an interview to inspire: Jesse & MS

I recently found out that my friend, Jesse Lee from high school was diagnosed with MS. I don't know alot about MS and saw an opportunity to learn about the disease and share it with others. Jesse is a really cool guy (and funny) so when I found out about him and MS, I was really interested to learn more. Below is my interview with Jesse. Please read it. I assure you it will touch your heart and inspire you. You can donate too MS and help Jesse raise money for the cause here or by following the links below.

Did you have symptoms, how did you know?

The first two symptoms I encountered were numbness in my fingers and face and blurry vision in one eye. It was in the summer of 2007 while playing baseball. I have always been a good athlete and all of a sudden I was missing fly balls because of my blurry vision and the numbness caused my coordination to be off. I contacted my Doctor who originally gave me eye drops. Once the eye drops didn’t work I was sent for an MRI.

When did you find out you had MS?

After my first MRI came back and showed some lesions on the brain, a neurologist that I was referred to said there was a possibility that I had MS and sent me for more tests and a second MRI. The results of those tests confirmed I did in fact have MS and I was officially diagnosed in March of 2008. This was a very frustrating time because as you can see it took almost a year to diagnose and so much uncertainty was surrounding while other symptoms started to arrive and get worse. These other symptoms included; loss of balance, poor short term memory and other cognitive problems, depression, extreme fatigue, itchiness, nerve pain, bowel and bladder problem in which I was hospitalized a few times.

How has MS affected you physically?

In addition to the symptoms described above, my physical problems such as the loss of balance and blurry vision have forced me to quit playing baseball and hockey because it has become dangerous for me to participate in these sports. I have also always had physical jobs and am currently unable to work due to these reasons. I temporarily went back to school to work in an office setting, but my lack of short term memory and other cognitive problems made it extremely difficult to follow simple instructions. MS is also a very unpredictable disease in which symptoms come and go and therefore an individual living with MS may be able to work at some times and not at others. I also used to help my Grandmother with many physical tasks around her house and I am now very limited in the help I can give her.

How has MS affected you emotionally?

This disease has affected me emotionally in many ways. Initially, I became very angry and depressed. The fact that there is still no cure for MS made it difficult to have any hope for the future. I also felt cheated. I am still very young and was angry that so much had been taken away from me.

How has MS affected your relationship with others?

MS has affected my relationship with others in both positive and negative ways. The relationships with the people closest to me such as my family and my girlfriend have grown much stronger as we have learned to value the important things in life. On the other hand, MS has made me feel very isolated as I have lost contact with many friends who I no longer see as I don’t participate in the sports and other activities I once did. They also seem to be afraid to address the subject and therefore choose to avoid it and me.What do you want people to know about MS?

I want people to know that 1 in 2 Canadians knows someone with MS, which means that this is significant problem. I want them to read my story and be able to put a face with the disease. I also want them to know that so much research is currently going on that is dramatically improving the lives of individuals with MS. Much progress has occurred in even the last 10 years, so you really are making a difference when you donate.

How has your life changed since your diagnosis?

I can no longer work. I have lost some friends. I now have to take a disease modifying drug which consists of a daily injection along with a bunch of other medications and vitamins. I have had to move in with my grandparents as disability does not provide enough money to financially support myself any longer.

What do you want other people to know about your life?

I want people to know that this is a very tiring disease and every day is a struggle. I want people to know that this terrible disease can ambush you in the prime of your life and dramatically change your current life and your future plans in a very short period of time. Despite that, I have learned that this situation has made me a stronger person.

Who can get MS/what causes MS?

MS does not discriminate; pretty much anyone can get MS. MS is believed to be an autoimmune disease where the body’s own immune system attacks itself. There is still no definitive answer as to what causes MS but there are demographics that more commonly get MS. MS is more commonly diagnosed in individuals living in parts of the world where there are less hours of sunlight (Canada has one of the highest rates in the world), individuals between the age of 18 and 40 (although, children and teens are now being diagnosed in much higher rates), and individuals with a northern European background. But people outside these demographics still get MS. Some theories on what causes MS include a vitamin D deficiency (the vitamin in sunlight) and a virus contracted in childhood. Neither of these theories have been confirmed or rejected which is why donating to research is so important.

