New or unexpected challenges pop up all the time at our house and, usually, I am the one who gets to deal with them. It may be a leaking sink or a spilled trash can or it may be something my husband is trying to do that requires some additional assistance. Whatever it is, this new thing disrupts my schedule and can throw me off for the rest of the day. Not that I have that much of a schedule, but I do try to keep things running smoothly at home. This is not always possible, so I am learning to prioritize my tasks. When faced with something new or unexpected, I decide if it is critical, especially as it relates to my husband, or something minor that can wait. Then, I choose to act immediately or let it go.

There are times when I simply don’t recognize or wish to acknowledge the challenge. I have a lot on my plate at any given time, anything extra can be overwhelming so I may choose to ignore it. I worked for someone once who taught me that anything that wasn’t in writing didn’t exist, I like to say that anything I don’t already know about doesn’t exist. Occasionally that works even though it means that I will have to deal with the situation later. The unexpected becomes something I know about and can work it into my schedule at a time when I will be in a better mindset for a new task.

Life is unpredictable, Parkinson’s Disease is also unpredictable. I am a person who likes to feel in control of my life, having a partner with PD is teaching me that it is not possible. What I can control is this moment and my reactions to the things that are happening now. If I can stay grounded in the present, I am ready for the unforeseen and have an opportunity to make a mindful choice before acting. I can try to tackle the new challenge or I can ignore it, but I will be doing it consciously with the full knowledge that whatever it is, I will find a way to get through.