Dear Friends,
Yes...actually, it's all about PEACE !
When the greeting (Merry Christmas) was originally used, the word ‘merry’ did not mean ‘joyful, hilarious,’ as it does today. In those days, it meant ‘blessed, peaceful, pleasant,’ expressing spiritual joys rather than earthly happiness.
The well-known carol ‘God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen’ is an excellent example of the original meaning of ‘merry.’ The position of the comma shows the true meaning (the word is not an adjective describing ‘gentlemen’) and therefore is not ‘God rest you, joyful gentlemen,’ but ‘God rest you peacefully, gentlemen.’”
In the spirit of this Christmas/Holiday Season…
• Give time: Remember an old friend. Share a meal with someone lonely.
• Give hope: Live joyfully. Raise the spirits of a child or a friend needing encouragement.
• Give peace: Forgive an enemy. Set differences aside.
• Give of yourself: Perform acts of kindness.
• Give love - And the spirit of Christmas and Hanukkah will be forever!
As we celebrate the Holiday season and rededicate ourselves to Living Well with Parkinson's, let this time of hope, joy, and peace remind us of our own resilience!
SO... WHAT IS RESILIENCE
The Oxford Dictionary defines resilience as "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness" and "the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity".
Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.
Parkinson's continually tests your resilience: how will you respond to new situations and trials? Will you adapt to these changes and go with the flow or will you fight to swim upstream?
A number of factors contribute to how well people adapt to adversities, predominant among them:
the ways in which individuals view and engage with the world
the availability and quality of social resources
specific coping strategies
Psychological research demonstrates that the resources and skills associated with more positive adaptation (i.e., greater resilience) can be cultivated and practiced.
Your commitment to support groups demonstrates your resilience: you are accepting change and learning to deal with it. Social support is part of resilience and support groups provide you with coping skills and connections.
Keep in mind Dr. Laurie Mischley says loneliness is the biggest predicter of progression.
