Over the past month there has been a lot of talk about PD, many runs and walks nationally and internationally. Funds exchanged, hugs given and awareness raised. But one thing that I hope comes loud and clear from all of these well wishes is that PD is far more than a one month event. It’s an incurable progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has NO CURE. so all the walk and talks and awareness means nothing if the people who run the drug companies and research centers don’t do anything with it. So please if any of you read this do something. Be brave Be bold make decisions and move forward with the research. Learn from our international peers. The UK has an amazing PD community, yet as a Yank I often feel that the USA moving forward in any type of care is so often hampered by red tape and big money. So again my plea to you, Keep moving forward.
Over the course of the past 2 years PD has changed my life completely. I’m now 42 will be 43 at the end of May. I was diagnosed when I was just 41. PD took and gave me many things, it took away my ability to work in the field I’d been in for 25 years. I took my ability to garden. It took my sense of accomplishment in my life my courage and my family dynamic. On the other hand PD gave me a new sence of life and an awareness of who I truly am. It gave me the self-realization that I have so much to give and before PD I lived blindly and had forgotten all I had learned in my life. so when asked I often tell people PD is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me. Hence the saying “Would you give your life to change your life?”
Make your Home a Stress Free Zone
04/28/2013
Create a safe, healthy and harmonious home.
Keep your home a stress free zone!
Although it impossible to remove all stress, there are some steps you can take to reduce your feelings of stress at home.
Your home is an extension of you and your family, supporting your daily routine, activities and personality. Make your home a healthy, harmonious and comforting place to live. The look and feel of your home affects your own wellbeing and how your family relates. The following recommendations are inexpensive and easy yet can turn your home into a comfortable one that reflects your personality
Create a mood with color. Color influences are mood and can certainly set the tone for the ‘feel of a room’. Think about the different feelings that come to mind when describing a bold red versus soft blue. Consider the desired mood and use of a room when choosing a color scheme.
- Red and orange hues are cheerful, exciting, energetic, stimulating (including appetite) and empowering. It demands attention and has a great emotional impact. It makes us feel empowered. It’s a great color for a play area or workout room but may not be restful in a bedroom.
- Yellow hues add brightness, warmth especially in dark places.
- Green hues add calmness and restfulness.
- Brown and neutral nature colors. Symbolizing physical comfort, ease and contentment, browns and taupe are great for neutral areas like living rooms and kitchens.
- Blue hues add tranquility and comfort and serenity. Blues can convey a sense of coolness in a warm climate.
Breathe in the fresh air nature by adding plants. Plants bring life, add beauty, softness, fragrance and let in the outdoors. As living things, plants affect the space that they are occupying. Plants can remove pollution from the air in our homes. This may be especially important in new houses that are well insulated and during winter months when windows are closed sealing the inside from outside ar. Plants reduce levels of carbon dioxide, increase air humidity, reduce dust and off- gassing from plastics, chemicals in paint, household cleaners, furniture and carpet. The following plants were found by NASA researchers to be especially affective in removing off gases and other pollutants from the air.
- Hedera helix English ivy
- Chlorophytum comosum spider plant
- Epipiremnum aureum golden pothos
- Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’ peace lily
- Aglaonema modestum Chinese evergreen
- Chamaedorea sefritzii bamboo or reed palm
- Sansevieria trifasciata snake plant
- Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’ heartleaf philodendron
- Philodendron selloum selloum philodendron
- Philodendron domesticum elephant ear philodendron
- Dracaena marginata red-edged dracaena
- Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’ cornstalk dracaena
- Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’ Janet Craig dracaena
- Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii’ Warneck dracaena
- Ficus benjamina weeping fig
Decorate with nature. Decorating with elements from the world around you is cheap (free) and surrounds you with the beauty and awe of our natural world. Twigs in a vase, seashells, polished stone in a water vase, driftwood, pressed flowers and leaves. A water feature using a simple pump adds tranquility.
Remove clutter. This is important to open up the space and give an illusion of space with free flow of energy throughout the house. An open room with minimal clutter also reduces risk of freezing none to worsen in tight cramped rooms.
Let the light in. Let in natural light when possible. Illuminate dark corners and stairs for safety. This is especially important if you have balance issues. You rely more on vision to help balance when your balance is affected from other causes such as Parkinson’s. High levels of light add energy and lift mood. Hard focused lighting can highlight a unique feature of object in a room. Soft diffused lighting creates a more relaxed atmosphere.
Personalize. Display art and crafts that are made by you, family or friends. Frame your children’s art or old photographs. Enlarge photos of your favorite memories, or nature scenes.
Claim your space. You will learn the importance of relaxation and the value of stress reduction to improve your Parkinson’s symptoms and your general wellbeing. Claim a part of the home as your own- whether it is an office, separate room, or even a corner or section of one room separated by a simple floor screen. Use this area to get away, have a cup of tea, read a good book, meditate, and reflect on your day or for stretching exercises.
Bigger is not always better. Large rooms with high ceilings may be beautiful but do not give us a safe ‘cozy feeling’. If your room is big, consider dividing the space into more intimate areas or grouping of furniture to create a nook for conversation or entertaining.
Surround your senses. Soft music or the sound of running water can influence your mood. Soft music can help anxiety, lift your mood and reduce agitation in persons with dementia or psychosis.
Ok, that’s all I care to say about PD. I will leave you all with a quote of my own. My blog, message and art has grown so much more than I ever could have hoped but there is one message I think I have failed to make clear and that’s even with a disability or being disabled that one can still thrive in the life they have. It may mean something different for each person and thrive will have many forms during the course of any life time. So regardless of what keeps you down whether its yourself or something else, DONT be a victim. BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND THRIVE IN THE LIFE YOU HAVE!!
” I may have Parkinson’s disease, but it does not have me! Not today”
Much love to all, I’m going to go paint while I still can.
Benjamin
2013
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