You don’t know what people are dealing with…

I was talking to a friend recently about their relationship, which as it turns out, is not what we might have thought it was. She has been living with a very controlling spouse and she has done her best to keep this under wraps, so that most who know her would not have guessed. IContinue reading “You don’t know what people are dealing with…”

The familiar, the ordinary

Generally speaking, the familiar or the ordinary in our lives gives us a feeling of comfort or safety. A known quantity or experience to be relied upon. However, there are times when the familiar or the ordinary or what has become so, is not a good or safe thing. My second marriage became an unsafeContinue reading “The familiar, the ordinary”

I miss being part of a team….

My husband and I have been a strong team, just the two of us ever since we met. We know what we each need to be happy and we try very much to support each other to get those things that support us. It has been us against the world at times and more frequentlyContinue reading “I miss being part of a team….”

Giving thanks

Even though in New Zealand we do not celebrate Thanksgiving, we can all probably do with finding a moment, an hour, a day to give thanks for the things that we do have to be grateful for in our lives. I know recently, for the past four months in particular, I have struggled to findContinue reading “Giving thanks”

It takes two…

Thought I would start with something different today! Yes, it takes two or three or more, whatever you have available to you. The point of this is that it will be a rarity that anyone is completely alone in this journey. Even if you don’t have a partner, or children or siblings there will beContinue reading “It takes two…”

To tell or not to tell that is the question!

One of the first discussions my husband and I had following my diagnosis, was how soon to tell people, especially at work.  Being a very private person, his take was “you don’t have to rush into telling people”.  I thought about this for a nano-second – yes, I can be very decisive when I wantContinue reading “To tell or not to tell that is the question!”

Life is full of challenges…

I have always been someone who has had a lot of health challenges in their life. From minor to major and everything in between, I seem to have more than my fair share at times. Of course, the main health condition – and the one that spawned this Blog – is Parkinson’s. But there areContinue reading “Life is full of challenges…”

Pain is a difficult thing to describe

For what seems like forever, I have had significant pain originating from my back but felt mostly with pain down both legs but predominantly my left leg. I cannot stand beyond what seems like seconds, but maybe in reality is about two minutes. As someone who has a lot of pain in their life, thisContinue reading “Pain is a difficult thing to describe”

Substitutes, swaps and changes

I was thinking today about how we all have our own way of doing things, particularly when it comes to cooking a meal or baking. From my experience in my own family, there are those that have to follow a recipe to the letter and if they don’t have all the ingredients then they eitherContinue reading “Substitutes, swaps and changes”

Be your own best advocate…

For years I worked as a Social Worker and I often had to advocate for my patients and their families in various circumstances. When people find themselves needing significant health support and hospitalisation, they can feel that they have very little choice. It has always been important in my eyes to advocate for the choicesContinue reading “Be your own best advocate…”