I was writing in my journal this morning and caught myself saying that considering our situation, life is pretty good. And it truly is. Yes, it’s different from what I thought retirement would look like but that doesn’t mean that it’s all bad. There are still times during my day when I find ways to have fun whether it is with my husband or our cat. There are still puzzles to work out (I often refer to them as challenges?) and adventures to be had. We have food on our table, a roof over our heads, a comfortable place to sleep at night, and a loving partner to share it with. Isn’t that what truly matters?

We still have a social life with friends and family. We may spend a lot of time at home but have things to keep us busy. We can sit in our backyard or take brief walks in our neighborhood. We both like to read and enjoy discussing the books we’re currently working on. I can work in my yard and garden and my husband can supervise and tell me what I should be doing. When things get too difficult, I have people who are always there for me.

Staying positive for me means looking at our lives through a broader lens and remembering that PD is only a situation in which we find ourselves. Other couples at our ages are facing much more difficult challenges than we have. My husband’s Parkinson’s Disease symptoms can be somewhat controlled and we have built a life around that reality. It’s not ideal, but it is what we have to work with. By using an understanding and gentler outlook, I can make the best of it.