A blog by Emma Kyriacou
I get asked ‘How’s your health?’ regularly, and I always answer some version of ‘Fine thanks!’ Which is a limited answer I’m aware, but the alternative is quite long-winded. I always feel that when people ask this question, they really mean ‘How is your Parkinson’s?’, but can’t quite bring themselves to actually say it. So … Read moreA day in the life
Lock-down started out stressful for me, but turned into a time of respite that I didn’t know I needed. I felt calm, life moved slower. The stressful flurry of lock-down’s beginning faded as I accepted I didn’t need to teach my kids, that they were happier exploring their own pathways. Following this acceptance I realised … Read moreLock-down Lessons
Yes this morning I thought it was Thursday. Maybe one day out isn’t too bad, but come on – a little early to be losing track of days isn’t it? Although maybe not given my Parky status (Luka actually said recently that it was a pity I didn’t have a pill for remembering, along with … Read moreCaptains log (star-date …um? Friday?)
Full disclosure: I grumped through the last couple of days, feeling slammed by my new role. I stormed about furiously counting all the people’s needs I now have to put before my own. My mind had started up its litany of “You can’t do your exercise now because you need to look after Maia, make … Read moreTransition
I ventured out today to go to the boys’ school and pick up their books for the coming lock-down. It was nice to see the teachers and wish them well. They smiled and were positive, while acknowledging the new weirdness. Its like the world has become the town of Hawkins and we all now know … Read moreThe Upside Down
All the school teachers I ever had taught me not to use ‘suddenly’ in creative writing. It is just too Iame apparently, too well worn to cause readers much surprise. But it really feels like a stonking great big SUDDENLY just plonked it’s ass down into our collective narrative. And as our lives enter this … Read moreEvolution
Struggling for exercise motivation? Its easy! All you need is to have a chronic illness! Ah yes, motivation. The stuff is like gold isn’t it? Oh to have a huge motivation hoard to dive into and swim around in like Scrooge McDuck! To be motivated is to feel the satisfaction of making progress, to feel … Read moreMotivation
Like a lot of people who live with chronic conditions, I have often used fighting analogies to describe where I stand in regards to the thing that has gone wrong in my body-mind/brain (whatever…thingamebob). I talk about kicking Parkinson’s butt. I shared the above fierce photo on Instagram. It made me feel empowered. I had … Read moreFlow
Niko says to me recently, “I thought parents are supposed to be able to fix every situation.” I could have taken this like a kick in the guts, because he was literally saying that I can’t always handle things, and that I frequently fall to pieces when the volume levels get high. But he was … Read moreHope
Lately I’ve been musing on the weirdness of feeling grateful for having Parkinson’s. Having Parkinson’s has caused me to go on a voyage of self-discovery, one that I doubt would have happened without it. It has evolved out of starting to look for ways to improve my movement, which led to research into Parkinson’s – … Read moreWhat Parkinson’s has given me (??!?)