Recently, I was contacted by Linda Noble Topf who shared with me that she was holding a tele-seminar titled – ‘MS And The Art of Loving Yourself Well’ and wanted to connect and share our work. Back in 1995 , she wrote the book You Are Not Your Illness which is in alignment with the work I currently am doing. Interestingly enough I just learned about the book which was published a year before my diagnosis. The universe always works perfectly even though we may think otherwise. After reading her email I chose to call her and connect by voice and see what would unfold. Not to my surprise, I was welcomed by a sweet voice filled with gratitude that I had called her – I mean she is one of the first to really get out there and bring spirit into healing at least with MS. She asked me questions and I shared my work and what I was doing and she was really sweet, inspiring and such a leader.
Her message is to love yourself and be good to yourself and know there is more to you than a diagnosis – sound similar right? And we just met! Light attracts light and to connect with her was just like meeting a long lost sister. As we talked she shared she never was on medication and did diets and all alternative ways of healing but was using a wheelchair and just fine with it. I thought she would be up and out in the world with no assist and was surprised about her attitude toward her wheelchair. Then when listening to her story and how she embraces where she is, seeing it in a positive light I was even more inspired. For many of us, myself included, we meet with a neurologist and they say this will be the future and for her it did happen. Linda took this in great strides as she was diagnosed while putting on a grand celebration for Philadelphia (my hometown) and then was diagnosed. She turned to drugs and alcohol and then she had a turning point that showed here there was more to life and she was more than her depression. There is even an exhibit at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia titled Inspiration where amazing people who have overcome disability made a huge difference in the world. Linda’s picture hangs next to Mohammed Ali, Michael J. Fox, Stevie Wonder, Helen Keller and other amazing people.
When I called into the teleseminar she was strong, sweet and generous giving her heart out fully to support those seeking a place of salvation. Loving yourself to better health and being able to see yourself beyond a diagnosis is what I believe and now have a sister to walk with in this great movement that is really shifting how we see ourselves and the world around us. There is more Linda and I will do and I know it will be amazing to bring our work together and uplift those who are seeking to find more to who they are.
Linda’s message of full acceptance is truly empowering. That is something which I have been expressing in my words and writings. Acceptance does not equate to defeat or giving in; it is the most powerful act of self-love and internal peace.
My thoughts would be: my body has MS, I live within my body, so I live with MS. MS can suck at times, but that does not mean that my life sucks. Having symptoms or lessened abilities is not the end of the world, as my life is so much greater than specific abilities. I am like water, the most powerful force in the world. Water always finds a way to move forward, it cannot be contained. It lives in the ocean, in the air, in the ground, and in each living creation.
Great article, Hilary. I seem to have an insatiable thirst for people, especially woman, who turn challenges in to opportunity. As I might, have said before, I truly believe that we need to build a network of strong, beautiful and happy women who just happen to have a “label” to deal with…
I can only say thank you for sharing your words with me. Seeing both of your expression on this page, just lights it all up! Thanks for taking the time to share your beautiful power, soul and integrity!