Words are important

I know there will be changes to my body in the future. I think I am prepared for that. The thing that I am not looking forward to, is that one day my voice will change and my words both spoken and written may leave me. I have had some symptoms which apparently can be down to some of the heavy duty pain meds the Doctor has prescribed me. They make me hesitant in my speech and also a bit ‘breathy’. Hopefully once I no longer need them, voice will return to normal.

I have said many times that this Blog has saved my life. I started it about a month after being diagnosed, if I hadn’t started it and written it regularly, I don’t know how I would have coped especially in those early years. It gives me an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, to work out and process what is happening to me. I hope that those that follow me get something out of it and they feel less alone in this journey. I always feel better when I know that someone else is experiencing similar things. I especially like when people share their journey with me and offer me support and insight on how they manage this condition.

My other love is poetry and I write poetry for all sorts of occasions. I have written poetry since I was five but since I was diagnosed I am finding it much easier to write. I read somewhere that any artistic talent you have can be enhanced by Parkinson’s. That certainly is the case for me. My poetry is more prolific and more well written than ever before.

This is coming up to being my fourth year living with the interloper that is Parkinson’s. Basically, the Parkies side of things is pretty good and it is behaving itself. It’s my back that is currently causing me problems. Because I am on strong medications for my back and leg pain, my husband thinks it is the meds that are messing with my brain at the moment. I hope that when I am off the meds that the flow of my speech both written and oral improves.

So, writing has been a big part of my life, especially my Blog and my poetry. I am focussing now on getting my thoughts down in my Blog more. I lapsed a bit when I started working on my children’s book. Now I am back and I am going to make sure I write more poetry and share it with my family. I will also try to be more regular in writing my blog.

What talent you have – I’m sure most of us can think of one – if it is writing, you can hopefully get your words written down if you are still able to do so. If you paint get painting, if you are a clever soul who can make statues, get making while you can. Maybe write a letter to your children and your family about how much they mean to you – if indeed they do – while you have time and before you have trouble finding the words you want and they are not working orally.

If you can, make the most of your words, or your other talents while you can and you can give them to your family to cherish. My words are a huge part of me and I find it easier to write things down sometimes rather than saying them.

I hope to be able to use my words both orally and in written form, for many years to come. I also hope that my Blog proves useful and those who read it get some value and get something from it of value.