You say it so beautifully! I had been a terrible pessimist before my Dx. Actually, began as a Realist, hit Pessimist in my 20s, and by my mid 30s I was a Cynic. The next level in natural progression was Bitter. I decided I was never going to get there. I'd seen bitter and it was really unattractive. Cynicism, on the other hand, filled with black humor, I could hang with.

Anyway, life's events lead me from Realist to Pessimist. At last, spiralling from Pessimism, deeply into Depression and heading for Bitter; I chose to stop the progression and life's events have at last permitted me to discover and enjoy NOW.

Am I thankful to MS for this change in my life? I don't know. I only know everything in my life lead me to who I am now in order to deal with this condition with optimism, acceptance and a certain amount of grace.