Honesty

Some find honesty refreshing, whilst others may cringe, finding it a little too much to bare. Being totally honest means telling the entire truth, revealing oneself and letting down any barriers or guards. At first you may feel vulnerable and worried what others think. But you can rest assured, whatever you are thinking or feeling, someone else is experiencing the exact same thing. By being open and speaking out, you enable others to come forth and it's a feeling of liberation. Keeping one's health issues secret, whether you are in denial or simply a very private person, will not ease your situation. I'm not suggesting for one moment that you tell all and sundry or alert the media, but to your family, close friends and most importantly your doctor - honesty is the best policy! I was in two minds whether to share my poem "Beacon" (blog written on 14th May) which as I explained was written in a moment of despair. Fortunately I don't have too many of these low moments, but after giving it some serious thought, I felt compelled to put it in my blog. I received numerous responses via e-mail, and concerned phone calls from family and friends (sorry to have worried you!) but one thing it proved - was that I am not alone. Do you know how many of you out there have the same thoughts on occasion?  Suffering Parkinson's or any degenerative disease is hard, and putting a brave face on, keeping positive and cheerful isn't possible 24/7. There are bound to be occasions when one feels down and this is only natural. The important thing is that these are fleeting, and that you are able to bounce back.