How can people support your cause?

You can support my cause by visiting my fundraising page and pledging me in the 2009 MS Walk, donating to the MS Society of Canada once the walk is over, or signing up for the MS Walk in your city and raising more money and awareness to find a cure.

How do you inspire others?

Instead of being angry and depressed I have decided to focus my energy on positive activities such as participating in the MS Walk. I actively pursue pledges so that I can make a difference for the future of those affected by MS. I also try to show those people who have stuck around how much I appreciate them and try not to take anything for granted.

hey universe, i need a new camera!

I've had bad luck with cameras. I've been through a few. However, that was when I used to drink and go partying all the time. A text book alcoholic, I could say, you couldn't say that without pissing me off. It's just not nice. The Toronto Police have a checklist and you could be one too. so don't judge me.

I've been taking so many pictures and I really need a new camera so I can take better ones and put them here and make videos so you can see how funny I really am. I believe in the powers of positive thought and I am asking the universe to send a camera to me.

You know my address uni, we've been friends a long time.

Performance Review

I have just completed six months with my new company. I am really enjoying it, my boss is great, its close to home and all the other shiz is good too. As I am approaching the time for a Performance Review, I started looking for tips and stuff to make a review go smooth and set forth a positive road for the future. I came across this and found it to be quite funny....

Employee Performance Review terms... and what they REALLY mean

Average Employee........................Not Too Bright
Exceptionally Well Qualified............Made No Major Blunders Yet
Active Socially.........................Drinks a Lot
Character above Reproach................Still One Step Ahead Of the Law
Quick Thinking..........................Offers Plausible Excuses
Careful Thinker.........................Won't Make a Decision
Plans for Advancement...................Buys Drinks for All the Boys
Aggressive..............................Obnoxious
Uses Logic on Difficult Jobs............Gets Someone Else To Do It
Expresses Themselves Well...............Speaks English
Meticulous Attention to Detail..........A Nit Picker
Has Leadership Qualities................Is Tall or Has A Loud Voice
Exceptionally Good Judgment............Lucky
Keen Sense of Humor....................Knows a Lot of Dirty Jokes
Career Minded...........................Back Stabber
Of Great Value to the Organization......Gets To Work on Time
Relaxed Attitude........................Sleeps At Desk
Work Is First Priority..................Too Ugly To Get A Date
Independent Worker......................Nobody Knows What He/She Does
Great Presentation Skills...............Able To Bullshit
Good Communication Skills...............Spends Lots of Time on Phone
Loyal...................................Can't Get a Job Anywhere Else

guess who's now following me on twitter?

My homeboy Barry Obama!!

Once I got this I sent him a message. I wonder is he, or his 'Twitter updater" will message me back. That would be a dream. Maybe Barack Obama updates his own Twitter and he really is made up of all the wonderful that I think he is. ♥ I'll stick with that positive mindset.

Ridiculously Happy.

Jesus, how lovely. Looks like I make people happy. Mission accomplished: be a happy person and it will be contagious. You all know that I'm a very positive young lady, thanks to The Twitter Happiness score for myself I now have confirmation.

The current Happyscore for casiestewart is: 563

"Generally, people who have followed this person on Twitter
lately will perceive this person as Ridiculously Happy."

the good word? the beats are sweet

I’m definitely digging the poetic lyrical stylings of wordPEOPLE. Lead singer Missy C passed over their newest album ‘The Peoples Eatery’ for me to check out and I am impressed. I have a love for well written lyrics and lust for beats with rhyme and style. There’s a common sound between older Black Eyed Peas or Roots albums that is positive & uplifting, makes you bob your head while you listen.

