There's a season of life we all go through when your friends start getting married, buying their first homes, landing promotions, and starting families. It's a stage of life that's full of celebrations and milestones and forward motion. It was during this stage of my life, as everyone around me was accelerating, that I felt like I was caught in a state of inertia.I was in a health crisis. I was watching the world move around me while I stayed still. It was during my mid20s after countless unexplained visits ...

Personal Experience & Disability Awareness - The speaker shares personal experiences with multiple sclerosis and related disorders, highlighting the challenges of living with an often invisible disability [1] - The speaker discusses the societal perception of disability, moving from pity and charity to empathy and understanding [1] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy and small acts of kindness in making the world more livable for people with disabilities [1][2] Healthcare & Medical Diagnosis - The speaker recounts a decade-long journey of medical diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and MOG antibody-associated disease [1] - The speaker describes the impact of these conditions on physical abilities, including walking, talking, and vision [1] - The speaker mentions undergoing chemotherapy as part of the treatment [1] Societal Barriers & Invisible Disabilities - The speaker describes the challenges of navigating societal barriers, such as using elevators designated for people with disabilities and facing disbelief or questioning [1] - The speaker highlights the emotional and physical exhaustion of constantly translating one's body and negotiating pain levels due to an invisible disability [1] - The speaker points out that the real barrier is not the physical one, but the silence, disbelief, and discomfort encountered from others [1]

Novartis succeeded in treating a form of autoimmune disease in late-stage studies, offering a boost for the Swiss drugmaker’s potential for treatments in the field https://t.co/LimHNRRlYA ...

Health & Wellness Insights - The speaker was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2021, resulting in 44% lung capacity [1] - Approximately 1 in 5 Canadians, nearly 8 million people, live with an autoimmune disease [2] - Narrative research indicates that two-thirds of Canadians adopted a new hobby after the pandemic started [12] Personal Development & Resilience - The speaker chose to engage in a high-intensity sport (tennis) despite physical limitations [1][8] - The speaker highlights the importance of starting despite limitations, choosing play over perfection, listening to the body, and finding a supportive community [16][17][18] - The speaker emphasizes that effort matters more than ease and that showing up imperfectly is better than quitting [15] Benefits of Hobbies & Activities - Hobbies can improve mental health by reducing stress and lifting mood [12] - Hobbies can boost physical health, leading to better sleep and stronger muscles [13] - Hobbies can improve social connection, especially during difficult times [13]