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Jerry, it was good to read your post this morning. Since I've been on this journey, I've started to turn all my attention to the process of healing. I've found that I personally can contribute significantly to this process. I read inspirational books. I keep friends close to me who are positive, optimistic and willing to share both their own as well as my suffering, without giving advice. I have looked into alternate healing practices; the effect of vitamins, nutrition and homeopathic remedies. I am developing an excellent rapport with my neuro whom I respect and trust. I try to find objectivity by writing of my contact with the world through this disease. I take time to learn about PD from a medical pt. of view so I can try to visualize the healing. And I've reworked my priority list to include actively loving myself at the top. This space is a little small in my daily life, as I have not given much consideration to it in the past. One of the most important strategies I am trying to develop in the interest of this personal and vital cause, is the criteria for distinguishing between a "healing" and a "toxic" situation. I don't think I can itemize the criteria any more than to say, it's a feeling. If I feel a sense of healing, such as when I'm engaged in any of the above activities, then I stay and give to it, whatever I can. I'm a high school teacher who adores teen agers, any situation at school for me is so full of creativity, humour, and reciprocated love that it automatically qualifies as a healing one. Toxic situations are clear, too. The tightness in my neck and stomach are a real signal to me to get out. If I can leave I do. If I can't then I note this experience and try to deal with the emotions later. I don't watch television, at all, because I can't control the violent images and the distortions of reality that come across the screen without warning. For me, television is highly toxic. Sometimes differences of opinion can be toxic and sometimes they can be healing. I agree with your assessment of the situation you are responding to. My healing is enormously influenced by how much responsibility I take in my own life for it. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that healing, all healing, is primarily a spiritual process. Your eloquence called to all of us this morning to remember that. Thank you. Barb Rager -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Finch <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Saturday, July 25, 1998 12:28 AM Subject: An Observation >In reading the past few days worth of digest it appears that >summer heat is getting to a few people. Folks, we're all in >this together. There is no "them" and "us" and "that group >over there." For the most part, we all have PD, we all want >a cure, we are all frustrated. > >I'm not gonna' stand up and say, "Can't we all just get >along?" Nope, I'm going to sit down to say it because I'm >having a hard time standing up right now. > >I would like to think that we each respect the other >person's opinion, that we can share and laugh and even cry >together. I would hope that we realize bitter words can do >more than hurt, they can leave someone who really needs this >list with a feeling that they are not wanted, and that isn't >right. > >We all need this list. This is our home, our sanctuary >against the endless ills of our world. To many this is the >kitchen table, the bedroom, the only family we have. > >Sure we have different opinions, and families have fights, >but the similarity ends there - at some point the computer >is turned off. If we leave those who are hurt by bitter >words with a darken monitor and an empty heart, how much >good did your "proving a point" really do? > >And does it really make you feel better about yourself? > >I can hear someone thinking, "Where the hell does he get off >acting like the group psychologist?" If you really feel that >way, email me directly. Your anger doesn't do anything >positive for the group and the group is, after all, for >support. > >BTW, 88 people in Texas are dead because of this heat spell. >I know of one man who lived alone in a trailer in Dallas >with a broken AC who died from the heat. Less well known is >the fact that he had PD and couldn't get out. A $15 fan >might have kept him alive. Fifteen dollars. > >I last summer visited a little 5 year old girl in Galveston >with AIDS who died two days later. I don't think she wanted >to die. I spent three years with someone who I considered >the most wonderful person in the world, and I watched her >die from cancer as I held her hand. She would have liked for >the government to fund a cure before she died. I would have >like that, too, far more than I would have liked a cure for >PD. With a cure for cancer, we would still be together. > >PD is bad, but so are a lot of other diseases. I hope I >never believe that my life is more important than the life >of someone else. > >Complaints about this post can be directed to >[log in to unmask] >-- >The Official PWP Dumpster Gang Hideout >http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/ >The PWP WebRing >http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=parkie;list >The Parkinson Alliance >http://www.parkinsonalliance.net/ >