Today was a good day was a thread I started in August 2021 and it quickly became a favourite part of the forum for me. I set it up mainly as a reminder to me that it was important to live in the present when faced with an uncertain future as that which comes with living with Parkinson’s and that however difficult the day may be, there were be something, however small, which may just turn that day around. I invited anyone who wished to, to post their own ‘Today was a good day …….’
It is not a page I look at frequently these days and I have been wondering if it has largely run its course for me; that in the same way I needed to take a break from contributing so frequently to the forum, so too I needed to let this page lie for a bit maybe even permanently. Today I have been re-reading some of the very early posts and once again they have given me a perspective that I was in danger of losing with all that has been going on in my life lately.
So I can write with absolute honesty that today was a good day reminding me as it has, of the importance of living in the present, in the moment and that even the bad days have their place by highlighting just how much the fragility of life can be strengthened by the smallest of things, as long as we take time to look…
Today was a good day because it was the day I remembered why I started this thread and that continues to hold true more than three years on.
Good afternoon Tot … Do you know when I see your “Today was a good day” thread pop up my first thought is “No it isn’t” … I have a negative attitude don’t I ? I admire the way you are able to look on life so positively. Personally I do wonder why I am able to help and advise others coming to terms with Parkinson’s issues on this thread, but I can’t help myself. I have just called the Parkinson’s helpline and am awaiting a call back.
I think I should have phoned the Samaritans.
The trouble with living on your own as I do is that I have no one to talk my problems through with. I do want to get better but it is so difficult to know what to do. I do find life extremely frustrating. Do you know I had my 71st birthday last week & I didn’t realise until the following day.
I have recently had a diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis. If I sit down for only a short period of time then I can’t walk very well at all. I spoke to a neurologist recently who said my problems were as much musculoskeletal as they are Parkinson’s. I then saw a musculoskeletal physiotherapist who advised I exercise more. I have exercised and found it hurts my back. Especially swinging my legs. It is so difficult to keep positive.
The only place I’m comfortable is lying in bed but my medical advisers say that is bad for me. But I can’t sit down for long and I can’t walk.
My medication is a real issue for me. Can’t sleep at night and can’t wake up in the morning. I seem to be tired all day. How can you exercise if you are tired? Probably going bowling 4 or 5 days a week is enough to say I’ve tried.
My one outlet is playing Indoor bowls most days. Only for two hours a day but I do feel better afterwards. I do wonder / worry about how much longer I will be able to play.
I’m sorry you’re in an awful place at the moment and that life is being such a bitch to you. I don’t know quite what to say apart from please don’t give in
I at the grand old age of 51 & 3 months old am finding that my legs are deteriorating more than my upper body. I wake in the morning and get up, it takes a few moments for me to be balanced then a few steps to be walking upright. I walk my dogs fine for 1hr go home and then I walk 5 minutes to work and then cleaning for 4.5 hrs. I find walking home (10 minutes) a struggle by the end of the week. I have an afternoon nap (2hrs) if i can before walking the dogs again for another hr. I’ve taken to driving then to a field in the late afternoon/evening, so they can get out and run. In this last week I’ve began using a walking cane to steady myself walking on uneven fields and I feel more confident than before. I’m concerned about my future and how long I will be able to continue working for. I will never give up my boys, they give me the Will to keep going xx
Hello Steve2
I have an elderly friend I am very fond of but whose view of life is negative. She was referred to a specialist - waste of time says she both before and after her appointment… She was prescribed a different tablet - it won’t work says she before she has tried it. Practically everyone she knows has an ailment and none have a good experience of the NHS or social care. Her most frequent expression is ‘ain’t it terrible.’ She says don’t get old it’s terrible and she says that even to me and knowing what my future may be. You get the idea I’m sure. I talk about her view of health and social care here but she is the same about life in general. I sometimes wonder why we are friends but we do have quite a firey relationship because I challenge her view - when in the mood or have the energy to do so. She bases a lot of her views on ‘headline news’ and without knowing all the facts or understanding how the system works. I know when I’ve hit home because she will change the subject. I sometimes think our friendship works because she has a grudging respect for my view that she may not agree with but has to accept the validity of the argument. Ultimately, being negative makes her happy, it’s what keeps her going. Her negativity is as strong as my positivity. If you are by nature a negative person Steve2 nothing I or anyone else can say or do will make a difference. I may not have the problems you and Hannah described but don’t think for one moment life has always been a bundle of fun for me either before or since my diagnosis. I have a positive attitude as strong as your negative one but it doesn’t mean I see things through rose tinted glasses. I am every bit as honest about my situation as you are about yours. I too live with a second diagnosis every bit as serious as Parkinson’s as do many others on the forum, I too live on my own, I too have no-one always there ready and willing to listen to me when I need to talk. I have over the years learnt how to manage that, to be content with who I am, to find ways to cope when the going gets tough and there’s no-one there - that’s why I sometimes post poems on the forum that are not easy reads and why I started the Today was a good day thread - because both of those things in their different ways give me strength and reinforce my belief that positivity is right for me - that it is me. If negativity reflects who you are and what you want from life so be it, give up if you want. Personally I would rather take Hannah’s response. She gets on with life as best she can. She fears her future but I think she will be ok since she can see what she has and understands what she needs to do to keep going - which is preferable to the alternative. I am not being critical of you Steve2, you are what you are but don’t see my positivity as being because my life is easier than yours., it’s not. I didn’t intend to divulge this on the forum but I feel I have a point to prove to you. In eight months both my ‘Mum and one of my sisters has died. My mum was 93 and had what they called an expected death - she had cancer. A policeman coming to my door at 10.00 pm one evening in January told me of my sister’s death. Totally out of the blue and unexpected. The post mortem was inconclusive. we are still waiting for the coroner’s findings. It makes no sense to us. She had just turned 64… Now you tell me why I shouldn’t believe every word I write about being positive - that you should live in the present and value every day because there are no repeats. The day I learnt of my sister’s death was awful but even then I tried to think of a positive - that up until that evening I had had a good day with a walk to a local nature reserve which was lovely and ultimately grateful my sister was found by the police rather than one of my siblings finding her which would have meant their giving statements to the police and having to live with that image for the rest of their lives. If anything it has strengthened my resolve to live the best life I can. You can choose to give upSteve2 if that’s your mindset and makes you happy, that is your right and I respect your decision. As I have said many times, everyone has to find their own path and Parkinson’s or indeed anything else, doesn’t have to be the end unless you choose it to be. My sister’s death has made me believe that more than ever so I will carry on being positive for as long as it holds good for me. If a time comes when it doesn’t I will cross that bridge when I come to it knowing that before that point, if it happens, I would have lived the best life I could just like I always said.
Tot
The plan this year was to bring some long overdue order to my garden and specifically make it easier for me to manage. First step was to get the flagstones cleaned up and as this started to happen it showed up the back wall dreadfully so a paint job was added to the list. Pots were emptied and cleaned, garden furniture cleaned and some planning with what to do with the crucial ‘middle bit.’
Today was a good day because after about six weeks doing a bit at a time my garden was ready to start over with low maintenance being the key. The middle is already started with two large existing pots and some ornaments. I have added a rosemary and mint plants and will add basil and parsely. I am going to look for some long flowering perennial plants to add some colour over spring and much of the summer and that will be it. I can then sit in my garden with colour from the plants and wonderful smelling herbs - all that is needed is the weather to do it’s part.
Today was a good day because this was a big project for me and I wasn’t sure I could do it… It took time and I had to pace myself - which was a bit frustrating - and today I finished what I set out to do, The only bit oustanding is the nice bit - choosing the plants. I am thrilled with what I have managed to do and delighted that I decided to give it a go even though not sure it was realistic. Tonight I am tired but very content.
Tot
Thanks for asking Tot … I think if I knew that nothing could be done for me I would be somehow happier & more content with the cards that have been dealt me.
I’m seeing the Musculoskeletal physiotherapist again next week & I will see what she has to say. I also have an appointment with a consultant Urologist coming up, not sure what that is about. I have had a number of blood tests maybe something to do with that.
