants to check Robert out on TikTok, please fi find him on TikTok. he’s he’s a really awesome guy. I love talking to him.

We’ve gotten in lives together. Is there anything else that you want to say before I start wrapping it up, Robert, to tell anybody just to keep fighting this fight and to keep on moving on, you know, getting exercise? Anything that you want to say before I wrap it up, buddy? Yeah, what you just said is ideal. Just keep fighting. Don’t give up on yourself. do it for yourself. Do it for others who you can motivate others who watch you and that love you.

Keep pushing. Gain strength as much as possible. Do all that you can do so that you can live a longer-lasting life. if you go into a deep depression and you don’t do nothing, that’s going to lower your life expectancy. So your ideal ideally you’re going to live a longer life. So it doesn’t it’s not the end. It’s not it’s not death sentence. Keep moving. Do what you can. Nope. It’s just a Yep.

It’s just the beginning, buddy. It’s just the beginning. You just got to keep on fighting. You know, we got to change our life, but you know, we can still thrive with MS, man. Anybody can do it. It’s an attitude. You just got to keep fighting to fight. I really appreciate you, Robert. I really appreciate you taking the time to sit down with me and sharing your journey. Please don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to the podcast and share Robert’s journey out.

We want to be understood. The best way to be understood is to listen to us talk. Hi, it’s Brian from the MS Michigan Man. Thanks for listening to the last episode. I am joined with me today by Matt Row from Optimal Body, Optimal Mind. And we are going to talk a little bit just about the mental part of this disease. that’s what they do, you know, they take care of the mind and the body.

So, please welcome for this little short insert to the program, Matt. How you doing today, Matt? Brian, absolutely wonderful. It’s so great. Thank you very much for having me back. I really appreciate it. Not a problem. Not a problem, Matt. So Matt, I know that you’re the mind guy with optimal body, optimal mind, and my question for you is that when you get diagnosed with MS, like for me, 20 years, I lived with it for 20 years and then it took away my career and I struggled with that, the mental part of it.

Two years it took me to dig myself out of that really dark spot. And I know that there’s a lot of people that go through similar situations. I mean, it might be a little quicker. It might be a little bit longer, but how do you get through that mental part of the changes that this chronic disease can have on our lifestyles? Great question. First, let’s take a step back. So, before we can deal with it, we got to see where all of this started from.

So, think about your life. And everybody that’s listening to this right now and if you have experienced this and you’re walking through it, you are not alone at all that in that moment right there, there’s a sense of peace that comes with knowing that you’re not alone. And MS is one of those fun diseases where it feels like it strips your life away. I know from my own experience, I lost my job of being the VP of sales for a tech company one month after I was diagnosed.

But what happened during that period? Yeah. Okay. It was the physical job that was removed. But I had put my self-worth on that job because of my upbringing. I grew up in the Midwest and it was all of the aspect of do. It’s like you do this job or you do this or you’re going to go do this and that is where your worth was created. So MS came in strips all that away brings you down to the most naked level from within you.

So at that point we have a choice. And I love the adage that said during the darkest time comes the brightest light. But ultimately, we’ve got to recognize that there is a light through this. So, it took years to develop this. And so as I was walking this journey, I found it was a journey to find me, to find the true essence of me and where I sat with all of this, the job loss, the diagnosis, the, you know, other things that were taken away like mobility, cognitive issues, all that type of stuff.

And the I found that the more and more I stood about that and worried about that, the worse it became. It didn’t help it to stay within that little my own self little pity party that I was living in. So due to some experiences and due to some things that have happened, it forced me to take a look at what really mattered. And what really ultimately mattered in this entire journey was me.

So what matters for all of us is you. I love that. I love that Matt and it took me it took me a long time to figure that out. You know, like I said, it took me two years after I lost my identity to figure out, you know, there are there is so much more to live for. I just got to figure that out. you know, I got to figure out what I’m what I’m going to live for now.

Now that I’m not getting up and going to work every day like I normally did for the last 20 years, I got to find a purpose, you know, and I mean, and I can’t answer that for anybody else. Everybody’s got to find their purpose, you know. I found an interest in going out and enjoying nature, you know, going up to the lake, going fishing. I started doing this podcast and talking to people.

You know, I just think that you got to find something else to occupy your mind after that identity gets taken away from you, buddy. Absolutely. It absolutely. We have to find that peace. Now, right now, if you’re in the middle of the storm, it can seem like it’s impossible. Just know it’s not. Just know that those little small steps that you are taking will get you out of it and it’s going to lead you somewhere.

But Brian, as you walked into this, I would imagine during this journey of your own self-discovery, you started to identify what you wanted deep down that new I am. What is your new I am with MS? Absolutely. MS is not Yeah. You know what happened with me, Matt, is when I didn’t I never wanted to talk about my MS when I was when I was employed, when I was working. You know, I didn’t I just wanted to forget that I had the disease.

And then after I got I you know, I lost that ability to work. And that’s when I’m like, you know what? I was afraid to talk about it. So now I just want to talk. Let’s just talk about it. I’m not embarrassed about it anymore. And I think it was silly for me to ever have those thoughts back then, but you know, I can’t change what happened before, but I can talk about it now and just, you know, the mistakes that I made.

And I just love I love what you’re saying about, you know, that change, Matt. You know, you get you got to find yourself. You got to reinvent yourself. Absolutely. This is why I love the work we do over at Optimal Body, Optimal Mind. Yes. We are encouraging people and we invite you and make it very easy for you to begin working out again after MS but we saw it as a beginning.

So what if you took one step every day and let’s say you took a small step towards these workouts. These workouts are easy. They’re 30 minutes. But it’s as challenging at a physical level as it is a mental level. But as you are building your strength and raising that, your mental side begins to raise and a new identity begins forming within you. Maybe a different belief. Maybe you wake up with a smile on your face.

Maybe you wake up with a little bit of excitement because you can see your biceps again or you can see some strength forming in your body. Let’s say you walk two more steps today than you did yesterday. That’s rising. And so when we rise one level, I like to view this as that we are on the ocean. If you’re on the ocean and the tide rises, it rises all boats. It doesn’t pick and choose which boat is going to rise with that tide.

All the boats rise with the tide in the same space. So when you start doing the workouts, when you start walking that way, when you start working on the mind, when you start thinking just a little bit, and I’m talking about a mustard seed, little bit that will grow within you if you give it the time. That’s why I love what you do now, Brian. We would have never met if it wasn’t for MS.

So MS was an absolute gift. Absolutely, Matt. And this is a beautiful, you know, you just got Yeah, you just you just got to find yourself. And I really appreciate you, Matt. if you want to check out anything that Matt and Dave have to say, optimalbodyoptimalmind.com. just awesome, awesome guys. I partnered up with these two guys. They’re msers just like me, and they got the same mentality as I do. You just got to you got to make a commitment and you got to figure out.

I really appreciate you for stopping by and sharing your words with me, Matt, and I’m looking forward to speaking to you again, buddy. I can’t wait, Brian. It’s always a pleasure to be with you. All right. All right. I am going to be out of here. this is Brian from the MS Michigan Man 64. Matt Row from Optimal Body, Optimal Mind. We are out. If you like this kind of content, please like, share, follow, and subscribe.]