Missy C has a soothing voice that makes me wish I knew the lyrics so I could sing along. I also know that she has wicked style, looking forward to seeing her on stage! The emcee ape.X can rhyme the way I like, quick but clear. Makes you want to listen to it over and over. My favorite tracks are ‘Just Don’t Know, ‘People’ cause of the fat fast pace and the album title track ‘The Peoples Eatery’. The track ‘Swinga Things’ has a really light beat that’s super catchy; reminds me a bit of Lilly Allen. I love it.The sound of this entire album is kinda R&B, funk, rock, with some old school flava; an eclectic mix of music to my ears. I can see myself dancing at their next show or on a sunny summer afternoon with pints and friends (same thing). I’m looking forward to their next show. They just played in Guelph last week. I’m keen to check out the live performance for stage presence, seems like they have a lot of energy, and well, that is exactly what I like.

Do it Daily!!

I've been participating in Daily Challenge since the idea first came online and developed a community. I believe strongly in the power of positive thought and know from experience that thoughts really do become things if you believe in them!

I have submitted a challenge for you to sign up on www.dailychallenge.org, if you have not already, and tell me why you think Daily Challenge is a great idea?

Lets spread the word and get more people to
DO ONE GOOD DAILY!!

so mature

This ecard is for me today.

This year for NYE I will be attending an intimate dinner part with friends in Queen West. Contrary to popular belief, I am NOT going out for a raging good time as I have been known to do. I have no desire to attend a crazy, busy, mishmash party OR after party.

I reckon it's one of two things:
1. I'm so mature that I am content spending a night surrounded by awesome people I call my friends.
2. I've partied so hard over the past 10 years that there is nothing happening that I haven't already done before.

I like to wake up on the first day of the new year feeling positive about where I hope the year is going to take me rather than wanting to kill myself from all the substance abuse the previous night.

i won the camera, now comes the fun part

It was only January 9, 2009 that I wrote a post titled "hey universe, I need a new camera". It is amazing what you can do if you set your mind to it. The power of positive thought baby! Special thanks to everyone that voted for me and joined Daily Challenge.

It was a close race and as I wanted, I came in second place, scoring me the jazzy new flippy video camera. "This camera is not only super sleek and sexy but was also named “one of the most significant electronic products of the year” by the New York Times and if that wasn’t enough the makers of The Flip are have committed to give away 1,000,000 Flip Video camcorders to qualified nonprofits by 2012. Talk about Do Gooding!" Thanks Daily Challenge!

Do One Good, Daily!!!!

Giving is it's own gift.

I truly believe that one you have given, whether time, energy, money or anything, you have already received. The joy in giving really effects my life and I try each day to put more positive energy into the world through the things that I do.

Some friends of mine have been working on a really amazing global project called the Daily Challenge. It is all about bringing together a global consciousness of people who actively do one good thing each day for themselves, someone else, the environment, or the world. There are a few celebrity guests involved in the project including Deepak Chopra and others. I'm helping to get more and more people on board as it is truly something I believe can change the world. If enough people put their energy into the same thoughts, those thoughts will become things and we will feel change begin to take place.

Click the screenshot of the website above to get involved!!

♥ Love & Light xoxo

You Make Even a Tiny Religious Cap Look Sexy

I wish you all a Shana Tova
A Happy and Healthy New Year full of Light and Blessings and Fulfillment. ♥

"One action - either positive or negative – can tip the world to one side or the other. Now, every single one of us has the responsibility, through our own lives and actions, to diminish this darkness by awakening more Light.

There is no better time to do this than during the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. It is considered to be the seed level of the entire year. No matter how much chaos humanity has created up until now, our collective soul never becomes impure.

Rosh Hashanah offers us the ability to reconnect to the part of us that is pure and new, that is completely of the Light and free from darkness.

This year we have the opportunity to reveal a critical mass of Light, to hit the tipping point, to shift the scales back to Light, causing pain, suffering and death to be removed from the human landscape.

The Rav has been saying this for forty years: consciousness is key. Never before have we so desperately needed to live it. Look around – floods, terrorism, rising gas prices, rising tides - we need to tip this scale.

Rosh Hashanah is the time. Let’s do it together." Read More

For thousands of years, the great kabbalistic sages have taught that every human being is born with the potential for greatness. Kabbalah is the means for activating that potential.

My friend Daniel is a very inspiring individual.

