balance
Yesterday, the sun shone brightly on the fields and forest canopy. Birds flittered carefree from limb to grassy patch to barnyard perch. Gracie, the Golden Retriever pup assumed the role of harvester as she pranced proudly across the lawn with a fresh pair in her jaws. Agnes, the barnyard Pyrenees lopped proudly through her grassy kingdom, plopping abruptly in the shade beneath the white oak tree. Today, the clouds have insinuated themselves between our stretch of earth and the brightly shinning sun giving light to the autumn hues. The rain has pounded down to temporarily soak the thirsty soil as birds and other animals have secured their waiting position. Soon the storm will pass and sun will once again rein with its radiant shower of warmth. Sometimes the storms of disease symptoms appear and drive away the glow of pain tolerant, agile and precise movements. Like the passing storms, experience gives evidence that these sometimes testy symptoms are only temporary visitors to the landscape of otherwise healthy living. I have learned to never take for granted neither the bright sunny day nor the symptom absent moment on the journey. Clouds and rain are a part of earth’s natural replenishing design; neither is the whole of earth’s experience. Fortunately, for most that experience PD symptom expression, those symptoms are not the total of our lives. Maintaining a healthy perspective embraces the reality of the sun and the rain as a part of the life giving cycle. Living well with chronic disease embraces the presence and absence of symptoms, neither defining nor limiting one’s person-hood. Thankfulness for the moments of sunshine gives substance that endures the passing storm.
The still warm afternoon sun of late September was streaming through the leaves and branches of the chestnut tree from which the hammock was hung. Navigating to the center of the swinging bed can be no small feat, even for the nimble. The view from the comfort of that perch was enriched by the majesty of the lovingly designed gazebo under construction. A poorly calculated movement, however, would result in one being summarily deposited on the clay packed ground beneath the swinging perch. Enjoying the bounty of the view from the center of the hammock requires a steady balance of movements, not swaying too far in either direction. Likewise, the greatest value to a healthy life is a steady balance, maintaining position centered firmly in the grasp of physical, mental, and spiritual understanding. Like with the hammock from which one may have been dumped when not centered, a prompt deposit on the hard clay beneath as a consequence of excess or self-indulgence gives evidence to the need for balance. Leaning or swaying too far in either direction will lead to an inevitable dump from the comforting position with its peaceful and pleasant view. May none be discouraged as we all strive to maintain that peaceful and balanced center.