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How can we experience real joy when we struggle to be thankful? Dealing with difficult circumstances, particularly when living with a chronic illness such as Parkinson’s disease, can lead us to have a grim outlook on life. We can become embittered when things don’t go as we’d expected or wanted.

We often try to hide from the world when we feel inadequate, abnormal, or different. It’s a natural defense that can be destructive when it leads to feelings of shame. Shame is an emotion we would rather avoid. It can come upon us unexpectedly. We tend to associate it with…

I don’t want to take away from Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman or singer-songwriter Bobby McFerrin, but the idea that a pair of rose-colored “don’t worry” glasses will change my life for the better has never sat well with me. Pollyanna is not a guest in my home. “Look…

You may have encountered the term “rainmaker” used in the nonliteral sense. Lindsay McPhail, editorial director of The Wild Woman Magazine, describes a rainmaker as “someone who brings hope to dry and barren places. Someone brave enough to get face to face with her own darkness and vulnerable enough…

When you are new to something, it’s common to feel disconnected or out of place — especially when it comes to understanding the language. At church, newcomers may hear words that don’t make any sense. “Churchy” people (including me) tend to throw around big words. It also occurs with abbreviations.

Wailing, with tears flowing, I cry out, “I feel terrible! I can’t even think straight!” My partner runs over and hugs me hard. I am lost and have nothing left to give. This is one way that “crossing the threshold” affects my life. It rarely happens — once every…

When Parkinson’s entered my life, it brought an uninvited guest along with it: Parkinson’s me. Parkinson’s me follows me everywhere and is part of everything I do. Most of the time, she quietly stays in the background. Other times, she is overwhelming, to the point where putting on my brave…

Writing about Parkinson’s disease is a cumbersome game. I’m a journalist in my regular life, so I’m no stranger to telling complicated and emotional stories. But my lens is usually focused on others. I tell stories about accomplished athletes and faraway places that don’t affect me directly. But Parkinson’s disease…

Sometimes I wonder what my life with Parkinson’s disease will be like in the coming years. I also think about the challenges that my caregiver will face. It’s hard to avoid thinking about the future when you live with a chronic disease. Sitting outside on my porch this summer, I…

“It’s good to be able to laugh at yourself and the problems you face in life. Sense of humor can save you.” –Margaret Cho Lately, I feel like my cognitive skills are starting to deteriorate. I’m certainly not the sharpest knife in the drawer anymore. This became apparent to…