Blog Post One

So, here it goes. This is my maiden voyage as a blog writer.

I read that the best length for a blog post is between 1500 and 2000 words. That seems very doable, but I want to make sure that what I write is relevant and meaningful to my readers. I want to create a workable schedule for posting so my readers can expect, and maybe even look forward to, regular posts. There’s so much to write about—so much to say! The challenge is to keep my thoughts coherent, and focus my attention. That’s what I tell my college students to do when they write. I expect at least that much from myself.

I’m experimenting with a writing schedule. There’s so much written and said about discipline. Write during the same hours each day—every day. Keep the same schedule—create lasting habits. It all sounds so good in theory; will I be able to do that? I have some limitations, as we all do. We all have to work within the limits of our lives. Some are created for us, and some are created by us. Can I work one hour a day on my blog? That seems like too little time, but if I do it every day, the time and writing will add up. Will I do it every day? Will I feel well enough every day to put my best thoughts forward?

In all actuality, I have about four or five hours of good, productive “on” time per day. These hours are counteracted by many hours of “off” time, periods of either pain, weakness, uncontrolled twitching, exhaustion. Hmmm. How do I manage this element of my life? Indeed, how do we all who have Parkinson’s disease manage our lives?

When I received my official Parkinson’s diagnosis in March 2023, I wasn’t too surprised. Being a voracious reader, I had searched out and consumed a feast full of information about the disease since I had first seen my general practitioner about my symptoms in November 2022. Too much time to read and learn. Too much time to plan and let my mind wander. Too much time to imagine how this was going to change my life. Everything pointed to the fact that Parkinson’s Disease is incurable, progressive, and manageable. There’s that word again! Manageable! Is PD a junior colleague that I somehow have to mentor and manage? Is PD a high school worker who needs to learn basic job skills in order to function on the job? Is PD a troubled or troublesome colleague who needs a soft touch and kind words of encouragement? Or is Parkinson’s a fiend who is plotting to steal my life from me—intending to do harm to me and my family? I guess I’ll find out just what type of “management” style I need to adopt. The “Parkinson’s Pack” of today is fortunate, at least from my newbie point of view. We have a great tool/weapon in Levodopa, a dopamine supplement that helps us manage our symptoms. It appears that this medication is the gold standard for Parkinson’s treatment, helping to lessen the aggravating symptoms within an hour of dosing, but unfortunately running out of steam within three or four hours. At the end of its lifespan, the Levodopa taker hits a proverbial wall. The pill stops working abruptly and we fall off a cliff. Wait a minute! Just a couple hours ago I was outside kicking the ball with my grandson and doing pretty well. Now, a few hours later, I can barely walk and get so tired I need to give my muscles a break during dinner and finish my meal later. This is frustrating, but more information to help me create a “management” plan for my daily life.

Setting priorities is a key element in managing one’s life. Some say we should attack the hardest tasks first and sail through the rest of the day. Others suggest that we start slow and gain speed and drive as the day progresses. Parkinson’s seems to want to throw a wrench in both approaches with its sudden and capricious attacks on us. How can I make plans and follow through on them when Parkinson’s lurks around every corner waiting to attack?

NOTE: Here we arrive at about 1 hour of writing, with a total of 725 words. Helpful information in further managing my writing activities.

4:22 of reading time.