YOU COULD LOSE YOUR MIND WHEN IT’S HOT

This past week felt like a soft launch into summer.

Lunch with an old friend on a layover. Sushi and laughter with one of my favorite girls. Sitting in a theater watching “School Daze” with Spike Lee. 

And ending it all at tacos and tequila … mocktail in hand, still very much outside.

It was light. Easy. Full. And somewhere in the middle of all that, I realized… I can still have this life. Just not the same way.

There’s a certain vulnerability that comes early in a diagnosis. You’re still figuring things out, but you let someone in anyway. You explain your limits. What your body needs. And you hope they meet you there.

Sometimes … they don’t.

Before MS, I had a coworker who lived it. Private. In and out of the hospital. We all saw it, but didn’t understand. Until I did.

After my diagnosis, I called her. She didn’t sugarcoat it. Told me I might lose parts of my independence… and I might lose people. That part didn’t hit until she told me about a lunch date.

A simple day. Sunshine, cute outfit, just trying to feel normal again. All she asked for was shade.

When she needed to move inside, her friend got irritated. Dismissive. Like it wasn’t that serious.

She cried in the car after.

Not because of MS … but because she realized not everyone was willing to love her in this version.

And I think about that now. As the weather breaks. As the invites roll in. As life starts to feel full again.

Because I want the brunches. The trips. The “let’s sit outside” kind of days. I want to frolic. But I also want to feel good after it’s over.

So this summer? I’m choosing both. Joy and boundaries. Outside and awareness. Soft life … with intention.

My Summer Rules:

Water before anything else

Shade or inside seating, always

Early or late plans … not peak heat

Breathable ’fits only

Leave when my body says leave

And as for people? I’m not over-explaining my needs anymore. The ones who get it will adjust. The ones who don’t won’t have access. Because protecting my body, my peace, and yes … my edges?

That’s not extra. That’s alignment.