Living My Best Life - a Column by Christine Scheer

Oh boy, where did the summer go? The past few weeks have passed at what feels like warp speed. Lately, everything reminds me to keep pushing, not give up, and remember that hope lives right here with us. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, and in 2021,…

I’ve been asked to do a small public presentation about my Parkinson’s journey. It’s all I can think about, even though it’s not for another month. Yes, friends, I’m stressing out! In the years before my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I was a confident public speaker. Usually, I’d be teaching…

A couple of months ago, a fellow boxer from my Parkinson’s boxing program passed away. I didn’t go to his memorial, but he was a well-loved member of the community, and apparently there were many hundreds of people there to celebrate him. A friend and I were musing on…

A few weeks ago, my husband, John, and I were at a friend’s house for dinner. It was a delightful evening of dining al fresco, delicious food, and friends in a beautiful environment. There was only one problem: I couldn’t hear the conversation! Ack! I’ve known for years that I…

For me, having goals is very important. For instance, in the 5K race that I ran last weekend, my goal was to smile for the last 100 meters or so, because that is when they snap a photo of you. Does it matter that I came in 1,153rd? No, it…

I’m training for a 5K race in June. The training plan is taped onto the fridge door, and I’m following it to a T. Except for the part where it says “run” — that’s where I alternate walking and running for one minute each. This method makes a 5K totally…

On Monday nights, I am always busy on my computer — often working on this column and sending out reminder emails to my Tuesday walking group. I started this group about three years ago, a couple years after I’d had deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. These emails…

I had deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for Parkinson’s disease in August 2021. I felt it was the best choice for me at that stage of the disease. My tremors were barely controlled by round-the-clock frequent doses of levodopa, and I was exhausted. Parkinson’s News Today describes…

Many years ago, I wrote a food column for our local newspaper. I called it “Cooking with the Seasons” and told people how to grow and cook with food from their gardens. One year, my husband, John, said, “We should try tapping a few maple trees and making our own…

A few years ago, my husband, John, and I purchased a teardrop trailer. It really is cute. The back opens into an outdoor kitchen; inside, there’s a double bed, a chest of drawers, some great under-the-bed storage, and a teeny-tiny bathroom. It is the perfect trailer for minimalists. We had…