I sometimes find I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself for having to do this or that chore because it was always something my husband did before. Maybe it’s something as simple as arranging for work to be done at the house, it still adds to my already full load. But, if instead of thinking about it as something more to do, I remember why I am doing it in the first place, I can shift my perception from burden to gratitude. And that is pretty close to pleasure isn’t it? After all, in the above example, if we didn’t have a house, I wouldn’t have to take care of it. I need to be thankful for the roof over my head and move forward.

We have a cat who has been with us for 17 years. She was the first animal that we adopted together and has seen us through a lot. She has forgotten how to use her litter box and spends most of her days sleeping either in our backyard or a back bedroom. She randomly breaks into a meowing session to remind us she is still here. Whereas she was once an easy companion, she has become more work as I find myself having to change her bedding and take her outside everyday. Is she a burden? Perhaps, but she also brings me pleasure when she sits with me and purrs. I know that we won’t always have her and I need to enjoy what she offers while I can.

The cat analogy can be applied to so much of my life right now. I treasure my time with my husband even as we share this journey with Parkinson’s. There are times when I get tired or feel a bit overwhelmed. It is in those moments, when I am feeling burdened, that I need to stop, breathe and revisit the reason I am here. I picture my husband and remember that whatever burdens his diagnosis has brought to my life, it is nothing compared to the challenges he faces every day. This moment of reflection changes my approach to any task and helps me move forward to find pleasure in knowing I am doing whatever it is for both of us to make our lives the best they can possibly be.