Columns Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor I’m Too Busy to Think About MS I’m Too Busy to Think About MS by John Connor | August 31, 2018 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Well, it’s not a cure, but working hard sure takes my mind off MS. In fact, I’m so rushed off my feet (irony intended!) I’m not sure I have time to write this. But if I stop and ruminate, then my bedroom turns from a frenetic office into a prison cell again. Albeit with a laptop, TV, and a mobile phone I don’t have to hide. I really don’t have the requisite balance! Instead, I’m moving seamlessly from one job to another, keeping busy, and I’m only now thinking about MS because this is a column about it. Literally — Catch-22. Luckily my working life has always been about writing, organizing, phone calls, and throwing ideas around until one of them sticks. Technological changes have also been mighty handy. I can now run a business with my mobile phone. We still keep a landline going at home — often, I’m in no position to answer it. It is a fail-safe — if everyone has fallen asleep when I get home from work late, I can wake someone up from my taxi. Mobile phones, despite their innumerable capabilities, just can’t do that. The first job I can remember doing was a painter on a building site — my brother-in-law runs his own business as one. Most people don’t choose to live the la-di-da life of an “artiste.” I certainly didn’t immerse myself in the creative arts because I didn’t expect that one day I wouldn’t be able to manage anything else. Connect with other patients and caregivers, find support and share tips for living well with MS in our MS News Today online forums. It does, though, give me an exterior life — one where compromises to physically dealing with my increasing disability have to be made. Yet, regarding the work I do, no compromises are, or should, be made. So, if you feel trapped by this disease, try something creative, within the confines of whatever your body can do. It doesn’t have to be successful — nearly everything isn’t. How else would Netflix have amassed so many cheap, bad films? In one of the first exercise groups I joined, I met a former art teacher who could no longer paint with her right hand. She buckled down and learned to paint with her left. She must have been a formidable teacher! One year she designed Xmas cards to raise money for the charity that organized our group. And she asked me for copy to go inside. She never used the joke that I wrote because it was rude. Quelle surprise! I’ll leave you with my (rejected) joke: “I self-catheterize, and I work in comedy — so I’m one of the few who really does take the piss out of himself!” *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author John Connor In the ‘80s, John Connor created the first regular column about the burgeoning London stand-up scene. In 1990 he wrote a book about its effect on the Edinburgh Festival: “Comics: A Decade of Comedy at the Assembly Rooms.” That year he also devised and ran a live topical stand-up team show at The London Comedy Store, The Edge (It was destroyed in 2020!). In 2009 John was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which cut short his main job as a TV casting director for “Black Books,” “My Family,” et al. Now, John writes “Fall Down Get Up Again,” an irreverent journey with MS. Tags comedy Comments Daniel Awesome punch line! Good advice too, I will have to end my working career shortly and the biggest challenge will be ...what next? Losing the ability to regularly use both hands limits the choice, I don’t think tying fishing flies is going to be viable. Reply Carla L Broadbent Rogers Oh the fun side of MS for those of us who have not surrendered our sense of humor. All good things always. Reply June Turnbull I have had MS for 41 years now. I taught for 10 years of that, then did a bit with the YTS, then went back to teaching as a peripatetic teacher, part time. Very happy to give that up the driving was getting me down searched for an at home type job NOW I write children's books, have them published possibly the hardest bit but I managed and without an agent another hard bit. Books go in the shops in February with more to follow I loved to write even if sometimes I have to use the speaker type writer and I love doing the research. At last I am filling my time with useful work the children get to read, mums and dads get to liksten to their kids and I get paid! Win, win Reply Donna The best advice I was given after my MS diagnosis 2 years ago, was "put your head down and GO!. I too had to give up my job prematurely but the days are full with whatever I can do at the time. Reply Gina Niedzwiecki Great advice! Put my head down and GO! Helps me avoid falling ? and creates momentum!!! Reply Cindy Stelline I have had MS for 32 years, and am doing pretty well-all things considered. I did have to leave a job I loved, due to cognitive issues. I love comedy and I often remind myself that I got two degrees in the same month. MS and my MBA! So, it's not THAT funny, but it's clean! Reply joan higgins Oh how I love John Connor! Dont get me wrong Im happily married.....most of the time....well some of the time! He nearly makes me glad for this shitty disease to have visited. I did say nearly didnt I...dratted short term memory drives one bonkers! Keep it up John ..we all love your columns! Reply Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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