Embracing Winter Blues
It’s Winter in New York. January ushered in frigid temperatures, Nor’easters and constant grey skies. Covid, and the Omicron variant in particular, has caused us to pull inward and we again felt the vagaries of the pandemic tossing us back into isolation. I find myself staying at home more and I worry that I am letting Parkinson’s make my life smaller. It can get very easy to stay inside my home and limit my interaction to others via zoom. But staying in or cocooning can also be an opportunity to do things I never find the time or make the time to do, like: Meditation. Yoga, Exercise, Cooking. Reading. Writing.
Being mindful is something I’m working on while taking things down a notch. When I see life in slow motion and pause, I can be at my best. When I am busy, I tend to react out of habit especially when I am multitasking. I am then quick to criticize my actions and behavior. How I talk to myself dictates the quality of my life. It can hold me back or it can move me forward. When you have a chronic illness like Parkinson’s, your health is deeply connected to your ability to lower stress. Too much stress causes cortisol levels to rise activating the sympathetic nervous system. This just adds to the symptoms and progression of the disease. Learning to support ourselves can be the best gift. The gift of self-care.
When we embrace Winter as a time of hibernation, reassessing, and connecting with family and oneself, the cold frigid air can be our friend. I love being outdoors in the spring, summer and fall, but there is something nice about returning to ourselves at home. Winter also has some dazzling sunrises and sunsets. But there are times when getting a break from the constricting of our bodies in the cold weather is called for. As I write this, I am sitting in the warm Florida sun on a cool, breezy day. That shot of Vitamin D sure feels good and I’m not sorry to have missed the snowstorm and below freezing temperatures up North.
About Miriam
I share my personal stories to offer a glimpse into what it is like to live with Young Onset Parkinson’s, revealing honest and intimate reflections. Hearing other people’s stories can be a lifeline for many of us living with this neurodegenerative disease. I hope to inspire and educate people living with Parkinson’s and to create community through shared experiences.