Daniel Patricio is a 20 year old Ryerson University student and a Hospice of Peel volunteer for the past two years. Daniel approached Hospice and said he would like to contribute in a bigger way.

Daniel is raising funds to put Christmas dinner on the table and provide for families affected by terminal illness and their kids. He is asking for $10 which will go directly for Hospice of Peel.

Many of these families divert most of their valuable time, energy and finances to fighting illness which causes them to forget to cherish their last moments with their loved ones. In these precious last moments, we would like to give families the chance to embrace these last days as memorable ones.

I am a big believer in giving and that it truly is it's own gift. Take a few minutes to donate to a good cause and shine some light on your day by helping out someone else. Feel free to tell me your stories of giving. I love sharing the positive vibes ♥

Do it today!

be inspired and start creating

I am constantly inspired to keep on writing and putting my stuff out there. As more and more people come into the Wonderful World of Casie I find that a positive light shines on us all!

I was tagged in the following note on Facebook today and very touched.
It says:

"Inspired by this great lady tagged in this note I decided to create a blog. I've been wanting to do for quite a while, but never realized how easy this was. well I am quite happy with this decision. mucho gracias"

Stay tuned for Inna's blog. I've been reading her notes on FB for some time and am truly excited for her new writing space! Congrats girl!!

sharing the randomness - 25 casie facts

This has been floating around Facebook since January. I figured since I've been tagged by a ton of friends it is about time I shared 25 random facts about me.

The rules go as follows: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. Blah, blah, blah...

Here we go:

1. I was born in Canada to New Zealand parents and have dual citizenship (Canadian/New Zealand).
2. I danced ballet, tap and jazz as a kid and completed in competitions across Ontario as well as Showstopper in NY & Myrtle Beach, SC. I was 5 with fake lashes and red lipstick!
3. I wrote a book and became a published Canadian Author at 14. It was titled Jeans: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose. The Toronto Star wrote and article about me titled "Push Over Keats, Teen Muse Steps Ahead".
   
4. I went to Uni in Australia and lived at Bondi Beach. It was the best year because I learned the most about myself and WHO I really am.
   
5. I hate scary movies. I get queezy and I don't like to put bad images in my head. I'm crazy enough already!
6. I still have all my Barbies and their vintage outfits. I hope to get them made in my size one day.
7. I have a Green Belt in Tae Know Do and once knocked out a boy (Note: James Roszell) in grade 8 at school. Mum thought I'd get in trouble but I said "Mum, do you think he's gonna tell anyone?"
   
8. I hate the number three. I don't do anything in threes.
   
9. I grew up around vintage cars and vintage clothes. My Dad builds hot rods and mum was a photog for Canadian Street Rod Magazine.
   
10. I named my sister Jenie because EVERY doll I had before she was born had that name. I love her.
    
11. When I was 16 and had braces, I did a commercial for an electric toothbrush that aired in the US.
    
12. My Mum is my hero. She is so inspiring to me and has instilled good values and confidence.
    
13. I'm a very loving, positive girl. I tell my friends I love them all the time just so they know ♥
    
14. I ride an red vintage bike with all summer and it makes me feel free! I love it!
    
15. I am very artsy. I like to draw, paint, write, make jewelry, sew clothes, pastels, chalk, you name it I do it. Borderline Artistic.
    
16. I went swimming with wild dolphins on the coast of the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.
    
17. My middle name is Diana after Princess Diana. My mum loved her.
    
18. I have more clothes than any friend I've ever had. It's an issue but I wouldn't change it!
19. I have conversations with myself. I think I'm funny. We're best friends.
    
20. I've won a beauty pageant and a bikini contest. Once I was a Sunshine Girl. My hair was long and red and I had huge boobs.
    
21. My favorite gift I ever received was a hardcover Thesaurus from my parents in 1996.
    
22. I'm addicted to Twitter. I love it. I learn so much and get smarter and smarter each day. Follow me @casiestewart
    
23. My Dad was a professional gymnastics/trampoline coach when I was a kid. I'm flexible and can still do the splits.
    
24. I have a bad memory. I started my blog to keep more memories and no one read it but ME for at least the first year. Now I write about things that can help make the world a better place, review products people send me and share my thoughts on life. It has really helped my memory and writing is my passion.
25. I have lots of different talents and believe I can achieve anything. My career goal is to be the Awesomest I can be.

