10th Anniversary: Has PD Given Me Gifts?

Dear Parkinson's,

We were diagnosed with PD in February, 2013. February, 2023 will be the tenth anniversary of our official, diagnosed, life together, although we were getting to know each other years before that. I feel that our relationship is progressing. I remember when we met among the nerve cells of the substantia nigra. By the time we were officially diagnosed, we had already lost 80 percent of our dopamine-producing cells.

Do you think we should get an anniversary present for each other? Aluminum is traditional for the tenth anniversary, but I can't think of anything made of aluminum that I would want. I have an idea. We could get masquerade costumes. Parkinson's has already given me a mask to go with the costume, due to decreased facial expression. There are some gifts you have given me that I would like to return.. Are there gift receipts for these things I got from you? I would like to box up and return muscle rigidity, stiffness in the arms, shoulders and neck, voice changes and sleep disturbances. If you’re willing to take those back, I’m sure I could find a few more.

On the other hand, there are some things you have given me that I love and wouldn’t mind more of:

Give me more flexibility in adjusting to change. There are parts of my life I have no control over. Every day poses unique challenges and I need to be able to quickly shift course.

Remind me to have a positive attitude. Choosing to have a positive attitude impacts my relationships with others and how I take care of myself.

Keep teaching me compassion. You may have changed my way of moving, working and living, but you also taught me to have compassion, empathy and appreciation for those affected by all types of illness.

And, Parkinson’s, let’s keep being open and unashamed about what you give me. This openness has led to wonderful friendships, and a most supportive community.

You gave me the gift of gratitude. I believe that you have increased my gratitude for the simple things in life that are often taken for granted.

So Parkinson’s, like so many relationships, we have had good times and weathered some bad times. May we continue in our journey together for many years to come.

Creativity and PD

PARKINSON’S AND CREATIVITY: A SURPRISING SIDE EFFECT

From World Parkinson's Congress blog https://www.worldpdcongress.org/home/2022/10/17/parkinsons-and-creativity-a-surprising-side-effect

We all search for silver linings to offset our losses, whatever they may be. With PD, I have found quite a few: friendships with people I most likely wouldn’t have gotten to know; an appreciation for tenacity in the face of disease; more acceptance of others with afflictions; and to my surprise, enhanced creativity. PD can lead us to more openness and experimentation, two qualities that are required for living a creative and engaged life. This may be due to changes in the brain brought on by the disease itself, changes brought on by the medications used to treat it, the influence of the experience of living with the disease, or a combination of all three.

The awakening of artistic creativity and Parkinson's disease

Despite the prominent loss of motor skills, artistic capacities remain preserved in Parkinson's disease (PD). Furthermore, artistic creativity may emerge in art-naïve PD patients treated with levodopa and dopamine agonists.

Read more at

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23316709/

Creativity and Parkinson's: Guest Blogger Allan Cole Shares His Experience

https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/creativity-and-parkinsons-guest-blogger-allan-cole-shares-his-experience

Compulsive Creativity and Parkinson's Disease | David Denton | TEDxUTK

Jud Art - Acrylic ink and alcohol ink

This art is a form of breath control meditation. I use my lungs, mouth and breath to blow inks of various viscosities to create images. Steady air stream makes long lines. Sharp blasts create ink explosions. The result is precise.

Jud was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2012. He began breath painting shortly after his diagnosis. He feels compelled to create as an artist, and also finds the creative process alleviates many of his symptoms.

People see insects, birds, trees and more in this art. These impressions are similar to seeing images in cloud formations.

Compositions are inspired by Arabic, Chinese and Hebrew calligraphy, petroglyphs and the drawings of Santiago Ramon e Cajal.