When I came home from the hospital in August, I was losing my mind while trying to figure out how to live comfortably while being home full-time. My mind was so scrambled. These days, I am so limited by mental fatigue that it can be hard to easily feel happy. I was slipping into a brutal depression as I struggled with finding my footing.

Usually I'm the type of person that likes to be incredibly regimented. Maintaining a schedule and feeling collected helps me feel worthwhile, and gives purpose to every hour of the day.

During nursing school in 2012 I would strictly abide by a schedule that had a set time for everything. I wrote in every single thing I did, from class times and gym sessions, to bathroom breaks.

When I met my boyfriend Nathan back then, he was surprised when 9pm came and I would say, "I'm sorry but you have to leave now. It's bedtime. Goodnight!" I would send him home because lights were out by 9:30pm, so I could be well-rested and early for school the next day. Class started at 7:30am, but I considered myself late if I arrived a moment past 7:00am. This is what I affectionately coined "suffering from chronic punctuality".

Don't get stuck on lost time or spent energy. We will all get through this if we stay committed to doing our part.

It is so important to be able to take breaks from ourselves and from the worrying. We cannot possibly relax enough to rest, if constantly hyper-focused on everything that is wrong.

Plant care rewards me with incredible visual stimulation, as I direct time and focus to nourishing life around me, and have faith that it will thrive.

Feeling responsible for the growth we get to watch unfold thanks to our devoted patience and all the right care- That's the ultimate reward.

Beginning with high quality 135lb Italian paper and miscellaneous paint brushes, I lay initial acrylic washes of colour using my left hand. It is not my dominant arm, but its strength is more reliable than the other.

My right hand has more keen dexterity. I've figured it out that I can save mental energy for detail work by using my left hand for the "less important" steps in building images. Then, I work more rapidly with my dominant but neurologically-limited right arm, and a pallet knife.

It is really difficult to explain the complexity of how Multiple Sclerosis truly affects me, but I'm persevering and finding ways around obstacles day after day. When you need to make art, you find a way.