I think I have always been someone who, from an early age wanted to help and support people. I have had a lots of ups and downs in life, both in relationships and with my health. I have had depression, I’ve recovered and I’ve headed towards depression again in this life. I am happy to say that right now, I am feeling mostly positive in life and that I have a lot to look forward to.
In looking forward, I will say that I am definitely ‘a planner’ and someone who likes a certain amount of control over situations. Something that is difficult with Parkinson’s. But, what I can control I definitely will try to.
What feels like it is in my hands is my ability to be able to write, both this Blog and my poetry. As I have said on many occasions, my words are important to me and I hope that I can continue to write for many years to come. I write this Blog as a therapy for myself, but also to hopefully help others. Somehow, too, I am able to more easily express myself in writing both in this Blog and through my poetry. I have been more prolific with my poetry in the last year especially, than I have in many years.
In my working life, I am definitely in a helping profession as a Social Worker. I have been considering for a while how I might make a deeper contribution. I have recently started having conversations with people about writing a book. Without going into too much detail – I am hoping, with some collaboration, that I will be able to write a book that will make a difference in people’s lives. The book would not be anything to do with Parkinson’s, but I hope that it would help others that I come in contact with.
As I was talking to one of my mentors today, I said to her that since my diagnosis, I feel more deeply the need to leave something of value behind me. To continue to contribute into the future and leave a legacy that I – and my family – can be proud of. It is very much a germ of an idea at the moment, but I hope that I can achieve something special that can help people going through some difficult times in their lives. If, through my experience I can help others to understand what is happening to them or their family, then I have contributed something that I hope will be of ongoing value to them.
Hopefully, the germ of an idea now planted and nourished by the encouragement of my mentors and others will grow into something special for the future.
My journey with Parkinsons 