Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Carver.
Hi Courtney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In the Spring of 2006, I was training for the MS 150, a cycling event to raise funds for MS research. The owner of the company I worked for had Multiple Sclerosis and inspired me to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was in a wheelchair and I was going to ride for him.
Things were crazy-busy at work and I wasn’t feeling well. After coming home from a trip to Europe, what I thought was a little jet lag turned into a lot of vertigo. I had experienced vertigo before and I figured it was just some type of ear infection. My doctor thought the same thing. As the weeks progressed, I couldn’t walk a straight line let alone ride a bike. Along with vertigo came fatigue. One side of my face and my hands were tingling. None of these symptoms were brand new, but I had never had them all at once or this severe. Two months later, I still felt like I was stumbling out of a bar whenever I stood up. I had missed the bike ride and was diagnosed with MS.
I was diagnosed over the phone, at work. I left my cubicle and cried all the way home. I thought my life was over. I was afraid that MS would take over and ruin my health, my family, my work, and everything I cared about.
And then, inch by inch, I changed my life. I changed what I ate, what I owned, what I owed, where I worked, and how I loved. I changed all of it. Today, almost 20 years later, I am symptom free. I haven’t had a relapse since 2007.
In 2010 I started my bemorewithless.com. I started sharing my story to simplify my life for less stress and better health. In 2011, I left a stressful career to write and support others as they simplified too. I published two books with Penguin Random House and my last book, Gentle, Rest More, Stress Less and Live the Life You Actually Want was published by Hachette earlier this year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Struggles popped up when I tried to “push through” or if I tried to change too quickly. I often had to reset and change the way I was changing.
Because I treated most of the changes I was making as a challenge or experiment, I had permission to dump perfectionism and fear about what might happen.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Working with people who are simplifying their lives and interested in reducing stress for better health and closer relationships is so rewarding. Removing shame and guilt is so important and doesn’t get enough attention in the self-help world.
I offer a membership program to help support people, have a free newsletter at bemorewithless.com and three books. I’m always most proud of my latest offering which right now is my new book Gentle: Rest More, Stress Less and Live the Life you Actually Want.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was curious and creative, interested in photography, writing and travel.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bemorewithless.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bemorewithless
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bemorewithlessdotcom
- Other: Free simplicity guide; https://bemorewithless.com/free-simplicity-guide/
