Jo's Story

It has been a while since I have posted anything onto the Just4joco site. I apologise if you have thought I had forgotten you. I have not and I am very sorry to have neglected things for so long.

Since October 08 to now, due to unforeseen circumstances (just love that phrase that explains absolutely nothing) I have found myself facing stresses unimaginable. Those who have MS will know how violent stress can be to the potential onset of relapses and how hard it is not to stress about getting stressed!

I hope you have enjoyed a fantastic festive season and 2009 has started well for you.

2008! What an amazing year, a dream has come true!

When Just3joco began, I reassured myself that I would be rewarded if I brought happiness and shared hope with one other person. The response I received multiplied many times over, finding more than 50,000 hits on the just4joco website, in its first three months.

The stresses pre departure to New Zealand were of a magnitude like no other experienced before.

I began the journey back home, having successfully hosted three birthday parties, with a fear of returning a single mother, unemployed and trying to find affordable child care, employment and affordable accommodation.

These fears combined with the stress about the effects of travelling, change in climates and time zones, only created more fears of a dreaded relapse.

Today I write struggling after a incredibly frantic half week, sadly which I am only two thirds through. I still have one more party to go. Aye, can you imagine having / preparing / hosting three parties in a week! Not many would find themselves having this scenario, let alone very few who are also trying to keep stress levels to a minimum and continue to keep control of that MS diagnosis. So far I am winning with only one more party to go.

Yesterday was the family birthday dinner for six adults and one child.

Yesterday I received an e-mail with the following suggestion:

So it has now almost been a month since Just4joco went live and what a very exciting month it has been. I was absolutely petrified the day it went live, I ended up in a raft race and paddling an absolute tanker, which was rewarded with last place. Regardless of my over exuberant ways of handling fear, I must express how extremely grateful I am, for all the support everyone has given me, I never envisioned so many people would find what I had to share so valuable. I have caught myself with wonderfully happy tears in my eyes, just knowing I have given someone else a chance to enjoy the same benefits. Thank you for giving me this happy feeling.

I have to admit, good food is my weakness. I just love 'Eating Well', if I am eating food that is tasty, I am happy, I have that Joco feeling (Happy, Relaxed and Self-Satisfied).

WARNING – Avoid me if I am hungry, or have been given something that does not taste so good.