PD as a disABILITY helping us grow and ma... - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

25,342 members26,642 posts

PD as a disABILITY helping us grow and mature

Coot18 profile image
17 Replies

Most of us are born with a body and a mind that is relatively healthy. At some point, our body and/or our mind is attacked by a disease that interferes with our ability to do some things we had gotten used to doing relatively easily. We attempt to defeat this attacker with the help of medicine and medical practitioners and with the help of pills and practices.

As we age we have to accept the reality that if we try to do something we have always done it is going to take longer and its going to hurt more, but we have to keep trying to do it. I still put my underwear on standing up. It is a good back and leg stretch and a balance exercise. I stand next to the bed in case I tip over.

PD is simply a term the medical community uses to describe one of the many versions of aging. What if a given disease movement actually accomplishes their stated goal, "We will defeat (this disease) in our lifetime"? Does that mean we will have achieved eternal life? Or will this disease simply get replaced by a different version of old age? I am for committing resources to helping patients and families deal with the disease. I have trouble with implications of the word the word "defeat". We are on a journey with a finite length, let's enjoy it :)

What I think we need is an evolution in medicine. Instead of focusing on the disease, medicine should focus on the person. Disease is another opportunity for growth. Not an opportunity for despair. A disease may compromise an aspect of our lives that we had gotten used to.

A disease provides opportunities we may not have otherwise noticed. Most blind people find their hearing improves. People with PD get better at living for the moment and letting things happen instead of trying to make them happen.

I believe in using pills and practices if they help me take advantage of the PD opportunity.

I used to try and pursue happiness, now I slow down and let happiness catch up to me.

Remember, with aging comes maturity, thanks to our disABILITY.

Some view the journey of life as beginning at birth, growing to mid-life prime and then deteriorating towards death.

I prefer to grow right up until death when I will then be at my prime.

A simple test to determine if you have achieved your purpose in life.

If you are alive, you haven't!

Love > hate

Written by
Coot18 profile image
Coot18
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
17 Replies
Hikoi profile image
Hikoi

Early stage PD. Lucky you.

Coot18 profile image
Coot18 in reply to Hikoi

I hope I still feel as lucky as the years go by.

Coot18 profile image
Coot18 in reply to Hikoi

I was diagnosed 9 years ago

I hope that is considered early stage

Gioc profile image
Gioc

Love>PD

justhavefun2 profile image
justhavefun2

I love your picture and the smiles! Great looking couple!

I was just telling my husband that I would be much happier if I would focus more on what I CAN do, which is still quite a lot, instead of what I can’t do.

I have come to the conclusion that everyone seems to suffer with something...RA, PD, depression, anxiety, abuse, loss, cancer, etc. it’s how we approach our affliction(s) that helps us weather them. Yes, I, too, am in the early stages...so I can’t speak for those who have been enduring PD for years. My prayers are for all to be able to cope until a cure is found.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I found them encouraging.

lempa_nik profile image
lempa_nik

Good food for thought, well written and inspiring. I will remember to "slow down and let happiness catch up to me"!

jeffmayer profile image
jeffmayer

Absolutely

Jebbie12 profile image
Jebbie12

I agree that I have gained gratitude for the simple joys in life from having this disease. I realized several years ago I could live with joy or not with Parkinson’s but I’m still gonna have Parkinson’s. I choose joy any day. As the saying goes life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. I’ve learned to dance in the rain.

What a wonderful outlook on life. THanks for sharing.

ddmagee1 profile image
ddmagee1

Very refreshing outlook. There are so many different stages and symptoms of Parkinson's, that, I believe, each of us could tell a different story. Some are blessed with medicines being able to help them, for a long time, and others, not so much. In my case, the disease affects my autonomic system, so I may look ok, but feel terrible inside, at times, dealing with the difficulties. Sinemet helps me with tremors, and with stiffness, but does not help, seemingly, with the autonomic symptoms I have.

Erniediaz1018 profile image
Erniediaz1018

Great!!! Thanks for sharing. Beautiful pic

ktbate profile image
ktbate

Your thoughts are well received. After 8 years I still need to adjust my attitude at times. Curious --- how many years ago were you diagnosed?

Coot18 profile image
Coot18 in reply to ktbate

9 years

PDGal4 profile image
PDGal4

Thanks for sharing your inspiring thoughts. I too have been working on gratitude and focus on happiness coming from within. I tend to clip quotes for inspiration. My latest: “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.”

By extension: “If you choose not to find joy in your life despite Parkinson’s, you will have less joy but still have Parkinson’s.”

It's hard work, but if I cede joy to Parkinson's, it's won another round.

Coot18 profile image
Coot18

I love all the weather metaphors

Just like a storm

PD is there no matter what we do

Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi death camps

As long as he was alive

No one could determine for him

That he could not smile

AmyLindy profile image
AmyLindy

Beautiful!

I liked that, very well put!!!

You may also like...

How many of us have taken or are taking beta blockers? Is there a link to PD?

good to get a straw poll of how many of us are using these meds?

Any news about stem cell treatment for PD?

of any use to me or would I Have (according to the news reports) to travel to Lund to stand any...

Help for Mom, 84 PD really suffering

I am looking to help my mother who's in her last days of severe Parkinson's Disease. She is 84 and...

What is the percent of people with PD that B1 has helped?

with PD that B1 has helped? If it has not helped how many times was it tried and for how long...

Mitochondrial uncoupling ; can this help PD, appears maybe

12106/ The Role of Mitochondrial Uncoupling on Aging https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/a