It is hardest for me to be Positive when my husband is having a bad day, and it happens probably about once a week. He is feeling stiff and achy or maybe just really tired and doesn’t want to do as much. It’s really easy for me to join in the downward spiral and let things go, but that doesn’t really help either one of us. If instead, I suggest a nap for him and some quiet time for me, we can usually find a way to refresh and reset with a more Positive outlook so we can get on with our day.

Persistence, defined through Google as “continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition”, speaks so clearly to what many of my days look like. I Persist as I take care of our house, cook our meals, provide for my husband. I Persist as I work alongside him against an invisible and insidious disease that daily takes a bit more of his capacity and could potentially take him away from me entirely. I Persist in finding gratitude in the little things we do still share together and knowing that we will keep on fighting no matter what Parkinson’s Disease throws at us.

The final “P” is Patience. This has been the biggest challenge for me as I have never been a patient person. If I need to do something, I want to do it now and that doesn’t work when you have a partner with PD. As his symptoms progress and my husband slows down, it has been a real struggle for me to step back and let the slowness happen. When it takes time for him to get something done, I catch myself wanting to step in and take over so we can get on with our day. I have to remind myself regularly that whenever I do something for him, I take away his opportunity to practice doing it for himself.

I know that if I Persist in being Patient and maintain my Positivity, I can be the best CarePartner for my husband as we travel this journey with PD together.