Parkinson’s: Won’t Back Down

“The beginning is always today.” Mary Wollstonecraft

“Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” Abraham Lincoln

Introduction: Living with Parkinson’s is a minute, hourly, and daily challenge. It takes patience, determination, persistence, and the ability to not back down from the challenge it presents. In one of Tom Petty’s songs entitled “I Won’t Back Down,” the theme is quite simple and direct, “I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down.” Tom Petty

“To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up.” Ralph Bunche

Standing Firm Against Parkinson’s: I will start singing by myself a lot, always have; it makes me happy. When I hear a song from long ago on the radio, I think back to that period, and usually, it is a good feeling, but sometimes it’s not. Music has the power to evoke that memory, to recall the happy/unhappy moments. This song also has the memory of the 9/11 attacks, and Petty sang it during the tribute to the heroes concert. But it has a meaning of resistance, which works well for me regarding our daily ordeal with Parkinson’s. Consider these lines: “Well I know what’s right, I got just one life / in a world that keeps on pushin’ me around / but I’ll stand my ground, and I won’t back down.” To me, that says, your battle goes on against the disorder, it is never-ending, but you stand a chance if you hold your own up against this challenge we call Parkinson’s.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchill

When Your Back Is Against the Wall, Stand Firm Against Parkinson’s:  Everyone with Parkinson’s deals with their disorder in a very personal manner. As we all know, the expression of the symptoms of Parkinson’s is most variable; it’s a strange disorder in that way. My belief is to give it an identity and describe it as a menace that has somehow been trying to dominate my thoughts, life, and existence. Parkinson’s wants to just take over. Thus, the battle is on, to resist, to not back down, to stand as firm as I can possibly be. Yes, this battle is imaginary, but the battleground is real. It’s me. When Tom Petty sings, “But I won’t back down / No, I’ll stand my ground / Won’t be turned around,” it resonates and builds resistance in me against Parkinson’s. We all have our approach to living daily with this disorder. Live with Hope!

“When you’re out of will power you call on stubbornness, that’s the trick.” Henri Matisse

I Won’t Back Down Song by Tom Petty

Well, I won’t back down
No, I won’t back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won’t back down
No, I’ll stand my ground
Won’t be turned around
And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won’t back down
(I won’t back down)

Hey, baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down
Well I know what’s right
I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
But I’ll stand my ground
And I won’t back down
(I won’t back dow

Hey, baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down
Hey baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I won’t back down
(I won’t back down)
Hey, baby, there ain’t no easy way out
(I won’t back down)
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won’t back down
No, I won’t back down

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – I Won’t Back Down (Official Music Video)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – I Won’t Back Down (live 2006) HQ 0815007

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Calvin Coolidge

Cover photo image by the_p_adventure from Pixabay