The little things matter, more so when they are gone: what PD has taught me to appreciate

I am typing this, one handed while sitting on some steps, the only comfy position I’ve discovered in the last hour, at 1:20 a.m. because I can’t sleep with all these thoughts in my head, which I feel compulsed or obsessed to share (just in case it might help someone else). And you thought you had problems…face it – WE all got problems!

They can be little or big, but they are there. So what should you do with them?

Well, I’m not a pyschologist, pyschic, used car mechanic or even an aerospace electrical engineer, or horoscope reader. I’m still trying to figure out the usefulness of the almanac or even my blog entries. But I know this, Parkinson’s disease changes more than musle control….it changes your heart.

I hope for many with PD that their heart-change has been for the better as I think mine has been (no snickering in the balcony, please). This change may be gradual or it may come smack you outta the blue one day..the little things in life become appreciated. Some of the symptoms below are effects of Parkinson’s disease and others are side affects of typical PD medications, but here are a few little things I appreciate more today. You may be surprised how some things we take for granted can now seem so much more appreciated when you have some difficuly doing them or can no longer do them at all.

SLEEP-meds keep me from sleeping well, so when I sit still long somewhere I will doze off. Embarrasing.

MULTITASKING – I long for the days when I could keep up with everything and do two or more projects at the same time. My brain and movement restriction prevent this most useful capability.

PERSONALITY – I am differnt in the way I relate to others, which I think is a positive. But on some days I just wannaa do what I wanna do. I still want the old me back at times. My husband told me one day that I was like the child now, and that was kind of eye-opening (after I got over pitching a fit about how he should try to understand PD more).

JUDGEMENT- and good sense. I don’t always think things through like I should. This can be a plus but usually not. Another notch in the ‘child’ nature statement, I guess.

BALANCE, SENSE of SMELL, TALKING SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU– all getting worse and very frustrating at times. Loss of smell can have some benefits.

WALKING with EASE–when my meds are wearing off I walk like Fred Sanford, dragging my left foot, LOSS of SENSE of TIME — why I don’t get anywhere on time much anymore; I still think I can get ready in 30 minutes, but it’s more like 45, HANDWRITING –good luck reading mine!

But in all of this progression of losing some capabilities, I have learned to appreciate more little things like….a bird chirping, a flower blooming, a smile, a note or call from a friend, a hug, the sunrise and sunset, and the fact that I’m not alone, and many more things that I’ll save for another blog someday.

I hope you get my point…it may have gotten lost in the little things, and that’s ok.

Judy

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