Snowflake Indeed

I unsubscribed from some stuff today. What I was afraid of happening started happening. I was getting in too deep with the MS stuff. 

Yes, it's nice to be around people (even virtually) who understand first-hand what you're going through, but after reading the umpteenth post about what not to say to someone who has MS, or another “invisible” illness, I had to take a step back. In my opinion, the problem with those things is that they make us seem like hypersensitive whiny curmudgeons. 

Like I said previously, my problem with what you say to me is my problem. Sometimes I snap. Sometimes I'm sorry for snapping. I mostly try really hard to remember that this is my journey and no one else really needs to understand it like I do. Even people who love me don't fully understand what I go through. Heck, some days I don't understand! And you know what? That's okay. As long as I have people who love me, I'm lucky.

Today I learned that MS has been referred to as a “Snowflake Disease” because no two of us are alike. I understand why “they” would coin that term because it really illustrates how individualized this disease is. But, I don't think I like it. Being the "pretty little snowflake" that I am, I really don't want to be associated with the seasonal bane of some people's existence. Oh sure, one snowflake is pretty, a few flurries can be beautiful. You get them all together for an extended period of time, and it's a 7-foot snowfall that very few people want around.

It's only my opinion, and I'm exaggerating slightly. Maybe it's because I'm not a winter kind of gal. Also, the name sounds too prettified for me...like Sugar Plum Fairy-ish. I mean no offense to all the dancers who played snowflakes and fairies in recitals and plays, but dainty and delicate, I ain't.

We can't very well call it “You're on your own because I don't know what the heck is going on”, or, “One of these MS's is not like the other”, so I guess Snowflake Disease is around until we think of something better. Or, discover a cure.

A cure...something I rarely allow myself to dream about. A cure...no more struggling for the millions of us around the world. A cure...taking the extremely realistic point of view, if science hasn't determined what causes MS yet, how is a cure in our near future?

Anyway, I unsubscribed from some stuff today. Sure, I have MS, but it's not all I have. I have a husband, kids, family, friends, friends who are family, a house, interests, and responsibilities. It's a community I'll visit from time to time, but I don't want to move in right now. Winter is down the pike, and I'll probably have to shovel all these snowflakes :)