Plan For The Worst, Hope For The Best

Long before I had MS, I was an outdoor educator. I learned this philosophy, 'plan for the worst, hope for the best!' We used it to relate to weather, but found it translated to risk, emergency planning and food rationing. Eventually, it became a bit of a mantra, when applied to extreme situations. Having a good support system in place help has helped me to live well with MS. In a strange way it’s a lot like planning for an adventure; the outcome is unknown and unpredictable. I’ve had to make the most of the bits along the way. When my kids and I saw this storm heading our way, I asked them what our plan was. They assured me we all had raincoats and if we got wet, we had a towel in the car; we’d survive. We relaxed into it knowing we were one with nature and enjoyed the show across the bay. Would you believe in this time, the storm passed by, and only a few drops fell on us? It reminded me of how scary it can be awaiting a result, moving doctors, or trying a new medication, and how it’s usually all okay. Sometimes the best thing we can do is plan as well as we can; we can hope there’s even a glimpse of beauty to be found on a challenging journey.