In exactly a week it will be 20 years since my husband arrived from England and we met for the first time. We met on an internet site and I often say he is the best bit of internet shopping I ever did.
So for 20 years we have had our ups and downs in life, but through it all we have remained strong. He is fortunate that he has few health issues, while I seem to have an ever growing cocktail of ailments. Parkies is just the latest of the bunch.
I could not have imagined getting through some things in life without him by my side. I just wish he didn’t have to have the next 20 years of what might be a difficult time for us both. However, there is a thing we often talk about as Social Workers and that thing is ‘resilience’. The thinking is that we all tend to build resilience from those difficult times in the past. So, when facing a new challenge in life, we can think back to other challenges and think ‘I got through that, I can get through this!’
So, as we near our 20th Anniversary of being together, I’d like to say that I am blessed to have him in my life. We are stronger together and our shared strength will get us through. To him I can show my vulnerability. I don’t need to pretend. I can truly be me. When times are good we can laugh together. When times are tough we can cry together. To be open and honest in how we feel, I feel is important for those of us navigating our changing world as a person with Parkies.
I hope that others find that special someone, be it a friend, a family member, a partner that they can be their true selves with. To share and care and be there for each other. It is not just those of us that have this diagnosis that travels this road. It is a road we travel with those who love us.
May the next 20 years be good years and may our resilience get us through when times may not feel so good.
My journey with Parkinsons 