Acting like a Kid

Exercise is very important for everyone. It is especially true for  those with Parkinson's disease to help with our rigidness.

So I don't become bored with my daily routines, I like to do different things. Today I decided to take a walk.

As I was walking along, I kept getting this beat in my head  

and I began strutting my stuff as I walked.

Walking and feeling the beat and really enjoying myself.

I was in my own little world strutting along.

As I turned the corner, I heard some applause.

I realized they were clapping at me. 

Feeling proud of myself.

I then heard this person say.... Way to go Grandma!

I looked up to see,

It was my son and his family.

I choose to Smile and Live!

A Busy day I have planned for me. 

to fight this thing called Parkinson's disease

I start my day taking my medicines 

 Enhancing my self awareness by meditating,

This gives me a sense of optimism about life, 

I feel a sense of inner peace and acceptance.

I believe all things are possible, 

with God in my life.

My medicine has begun to kick in 

 it is time for my exercises to begin.

               I am off this morning on my trike, 

             enjoying nature's beautiful sights.

So put a smile on your face and have a great day!

COMMUNICATION

Today, I want to talk to you about Parkinson's and how it can cause misunderstandings

There have been times, while talking to you, my voice may taper off to where you can barely hear me. I may talk fast and then loose my train of thought because I am slowly thinking of the right words to say. 

There are times, I look as if I am mad, raising my voice for you to hear, sounding stern. Yes, this my Parkinson's disease. These things are not an excuse.

It takes a lot to upset me, and if that occurs I will normally let it go, or talk to you in private.

Having God, friends and family in my life is my reason for living.

Please read the following:

      •  handwriting: Many people complain their writing becomes hard to read. It becomes small, cramped and ‘spidery’. Whilst writing starts out normally, it tends to reduce in size as the page progresses. This is known as Micrographia and is one of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s, caused by Tremor and lack of coordination

     •  speech: it may be slurred or become monotonous with limited variation or expression in the voice, as well as a lack of volume. Some people find that as they talk, their speech becomes faster and incomprehensible. Using the telephone and communicating in social situations where there is background noise or lots of people.  Occasionally people with Parkinson’s have difficulty thinking of the right words to express what they want to say. It may take longer for them to generate sentences and initiate quick remarks, which may make rapid conversation in group situations difficult.  This is known as Bradyphrenia.

      •  facial movement and body language: both can become slow or even diminished. Facial expressions, such as smiling or frowning, may become difficult to make. Body language often lacks spontaneity, and gestures, such as nodding, may be missing. By contrast, abnormal involuntary movements - known as Dyskinesia - may make it difficult to control the face and mouth sufficiently to speak or otherwise communicate. 



• Parkinson’s can cause a number of communication difficulties: speech, facial expressions, handwriting and  body language are affected in many people. This obviously has a profound impact on how a person with Parkinson's interacts with everyone from family members to complete strangers.

•       The ways in which Parkinson’s can cause communication difficulties include:These difficulties can impact considerably on quality of life and can contribute to a very misleading picture of the affected person, resulting in assumptions being made about them - often which are erroneous and very distressing. 

• For example, people may assume that, rather than having Parkinson's, the person is drunk or unintelligent¹. Moreover, the ability to communicate may fluctuate during the day, depending on the medication schedule and whether the individual is ‘on’ or ‘off’. Such fluctuations can be very confusing to others.

• A lack of self-expression can dent your confidence to interact with others. In some people, this could lead to Depression, so it is important that family and friends are aware of your difficulties and encourage you to continue socialising.

Feeling Blessed

What a nice morning, if you don't mind the humidity!

God has blessed me again ~ I am here another day!

Sitting on my lanai, 

Spending the time enjoying life.

Watching nature at it's best. 

What would it be like to fly?

If only I could fly like the birds in the sky.

I would fly up as high as I could and dive, yes dive

down until I could land softly on the ground.

If only I could swim as smoothly as a dolphin

gliding up out of the water, flip and dive back down.

Oh the beauty of nature. A dream come true,

swimming like a dolphin in the oceans blue.

I wonder how a person like me could be happy as can be.

I will tell you how, because life has ups and downs.

I  am grateful as can be, I survived a major stroke 

and came back just missing one percent of me.

I have Parkinson's and hardening of the arteries in my brain

 A mystery and a challenge for my doctors you see.

But God has blessed me many times and has given back to me.

 Yes I work hard meditating, exercising my brain and body.

I am thankful to God for allowing me to help others

Life is so short and I don't know what tomorrow will bring,

It would be a sin to waste it on pity for me.

I am thankful to God, my family and friends,

Another wonderful Blessing until the end.

Learning Tai Chi

It is such a beautiful day. I am  so happy to be able to see the beauty of nature.

Although, I had a rough night, I thank God that I am alive.

As I start my day, as usual  I meditate. 

It helps me to relieve some of my pain as the medicine begins to help as well.

My plan today is to do some exercises called Tai Chi.

Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements.

Remember before you begin any exercise, please check with your doctor.

 Very good exercise for balance. 

Please see the following samples learning to do this exercise. 

You may have to copy and paste the  following ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApS1CLWO0BQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtWqDxwwMg

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. You may want to check to see if there are any facilities offering Tai Chi in your area, if it interest you.

I AM NOT INVISIBLE

Having a chronic illness  can be a lonely experience. 

Some times you must cancel an engagement 

because you are having an especially bad day.

You may not be able to engage in golf, tennis and etc., 

but you enjoy being with those people.

It becomes hard for you to cope. 

You feel invisible and lonely.

The people seem to like you, 

you hear about their fun of being together,

eating lunch or shopping together.

You understand, but it is lonely... You again feel invisible

You ask yourself.

Are they  afraid that I may fall when out with them?

Is it because I may choke on food if eating lunch with them?

Do you think you may catch what I have?

Are you embarrassed to be around me?

I want to shout >>> I AM NOT INVISIBLE !

I am just like you except that I have a disease,

 that I did not ask for.

I have wants and needs just like you. 

I enjoy being around people.

I am not dying I am still alive.

Just like you, I want to have Friends and enjoy life.

Are you so afraid to share your feelings about me to me.

I am not invisible, I am here.

Will you be my friend?

I WROTE THIS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH ILLNESSES OR DISABILITIES HAVE SHARED THEIR PAIN WITH ME. I FALL INTO THIS  CATEGORY  AS WELL.

HAVING A DISABILITY IS HARD ENOUGH BUT WHEN PEOPLE SEEM TO AVOID YOU AND NOT CALL OR COME BY. 
YOU FEEL INVISIBLE.
WHICH CAN BE JUST AS PAINFUL AS THE DISEASE ITSELF.

Pick Yourself Up

We all get blues from time to time.
We all have days that we feel like giving in 

Try looking at the good things about your life 
and not the downside of it.

Feel blessed that you are here.

There are others worse than you or me.

No matter what your illness is, 
try to do whatever is best for you. 

Depression can cause a lot of misery in your life. 

You feel isolated.

You are in more pain than normal.
You don't feel like getting up and out of bed.

If you are depressed and can not overcome it,

Help yourself by making an appointment with a psychiatrist.

Seeing a therapist is nothing to feel ashamed  about.
Some may need that extra push to learn to help themselves.

You can pick yourself up with the help from others.
But remember, no one can do it for you.

Some people are afraid to ask.
They like you and want to help,
 But don't want to offend you by asking. 
All you only need is to ask them for assistance.

I ask God to give you the will power and the strength to help yourself.

God Bless!