Kindness

“Everyone you meet is facing a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Robin Williams I once had a hospital appointment that I was quite anxious about. When I arrived, there was a security guard outside the door who told me to ring the buzzer. I rang the buzzer and waited. Then another member…

Living with Parkinson’s… 9 nine years and counting

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nearly nine years ago, I had no idea what my future would look like. I consider myself lucky to have access to brilliant NHS services for Parkinson’s and also great support from friends and family. Without both of these, my Parkinson’s journey would have been a much more difficult…

Lost and found

I have recently returned from a wonderful week’s holiday in the Lake District. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a break, enjoy several walks and spend the week with an amazing group of people – friends old and new on this year’s Thinking Faith retreat at Boarbank Hall in Cumbria… I last…

Things are not always as they seem

“I can wave!” I can wave my hand! I remember feeling excited about being able to wave again, shortly after I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and started taking medication. It may seem like a little thing, but for me it was a really big deal. I had that excited feeling again, eight years later, last…

My new normal: Recharging my battery, being reunited with my orange frog and playing Scrabble with a missing tile

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s changed me in lots of ways. At the time, I never thought I would feel ‘normal’ again, but it’s surprising how quickly we can adapt sometimes. What’s ‘normal’ anyway? I guess in this context, it’s what feels normal to each of us as individuals. Prior to my Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)…

Self Care Week – Round up and practical tips for self care

During this Self Care Week, I have been sharing some insights into self care when you have a long term condition from some friends who inspire me. We all have different conditions, but we also have a lot in common, I think most importantly, our determination to live as well as we can with our…

Self Care Week – Making every choice count

This Self Care Week, I have been sharing some insights into self care when you have a long term condition from some of my friends. So, I guess today it’s my turn… My attitude to self care is pretty much summed up in one of my early blogs – one of the important life lessons…

Self Care with friends who inspire me: Part 5 – Faith, hope and zebras

Did you know that the zebra is often a symbol for rare chronic conditions? Medical students have been taught for years “When you hear (the ‘clip-clop-clip’ of) hoofbeats behind you, don’t expect to see a zebra.” In other words, they have been taught (rightly or wrongly) to look for the more common diagnosis, not the…

Self care with friends who inspire me: Part 4 – Opening jars, coping with pain and talking about arthritis

I first met Jen in 2003 when we walked Pilgrim Cross together. Pilgrim Cross (formerly called Student Cross) is a walking pilgrimage to Walsingham during Holy Week where different groups (known as ‘legs’) walk from different places carrying a large wooden cross and arrive in Walsingham on Good Friday to celebrate Easter weekend together. Jen…

Self care with friends who inspire me: Part 3 – Being independently supported to live well with type 1 diabetes

I met Stevie at work about 10 years ago. The first time, I properly got to know her, I remember I got a lift from her to an event at work and there was no awkward small talk, I immediately felt comfortable with her and we chatted away. Some time later, not long after I…