It is sometimes easier for me to ignore what is happening or to try to deny that I am seeing changes in my husband’s abilities or our relationship, but then I am only fooling myself. PD does bring changes, physical, mental and emotional, and being able to look at them honestly and with acceptance will prepare me for what might come next.

When my husband had shoulder surgery last year, he suddenly needed more care than I was sure I could give. The fact that we were able to talk about it and work through it together helped us manage. If I had been in denial about the help he needed, we both would have suffered and his recovery would have taken much longer. It is always better to acknowledge honestly where you are in this journey especially since we can never know exactly where we are going.

Today I will work to accept that we are not where we were a year ago and be thankful for the fact that we are not where we will be a year from now. I will be open to this moment and accept whatever this day brings.