I have those days, I think we all do, when it seems like nothing is going well and it is all I can do to keep moving let alone smile. I just want to push through the things I have to do so that I can get to tomorrow and, hopefully, a better day. It may be that my husband is having a bad day or it may be that I am tired and feeling overwhelmed for some reason. The negative energy being generated on a “bad day” for either of us easily results in grumpy interactions and conflicts. It is not a healthy environment for my husband or myself.

It seems too basic to simply say “keep smiling” but, believe it or not, it can help. When I am facing a challenging situation, I try to remember to take a deep breath and put a smile on my face. I know that it is really tough at times especially when I am struggling to accept the changes this horrible disease has brought to our lives. The simple act of smiling resets my attitude, helps my husband relax and reminds my brain that I am in charge.

Staying positive doesn’t mean that there will be no tough times, it simply means that I am accepting the concept that I can handle them. There will be times when I am positive that I need help and times when I am positive that I need to walk away, both part of maintaining a positive and supportive attitude. I am strong and resilient, stronger than PD and more resilient than the worst of the symptoms that are slowly taking over my husband. I can be here for him and for me, together we can and will fight this with a smile and a positive mindset of what we can do to live more fully.