It happens every spring: an onslaught of messages touting diets, smoothies, and near-perfect bodies frolicking on the beach in anticipation of summer. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) almost 20 years ago and have trouble walking, never mind frolicking. I wonder whether paratransit could take me to the beach but figure the humidity would do me in long before I got there.
More than any season, summer reminds me of my physical limitations. First, because my symptoms often get worse with heat, and second, because I can no longer partake in some of my favorite summer rituals. Show off a pair of cute summer shoes or sandals? Nope. Can’t walk in them. Indulge in a pedicure? What’s the point if I can’t show it off in those cute summer shoes or sandals?
Many women I know with MS say their self-esteem takes a hit in summer. Our disability has already narrowed our world, and summer can make it worse. Not being able to slip into shoes we once loved or frolic outdoors sets us apart even more. Over the years, however, I’ve found some creative ways to reclaim the carefree feeling of the season.
Bring the Beach to You
Since a jaunt to the beach can be arduous, I’ve invested in a variety of soaps and scents that smell just like the beach. They are so realistic you’d swear you were smelling the real thing. For example, Bath & Body Works has some great items that help bring the beach to you. Keep an eye out for their frequent sales.
Turn a Cookout into a Cook-in
The last thing I want to do on a hot and humid summer day is eat or drink outside. Instead, I invite friends over for an indoor party. We break out my big colorful plastic drinkware, chop up luscious seasonal fruit, and mix up some frozen non-alcoholic drinks. We either order from a restaurant or corral a friend who loves to barbecue into cooking up some grilled goodies.
Take Advantage of Late Summer Nights
The thing I love most about summer is the longer days. Even if I go outside later, I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything. Hanging outside on a friend’s terrace on a summer evening listening to local radio and watching airplane lights go by can be a glorious seasonal experience.
Change Your Perspective
Deep down, I think we all know that summer is not about cute sandals or even the beach. Summer is about attitude. It gives us license to relax and be a bit freer. Feeling isolated or excluded or worrying about what I can’t do is not relaxing or freeing. Getting creative and making my own satisfying summer experience is.
Lisa Cohen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2001. She’s the author of Overcoming the BS of MS and founder of Rockstar Women with MS, a website that offers programs and resources designed to empower women with MS.
