What I'm Doing Now Update

There have been many posts chronicling therapies, strategies, treatments, education all to do with my diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. Most have gone by the wayside, but have made an impression and been incorporated into my understanding of what this condition is and how to deal with it. It is not a full understanding by any means. It's one that sits on the back burner still cooking and being added to.

As an update, I will simply list what I am doing now.

Dietary
1. Suppers program: I host a monthly Suppers meeting at my house on the theme of "Healing Spices."  Guests prepare, eat, clean up together and learn about healing properties of spices, food preparation and healthy foods.
2. I attend other Suppers meetings that are offered from time to time. One I plan to attend monthly is called "Weight Loss Strategies."
3. Started a diet officially with a sign on the fridge with rules for eating (No sugar, no snacks, etc.) and a food journal.
4. Supplements: Just started a supplement with the compound contained in turmeric - curcumin, fish oil capsules, potassium, vitamin B complex, C, D, E,

Exercise
1. yoga, Body Flow, Will Power & Grace and other classes at the gym
2. Tai Chi Chih class
3. stationary bike at home (in winter)
4. walking (but not regularly)
5. gardening (now that it's spring I am starting again)
6. housework (I do all the cleaning, shopping and cooking)

Medication
1. pramipexole
2. carbidopa/levodopa

Music
1. Chorus: I sing in rehearsals 2 1/2 hours each week, weekend extra rehearsals, weekend retreat, competition, singing gigs and practice at home.
2. Ukelele: I am singing and playing once a week with a friend, have attended Meetups with a ukelele group and practice on my own.

Psychotherapy
1. Re-Evaluation Counseling (RC): I have 2 co-counselors I meet weekly on alternating weeks, and one who I meet with once a month (in the books sidebar, see author Harvey Jackins)

Reading for PD
1. Healing Spices, by Bharat B. Aggarwal PhD and Debra Yost
2. The Wahl's Protocol, by Terry Wahls

Art
1. Raisin Studio: my clay studio, the activity that is most important and where I spend the most time
2. Drawing in my sketchbook mostly with marker or colored pencil
3. Fiber arts: made two wall pieces recently
3. Visiting craft shows (especially to see ceramics), art shows, art museums
4. Pinterest: I have several boards. I add images of my work and of other artists'
5. Member of CoRE art group: meet with members to support one another, choose themes, and plan  art shows

Writing
1. El's Clay Blog
2. PD Journal No Drugs No Worries Blog
3. Daily handwritten journal

Am I doing enough? I am doing a lot I think, but am I doing enough of the right things? Good Lord, why don't I beat myself up? I am DOING THE BEST I CAN, AND I KNOW IT'S RIGHT FOR ME RIGHT NOW! This is my RC training speaking.

The Face is Winning

Christine and Me

Is the smile big enough yet? To sing in a Sweet Adelines chorus is to stretch your smile muscles.

"Eyebrows and cheeks lifted, smile, show your teeth, tell the story of the song, be expressive, look excited, stand like a champion." These are common exhortations from our coaches and our director. Along with the sound, in fact assisting the sound, is the performance. Even in rehearsal we are asked to go all out - we are "always performing." Something about the lift in our faces and bodies helps us to lift the notes and maintain the pitch.

This picture was taken at the banquet following the regional chorus competition this past weekend. Christine and I are the new members of the chorus. Possibly, we contributed to the improvement in the score our chorus received which was 50 odd points more than last year. Anyway, our director was pleased, and we all had a good time singing into the wee hours and listening to quartets that visited us in our hospitality suite.

My face and my body have been well exercised which I know is excellent therapy for PD. And singing from the heart is the icing on the cake.