Learning, learning, learning

I remember when I first started a course in broadcasting. One of the teachers addressed the class and said, “I am not in the business of churning out students. I am in the business of creating life long learners!” I am drawing on that ethos now, as I become a life long learner about Parkinson’s and draw from others’ wisdom and knowledge.

Over the weekend I have drawn on the knowledge of the Michael J Fox Foundation Resources for People Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson’s | Parkinson’s Disease (michaeljfox.org)

I found the information there inspiring, especially the first hand accounts of how others dealt with the diagnosis and the things that have helped them. As a result of this, I have done the following:

• Put a post on my local Parkinson’s Facebook Page, asking if anyone newly diagnosed would like to join me for coffee to share experiences and support each other.
• Contacted my specialist Parkinson’s Nurse to say I would be interested in being involved in research.
• I am also reading Michael J Fox’s latest memoir, “No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality”. As someone who has had Parkinson’s for a very long time, he is an inspiration.

So, I will continue to be a ‘life long learner’ but my specialist subject will be Parkinson’s. Through learning all I can from a number of sources, books, videos and my fellow Parkies people I meet, I hope that knowledge will give me strength and strength will give me power over this condition.