“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” Betty Friedane  “If we own the story then we can write the ending.” BrenĂ© Brown PrĂ©cis: To showcase the amazing art/photography/videography of Anders M. Leines who lives in Norway, which gives me the opportunity to voice an opinion about the emerging picture/image …
9 Life Lessons from 2016 Commencement Speeches
“There is no script. Live your life. Soak it all in.” Dick Costolo, University of Michigan in 2013 “I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.” Maya Angelou, University of California Riverside in 1977 Introduction: Each spring semester, University systems have graduation ceremonies along with …
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Chapter 5: A Parkinson’s Reading Companion on Positivity
”Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban "You can not have a positive life and a negative mind." Joyce Meyer Introduction: In 2015, I posted a blog entitled "Words Worth Living" (to read …
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Chapter 4: A Parkinson’s Reading Companion on Adversity
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis "Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging." Joseph Campbell PrĂ©cis: The students from my undergraduate course, “Biology of Blood Diseases”, submitted quotes about these words: hope, courage, journey, persistence, positivity, strength, adversity, mindfulness, and life (for further details …
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Chapter 2: A Parkinson’s Reading Companion on Life
"Life's a dance, you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. Don't worry about what you don't know, life's a dance, you learn as you go." John Michael Montgomery "Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life." Omar Khayyam PrĂ©cis: "Thought-filled Responses" is a part of my undergraduate course, "Biology …
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Chapter 1: A Parkinson’s Reading Companion on Hope
Preface: A Parkinson's Reading Companion “You may not control life's circumstances, but getting to be the author of your life means getting to control what you do with them.” Atul Gawande* “On every journey you take, you face choices. At every fork in the road, you make a choice. And it is those decisions that …
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Parkinson’s Treatment With Dopamine Agonist, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and Exercise
“Stop taking identity in illness and start taking identity in wellness” Nina Leavins “The thought of hope is the seed to healing.” Shilpa Menon PrĂ©cis: Several of you have asked for an update on my strategy for treating my Parkinson's. My current plan consists of traditional Parkinson's medication, augmented by a complementary and alternative medicine …
Hope in the Presence of Parkinson’s
“Never lose faith in yourself, and never lose hope; remember, even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back, there is still always hope.” Pittacus Lore "Hope is a function of struggle.” BrenĂ© Brown Beginning of the story: Tuesday, I drove from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Blacksburg, Virginia (~3 1/2 hours, …
11 Tips And Character Traits For Living Better With Parkinson’s
"In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship but never in want." Irish Toast “As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning.” Criss Jami Happy New Year! Thanks for all of your support, feedback, responses and suggestions in 2015; they were most appreciated. 2016 …
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6 Personal Strengths for Living Decisively with Parkinson’s
“How are they going to see me — as the colleague as I have always been, or as the patient I always will be? That was the beginning of my transition.” Alice Lazzarini (a Parkinson’s researcher who was diagnosed with Parkinson's) PrĂ©cis: After successfully hitting a golf ball out of a sand trap and onto …
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