September 28, 2021 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Repairing the Cracks in My Foundation “Sweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine.” These lyrics are from a spiritual song on my playlist. They’ve challenged me to assess myself while simultaneously liberating me from the judgment…
July 16, 2021 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Peril of Toxic Positivity — Too Real to Pretend “Look on the bright side.” Someone just said this to me days ago regarding the loss of a very dear friend. The bright side? I demanded to know what the bright side of this situation could be. There…
December 22, 2020 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Through the Valley of the Shadow Psalms 23 has always been my comfort when I needed respite from the hardships of life and chronic illness. My mother used to read that Bible passage to me as a child, and now it has become a cornerstone…
July 21, 2020 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Putting Myself First “Take the time you need,” “This too shall pass,” and “You can’t pour from an empty cup” are just a few idioms I have used to encourage others. Strong shoulders carry heavy loads. My shoulders bear the weight…
June 2, 2020 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Are You Sincere When You Ask, ‘How Are You?’ How are you? These three words are ingrained in our vernacular. The question is often asked as a kind gesture, a greeting of sort. Are we truthful in our inquiry, and are we genuinely interested in how someone is…
March 31, 2020 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Calm, Care, and Prayer Will Help During the Coronavirus Crisis No one needs to be reminded of the pandemic we’re in the midst of. We live it every day. The novel coronavirus has attacked with a vengeance, proving that no one is safe from its ruins. The actuality…
February 4, 2020 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Remember Me? Lessons from My Jar of Happiness Welcome to 2020 and a new decade! I am thankful to still have the gift of life and to continue to share this space with you. I have read a multitude of writings and intentions for 2020. Resolutions are…
December 10, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson My Angst Is Not Your Angst A few years ago, I penned a column titled “My Tired Is Not Your Tired” that expounded on the severity of fatigue that people with MS and other chronic illnesses experience. I contrasted the general fatigue most people…
October 22, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Why My Body Is Not My Adversary Why is my body betraying me? As an advocate and a person with chronic illness, this question surfaces often. Many people with chronic illness feel that their body has failed them. I can understand the reasoning behind the question.
September 17, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson My Judgment-free Zone Judgment is a social ill that many people with chronic illness must endure. People have said, “You’re not the same person,” “Snap out of it,” and of course, “You don’t look sick.” Most recently, referring to my irritability and…
August 6, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Cleaning Out My Closet and Letting Go of Clutter Makes Space for Healing I have too much stuff! Why is this relevant? By the end of this column, I hope that you will comprehend my message. For the past few weeks, I have been cleaning out my closets. I hadn’t realized how…
May 21, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Staying Afloat in the Middle of the Storm The storms keep coming. Whenever I think I will land ashore, a hurricane sends me back into the eye of the storm. I want to write; however, I fall short of time and, ultimately, the words to explicate all…
March 12, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Visibly Me, Visible MS Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month has arrived, lasting throughout the month of March. All things orange and popular hashtags flood social media sites. Awareness months like this have great value, though some may disagree. Awareness months become…
February 5, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Moment I Realized Things Could Get Worse Life never lets me forget its fragility. Sometimes my challenges seem like mountains to be scaled. Adversity has become the elephant in the room; it is ever present even when I refuse to acknowledge it. A few weeks…
January 8, 2019 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Keeping My Eyes on the Prize Welcome to the new year! I am grateful for the opportunity to open my eyes and still have the gift of life. Many did not make it into 2019. Those who have transitioned are remembered with love and…
November 20, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Facing the Reality of the Holiday Season The holiday bustle has begun. As Thanksgiving approaches, I ponder the season and a lump forms in my throat. I am grateful to be here and for the blessings of family and friends. But my heart aches with…
November 6, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson When the Sun Sets — Chronic Illness, Advocacy, and Mortality Life. It’s fragile, fleeting, beautiful, and heartbreaking. It is the most precious gift we have. Approximately one month ago, the senior columns editor for BioNews Services received her wings. Her name was Serena. Ironically, I never met Serena.
October 16, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson MS Does Not Excuse Poor Behavior This is a difficult column to pen. I am an open heart, yet critically examining myself, and my troubling behavior is onerous. The ego is not impartial. I have written several articles discussing the emotional toll of…
September 25, 2018 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson The Power of the Patient Advocate Every life has purpose. Every voice has power. I decided long ago to speak my truth. My advocacy journey has inspired me to share my experiences courageously, and to embrace all that I am. Advocacy is defined…
November 30, 2023 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister Is multiple sclerosis everywhere, or am I just more aware of it now?
