Happy Anniversary

Anniversaries are usually happy and joy filled. They are also times for reflecting back over the past year. Well here it is. I am coming upon the second anniversary of my PD diagnosis. That day two years ago was anything but happy and joy filled. It was terrifying and fear filled.

My first year of PD was a very bumpy rollercoaster with many more out of control twists and turns than I would have liked but this second year has leveled out and there have even been some very happy high points.

During this past year, I became a certified Rock Steady Boxing coach and a Parkinson's Ambassador. I also started this website and blog. I have embarked on a mission to let others know that having PD isn't the end of the world and you CAN do something about it. I did not choose to get on this rollercoaster but I am on it anyways so I am going to make the most of it. Although I am still fairly early on in my journey, here are a few things that I have learned (so far) along the way:

You can only help others if you help your self first. Self-care is not self-ish.

Smiling feels awesome! (Not only is it contagious but it is really good for your facial muscles!!!). Try it right now...see, don't you feel better?

Hard work is hard work! Do it anyways, you will feel better after.

Hold on tight. Life with PD is bound to have its speed bumps. Slow down when you need to.

Build a tribe of support. Help others in your tribe when you are able and don't be afraid to let them help you.

Food is fuel and food is medicine. Treat it as such.

I always say God makes cool stuff...and he made me, so therefore, I must be cool. (My kids may not agree with this one). I will embrace my cool factor by being silly and having fun and not taking life too seriously.

Every day is a gift. Treasure each and every moment.

Comments

Missing Tom

I recently lost a good friend. Never would I have imagined that I would become such good buddies with a man old enough to be my dad. I met Tom over seven years ago in a Rock Steady Boxing class. I entered class as a shy, teary-eyed, newly diagnosed mess who didn't like to sweat and had never boxed. Tom quickly took me under his wing, introduced me to the movers and shakers in the local Parkinson's community and eventually recognized a potential in me to further help the community. Within a year, with the encouragement of Tom and others, I became a certified Rock Steady coach. Tom and I would go to the same conferences and seek out the newly diagnosed. Ever the salesman, Tom would ask me if I "closed the deal," meaning, did I convince someone to come to an exercise class or attend a support group. Tom knew the benefits of attending these groups and he wanted everyone else to know also. He just wanted everyone to live the best life possible, even while living

Diagnosing with Compassion and Hope

My hackles are raised, my feathers are ruffled, my … I’m not sure I can find the words for how I am feeling. This morning, I read a recently published article called “ Delivering the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease-setting the stage with hope and compassion.” I am not upset that the article was written. I am glad that the authors have brought this to the attention of others. I am upset that it needed to be written. I just think it is common sense that when someone is given a life-changing diagnosis, it should be given with hope and compassion. The authors note that some say the moment of diagnosis is “almost akin to a traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one.” Of course it is! The person receiving the diagnosis is losing their future self. Everything they thought their life would be from that moment on has now drastically changed! I would count that as traumatic. I was one of these people over seven years ago who walked out of the Movement Disord

Out of My Mind...

If you have been living with Parkinson's for a while, you are likely living at the mercy of Parkinson's medications. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful that medications are available. Without them, life would be miserable much of the time. But don't get me wrong (again), even with medication, you may feel like you are losing your mind. Early on, you take your meds on schedule, you can pretty much count on how long they will last and know what to avoid with them (protein maybe). As the years pass, and your symptoms progress, you would think you could either just, A. increase your meds or B. increase the frequency of your meds depending on what your doctor recommends. This seems logical to me. Sometimes this works, but eventually you end up with an E-ticket to the Dopacoaster. What is special about the Dopacoaster is that the tracks can change hour to hour. You took the ride yesterday and felt good. Life with PD was manageable. Today, you follow the same sche

Rock Steady Fighter

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