Hitting Pause
At 30, my life ran on momentum. My days were full, my calendar crowded, and my value—at least in my own mind—was measured by how much I could do without stopping. Like many people in their thirties, I was building something: a career, a future, a version of myself that thrived on being busy. Rest felt optional. Slowing down felt unnecessary. Then I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, incurable neurological condition that affects the central nervous system. It’s most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40—right in the middle of what’s often considered the most productive and fast-paced years of adulthood. I didn’t expect chronic illness to be part of my story at this stage of life, but statistically, I’m far from alone. Around 2.9 million people worldwide are currently living with MS. In the UK alone, over 150,000 people have the condition, with approximately 7,100 new diagnoses each year—roughly 135 people every week. MS is not r...