It is difficult for me to imagine not having my blog and my podcast as an avenue to process all that has happened for me and still happening. I have been diagnosed now for about 4.5 years, my anniversary being on 15/12 which will be five years. Some have said that focussing on my Parkinson’s is not healthy, but I beg to differ. It is the healthiest thing for me personally.
Anyone that knows me well, especially those I worked alongside as a Social Worker, knows that I am someone who works out what to do by talking things through with someone I trust. Many was the time when I would go and find one of my Social Work colleagues and talk over an issue, or a course of action. It was not so much that I didn’t know what to do, but more that in talking it through it helped me to crystallise my thinking and also to get feedback and suggestions from someone I trusted.
So, this Blog and also now my podcast are an extension of that way of thinking. By sitting at my keyboard and allowing my thoughts to flow through my fingers and thus onto my blog, I am able to think things through. I am able to talk through my blog and it helps me to understand those thoughts and feelings and what if anything I needed to do about them. More lately, I have focussed a lot on my podcasts. I apologise to any of my blog followers. I do not mean to neglect those of you who have been following me for a while, I have so many ideas of what I can do that it’s hard to catch up with myself sometimes.
Both my blog and my podcast series give me so much. The podcast gives me the opportunity to interview others that may be useful for all of us with Parkinson’s. Because I record myself speaking, it is almost like I am talking things through, like I did with my Social Work colleagues in the past. When I record the podcasts, they are totally unscripted apart from perhaps a working title and at most two or three bullet points.
So, when I press the ‘go button’ to record a podcast, it is like talking to anyone who is listening and it helps me to think. That is why in doing so, I hope that people will comment, so I know what they are thinking of whatever the topic is. I love to get comments, it helps me to know that I am listened to and that sharing my journey has value.
I will try to have more balance in the future and not focus too much on my podcasts and therefore neglect my blog, which I couldn’t imagine being without.
As long as I am able to type or record my thoughts and in doing so, not only help myself, but also reach out to others with Parkinson’s and maybe help them to feel that they do not journey alone. For those especially who do not have a partner or friends to support them, I encourage you to contact your local Parkinson’s society and see how they can support you. They are bound to have something where you can interact with others with Parkinson’s and share experiences.
Consult the experts. By this I do not so much mean the Neuro specialists who diagnosed you, but rather other PWP’s (people with Parkinson’s) who can share the knowledge hard won of their own journeys. They can talk about what it is like to live a life with Parkinson’s.
The kind of expertise we all bring to the table is something you cannot learn in a university or any kind of course.
Our expertise comes from living this life of Parkinson’s every day.
But not letting Parkinson’s control our lives unnecessarily.
It is with us, but is not all we are.
Don’t forget that!
My journey with Parkinsons 