How To - Of the Day

How to Handle Fame

"I handle fame by not being famous...I'm not famous to me." Bob Marley

Whether you're a celebrity, a politician, a MySpace star, dating someone famous, a well-known author, and even if you look different in a small town, you might be uncomfortable with being recognized wherever you go.
How do you preserve a good reputation while still maintaining your privacy?
(Don't be a Waste-Case!!)

1. Be boring to the public. The best way to maintain the privacy of your private life is to bore people to tears. Unless you're one of those people who believes that all publicity is good publicity, it's better to become famous (and stay famous) through the merit of your work, not because of a rollercoaster relationship, an addiction, a surprise pregnancy, or a glamorous wedding. If you're a naturally flamboyant or free-spirited person, it might be difficult to stifle that, and you need to decide how you're going to strike a balance between uninhibited expression and privacy, which tend to be mutually exclusive when you're famous.
2. Go to major events solo. Even if you're married, the fact that you're there together is bound to result in personal, sometimes totally inappropriate questions like "When are you having a baby?" or "When are you having another?" or even "How is your sex life?" Also, if you're always attending events as a couple, all it takes is one event when your schedules conflict and you don't show up together, and everyone will presume your relationship is on the rocks. If you do ever split up, the last thing you want is people wondering where your date is--talk about salt in the wound! That being said, sometimes being consistently dateless can stir its own breed of gossip, depending on the context--a famous celebrity going solo is understandable; a political figure probably wouldn't be. If you do bring a date, make sure it's someone you're in a long-term, committed relationship with, and who's mature enough to be by your side consistently, even if you have a disagreement right before the event.
3. Refuse to answer any questions about your personal life. This is what some famous and successful celebrities do to keep their private lives private.^[1] That means keeping the details private even when things are going well. Some famous people make the mistake of gushing about their private lives when a new relationship has begun or a child is born, but then suddenly become tight-lipped when the details aren't so glorious.^[2] By making people curious about the good things going on in your life, they'll naturally be curious about the bad things as well. Be consistently silent when it comes to your personal life and no one will be surprised when you say "I want to keep my private life private."
4. Be humble. If you're famous, it's probably because people admire you. With admiration comes a certain degree of idealism and even idolatry, so it's important to remind people that you're not perfect. You're human, just like they are. Talking about little things that you struggle with--like getting the stomach flu, or locking your keys in the car, or bad hair days--can help keep your image in check. One celebrity went as far as to ask a magazine to take pictures of her with no make-up or retouching so that she could show people that the image of perfection is just that--an image, not reality.^[3]
5. Be friendly. Fame is and can be fleeting. People admire you based on what they see on the screen. You can negatively affect that image with one misstep, one harsh word, or one thoughtless action. Take a minute or two to be friendly with a fan (or a group of fans); most will be respectful of your private time if you provide some level of access when you're in public.
6. Go undercover. If you can move to a place where you're not well-known, most of your problems will be solved. But most of us can't relocate that easily, so the next best thing is to avoid public places where you're likely to be seen. For celebrities, it's a matter of not getting photographed; but for most people struggling with fame, it's exhausting to engage in small talk wherever you go, and it can be disconcerting to know you're recognized when you're browsing books or shopping for undergarments. If you do bump into someone who recognizes you, however, handle it gracefully. Commit to the conversation long enough to be friendly and polite, otherwise you might be labeled as a snob, or worse.
7. Use your fame to help people. Take advantage of your "star power" to draw attention to causes you feel strongly about. Take, for example, a ridiculously famous celebrity couple that sells photo rights of their newborn children and donate all the millions to charity.^[4] But you don't have to be one half of a mega-famous couple to do good. Even just spreading the word about a charitable event during those many bouts of small talk can make a big difference. When someone asks "How are coping with the divorce?" or something similar, you can say "Well, I'm focusing on something positive..." and discuss your efforts.