"Who's Listening"

[jupiterjane]

As humans

sometimes we think

what we

have to say

is not important

because no one

seems to be

listening anyway.

For they only

wait patiently

for the pause

in your voice

before they begin

filling the air

with their

own words,

their own importance.

It becomes

a tug of war,

a game of words,

and ideas,

pushed,

and pulled

from each other

in the endless

battle of

give,

and take.

But,

is anyone

really listening?

The quiet ones,

with tender hearts

and sweet smiles

seem to be

the only ones

who want to hear

your truths.

Only later

are you slammed

with the injustice

that the deaf,

even with their gift

of lip reading,

turn their heads,

hearing nothing

you have to say.

Jupiterjane

We live in a world of "what's in it for me"! I know that's a bit cynical but having spent the last 5 years of my life trying to get someone, anyone to hear my side of Parkinson's Disease, my side to Cramp Fasciculation Syndrome , my usual, optimistic, Polly Anna attitude has been severely deflated! We only hear as much as we want, what is polite. We can only care about "your" problem for so long before we need to talk about ourselves. It's just human nature , I think? No Matter, no one is listening anyway!

[Leyther]

Hi

I am interested in how creativity manifests itself in PD and how it can override the symptoms. Its almost like that intense focusing triggers the mechanisms in the brain that are cut out by PD.

I have found that by visualising a simple action such as walking across a room I can change from shuffling to a normal gait. It may be only for a short period but it is encouraging that I am able to do it

I have taken up drawing, painting and playing the guitar. I am neither the next

Van Gogh nor Stevie Ray Vaughn but I can do things I never thought I could before PD.

I also resumed fishing after a break of 6 years and found I could do everything including tying tiny hooks!

If you are inspired by something you become focused,this seems to release the hold on the muscles.

I had began to be creative before I found out about it being a PD trait.

What really set me thinking was when I saw a documentary on Tourette's Syndrome and the creativity that induced in people with it. Tourette's being the opposite of PD in that it is caused by too much dopamine. Possibly the same effect I was experiencing due to the mirapexin I was taking.

What also interested me was that I found I had an affinity with people with Tourette's and that I too had experienced minor tics as a child and adolescent that I had simply grown out of. Furthermore I could also appreciate the high emotion they felt prior to outbursts of swearing. All this occurred up to the age of about 21 which was when I started with muscle spasms which I believe was a precursor to PD.

I did a short survey of about a dozen PWP on another site, without explaining the subject of the survey and was amazed to find that with only one exception everyone had similar experiences. I asked a few people without PD and found the opposite.

Not terribly scientific but it leads me to believe that neurological conditions need to be looked at as a whole and not in isolation.

Concentration which is lost through PD seems to return through another route. Northing is destroyed, just changed into a different form.

Maybe its possible to tap into these changes to improve our PD.

Regards

Leyther

[chrismw in reply to Leyther]

Law of thermodynamics --Energy is neither lost or gained. . .

If we think of ourselves as energy, then what we lost through pd, we also gain something. . .Energy is transferred or it is transformed, but never lost

[Hidden]

I only wish PD had made me creative. I've have always wished I was creative.

[Joealt]

I'm listening.

[chrismw]

I'm listening. And when you stop talking, I'll listen then too.

[Carrigan]

I am listening too, and amazed at your talents. My hubby also has developed a side of him I never knew since having PD for past 17yrs he is very poetic and gets emotional at things more outwardly, both neg and positive things. romance is not yet dead. thanks for sharing your talents and good luck

[jupiterjane in reply to Carrigan]

I believe Parkinson's made me release all those emotions that for years I have always held in check. In the past I never trusted or believed in men or relationships. I was sooo afraid of being hurt. For some reason Parkinson's helped me open up my heart and let love in again. Oh! I had to go through a few losers and deal with a "he's just not that into you" relationship before I found "My Robert", but it was all worth it. I'm just taking one day at a time!

Thanks everyone for listening!

Jupiterjane

[chrismw in reply to jupiterjane]

Will you clone "my Robert?" Make him "my robert 2?" ; )

[Jinty8]

I'm listening (and reading) too. I find reading everyone else's experiences both moving and inspriring. I'm 14 years down the PD trail and although I would never claim to be 'glad' I have it - I can (sometimes) look at my life fairly objectively and own that it has changed me into a better person. It has improved my capacity to empathise, my ability to cherish and treasure and has provided the opportunity to experience the love and caring of so many people. I, too, have found an outlet in creativity from crafting and modelling to chainsaw carving and furniture making - the chainsaw carving scares the willies out of my family - especially with the dyskinesia! I knit and make teddy bears and I write a gardening column for a local newspaper. I don't do all these things all the time - currently I am busy with a litter of Great Dane puppies - when I think about it I don't know how I had time for work!

[chrismw in reply to Jinty8]

Okay--can't resist--are you carving teddy bears with a chainsaw? JK-but the chainsaw carving gives me the willies too--even without knowing what you are carving!

Have fun and post pics I'm so curious I can't stand it!!

Chris