Gracefully Off Balance

When I was younger, gymnastics was the challenge I lived for.
It was all about intentional balance — on the beam, on the bars, in the air.
Every flip, every swing demanded focus, precision, and grit.

It was a sport built around individual goals, quiet determination, and personal victories.
The wins were mine, the stumbles were mine — and every time I got back up, I was a little stronger than before.

Until I wasn’t.

Looking Back

I realize now just how much my parents sacrificed to support my gymnastics journey.
They invested in every flip and every balance beam wobble.

And now?

That investment in balance isn’t exactly paying off…
considering I can barely walk a straight line without bumping into a doorway.

Turns out, MS wasn’t part of the routine.

How It Started

MS showed up like my very first gymnastics meet —
I stepped onto the beam, all eyes on me… and completely forgot my routine.

Now?
It’s everyday words that vanish.
Tasks disappear mid-thought. The only weight I lift is my left leg as it sometimes walks behind me.
Walking a straight line sometimes feels like an Olympic event.

I can’t trust my memory alone anymore,
so I use a calendar that has a backup calendar. My husband bought me a digital calendar to view as I leave for work And yes, they’re all color-coded and available for the family to see — because something has to stick since my landings do not.

Here’s the Thing

“Balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence.”

Some days, just getting up and showing up is enough.
I laugh a lot more now — because honestly, if you can’t laugh at yourself when you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, or fall over putting on your pants, well…

MS will just keep giving you more practice.

All those years of gymnastics and learning to balance?
They weren’t wasted.
They trained me for this.

A new routine…

These days, my balancing act looks a little different. 

Instead of beam routines and back handsprings, it’s juggling clients, showings, inspections, and open houses — often with a phone in one hand and a half-drunk coffee in the other, if I remember where I left it. 

What used to be a physical routine on the mat has become a mental one: color-coded calendars  alarms to remind me where I’m supposed to be, or to take my meds an ongoing effort to stay one step ahead of the MS brain fog. 

Let’s just say… it’s less about nailing the landing and more about not missing the appointments.

If You’re On the Beam Too…

Whether it’s a diagnosis, a deadline, or a dream —
you don’t have to land everything perfectly.

Just get back up.
Smile at the judges.
And take the next step.

Just continue to Show Up!

💌 Sound familiar?

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I’d love to hear it.