A Softer Season: Life After My MS Relapse
This past year handed me a chapter I didn’t see coming—an MS relapse that swept in like a sudden squall, pulling me under with fatigue, stiffness, and a fog that blurred my edges. It was heavy, humbling, and at times, achingly dark. But as the storm settled, something shifted inside me. Life looks different today—slower, calmer, more intentional—and I’m learning to cradle that change like a fragile, beautiful thing. And through it all, I’ve felt you there—my community, my people—holding space for me, and I can’t thank you enough for being part of my story, for hanging with me through the messy, tender ride.
Before, my days were a rush—a whirlwind of doing, creating, chasing. Now, they unfold like a quiet river, meandering at its own pace. I wake to softer mornings, the kind where sunlight spills lazily through the curtains and I linger with my tea, letting the steam curl around my thoughts. Healing and nourishing fill my every breath—they’ve become my compass, guiding me through the smallest acts: a warm meal, a gentle stretch, a moment to just be. It’s not about pushing anymore; it’s about tending, mending, listening to what my body whispers back.
My Love + Be Well products have been there through it all—steady, faithful, like old friends who know me by heart. They’ve fed my skin the same way I’ve fed my body, a mirrored ritual I’ve held close, especially over this past year. When the relapse left me raw, I’d turn to them—reaching for the calming oils that melt into my skin like a hushed lullaby, breathing in the beautiful scents that lift the air with whispers of peace. They’ve painted a healthy glow across my face, a quiet radiance that reminded me I was still here, still me, even when I felt lost.
This ritual became my lifeline through those months. On days when I could barely move, I’d sit with a bottle or jar in my hands, tracing its shape, letting the scents—soft florals, grounding woods—wrap me in their soothing embrace. It was slow, deliberate—a ceremony of nourishment that didn’t demand anything but presence. And as I healed, it evolved with me, reflecting this new rhythm I’ve settled into. Today, it’s less about fixing and more about honoring—my skin, my body, this softer version of myself I’m growing into.
I’m so grateful for you—for walking this path with me, for sticking around as I’ve found my way to this quieter place. Life after the relapse isn’t what it was, and I’m okay with that. It’s a little slower, yes, but richer for it—each moment steeped in intention, each choice a thread of care woven back into me. My Love + Be Well products, my creations, they’re still here, feeding me as they always have, a ritual I’ll carry forward because it’s as much about my soul as it is my skin. I hope you find that same comfort in your daily dance with Be Well too—a little pocket of calm, a glow that holds you close. This is where I am now—a place of healing, of quiet beauty—and I’m thankful every day for it, cracks and all, with you by my side.
With love and a softer glow,
Natalie
The Skincare Chef at Love + Be Well
Natalie
The Skincare Chef at Love + Be Well
