I recently traveled to New Jersey and was a guest at the home of Eileen “Strong Feather’ Colon. It was a great joy to meet Strong Feather again and to meet her family and some of her friends who support her in her endeavors with the Regulars. It was a great privilege of mine to meet the founder of the Regulars, Enzo Simone, at Strong Feather’s home. Enzo is an amazing person whom I admire for his passion and commitment to ending Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (ALZ). His mother has ALZ and his father-in-law has PD.Enzo has gift of encouraging others to go beyond their expectations and to take a leap of faith in ones own dreams. He is a not only an inspiration to many people, he is a friend. He is a friend like those Strong Feather writes about in a blog dated Jan 3, 2009 on 10mountains10years.blogspot.com. I like how she describes the bonds of friendships she has made through her efforts with The Regulars. It made me think of my friendships and I wanted to write a similar note paralleling herds but with my perspective on my many friendships I have formed by living with Parkinson’s disease. (Being a part of Parkinson’s Journey is a direct result of a very special friendship I have with Sherri and from meeting her in an online support site.) So I hope you will read Strong Feather’s article and then see the similarities in what these friendships mean to us as you read my thoughts below.
I would also like to encourage you to learn about the Regulars and become friends with them. And, I hope you will consider joining me and The Regulars this year on Mt. Washington as part of the “Army of Change” and as a personal commitment to end PD and ALZ! If you will believe “Together is One” then we as ’regular people’ have the best chance of ridding the world of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson‘s!
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(This is written as a parallel to a blog article “Friendships” posted on Jan 3, 2009 on 10mountains10years.blogspot.com by Strong Feather of the Regulars. “Friendships” was written a year ago but it all will always ring true.)
Friendships
The following is from Judy’s perspective as a person living with Parkinson’s disease and a supporter of The Regulars: I have formed some very special friendships with people I’ve met on the internet who have ventured there to learn about Parkinson’s disease. I went online in 2004 almost 2 years after I was diagnosed to hear how others cope with this illness. Many times these friendships are initially formed by these simple typed words “Hi, how are you?” “I have PD, do you?”. And then a conversation begins. And friendships grow. Friendships that will never be broken, will endure any test, and be based on respect and admiration for coping with a chronic illness that has affected our lives. We soon recognize those who share our passions and we become unified in our thoughts, our dreams, and our intent. Men, women, sons, daughters, people with Parkinson’s, people with Alzheimers, caregivers, and friends.
JOIN THE GROUP: THE ARMY OF CHANGE
I mention Alzheimer’s because I have met new friends dealing with this illness since I have become a supporter of The Regulars who climb mountains to bring awareness to these illnesses. There is no real discrimination of people who are affected by ALZ and PD …we’re all on the same page. When we talk about our struggles they are different but very much the same and bonds are formed. We are all one. And we all have this hope: that a cure will be real some day.
We encourage, we try to know when to type, and when to let the other one vent. We may come from different backgrounds, different continents, have different life experiences and many of us are joining a common cause through efforts of the Regulars or the Parkinson’s Unity Walk or other efforts involving awareness of an illness that we live with every day. Whether or not any cure is found from these efforts, I can say that good things will come just because a camaraderie has evolved. There is a bond that is formed by these friends that embodies goodness, kindness and love –and I’ve been blessed to have felt it many times. The person who is a caregiver feels it, and the one who bears the pain of the illness of PD or ALZ feels it. A feeling of trust amongst one another is prevalent. Whenever we share our trials or joys, each of us share in it and that in itself brings comfort. Whether or not you have felt the exact pain or joy, you are willing to share it and you benefit from it all.
Many times we may never meet our online friends in person, but when you do, then you can really get to know their hearts. You can see it in their eyes. Their eyes are the windows to their souls. When you speak and look at the person that you had been talking to via the computer it solidifies the feeling that was already there – that the path and thoughts you share together are part of a common goal.
You learn even more from the things you talk about in person. You can give that hug or a pat on the back that you‘ve wanted to give so many times before you met. You finally meet and have some time to share, to laugh, to cry, or time to just sit and know that someone is there who cares. Our conversations may go from serious to silly and then back to our illness or struggles or triumphs, but it is all good because we know someone else understands the road we travel.
Even if you only know these friends online, you can compare symptoms,results, successes, failures, recommendations and experiences with doctors, medication tips, relationships, or just about anything related to the illness that impacts your life. And when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, friends of the heart will be there… reaching out with words of encouragement, almost as if a hand was really there helping you back up. They will remind you of limitations but urge you to follow your dreams, and they will applaud when you soar high in anything you try!
We hold deep the stories we share, the passion we share, and of course, the friendships we share. Nobody can give this to you. You have to want it, to own it. It flows in all of us.
And the vision and friendship and support you have knowing the Regulars will make you want to do more for your friends with PD. It will bring you alongside new friends who live with Alzheimers. Perhaps two illnesses can be defeated by one army made up of people just like you, me, our family and friends.
So I’d like to challenge my friends with this last paragraph which is unaltered and is Strong Feather’s own words. It so aptly provokes us all to consider accepting a new job, a new dream, new way of finding a cure – and being a part of something special.
Think about it for a day. Think about it for a week. This is how things get done. This is how things happen. Just a simple meet and greet to strapping on a pack and becoming part of the team. Or you can just advocate, raise money and become part of the dream. Just as rewarding, if the physical challenge of climbing is too much for you, [is] if you become part of this project in any capacity, the hope of cures being found and money to help fund projects becomes more of a reality. Think of those you love and how you inspire them. They too will join forces to help. If we all come together it can be done. Believe in the cause and then become part of the cause.
“Together is One”
You have the opportunity to be a part of a climb yourself with the Regulars on July 31st, 2010 on Mt. Washington – New Hampshire. I hope you will be there to climb what could be your own Mt. Everest and make a difference in the quest for a cure!
Judy
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Storm Mt Washington
JOIN THE GROUP: THE ARMY OF CHANGE
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