What maketh man / how did we get here?

Ok I have been asked to get this blog a bobbin, you will have to forgive me as this is my first attempt ever at writing a blog so if it’s awful go easy on me if it’s awesome it’s probably a fluke.

I am the fourth member of the team, the one with Parkinson’s, diagnosed relatively recently in 2015 (for those who care I am 45 but on good days I feel more like a 30 year old). It’s already been a journey but I think we will leave that journey for future blogs.

So how did I get here or why?

First I need to thank David Sangster and his online community Young Parkinson’s Network without whom I may never have heard of The charity Spotlight Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and would not have seen an elusive post looking for a lunatic. Second I need to thank my employer DeMontfort University Leicester for granting my extended leave. Last but certainly not least my wife Nicola and son Rory, family and friends who have already shown great support and so far haven’t burst into hysterical laughter at the mention of this challenge.

With a diagnosis you can take a lot of time to review and assess everything, about you and your life, past, present and future. I guess it can be positive, destructive or maybe disappointing. At what point do we fall into the life routine that when reviewed appears to have little space left for living? It’s true to say a diagnosis is like winning the Lottery how many people say it won’t change my life? Yet change it most certainly will. You may change to a new time line that works in reverse like sand falling from a timer, now you are more interested in the sand in the top glass than reaching the point when the last grain hits home and your time is up. You will hopefully realise that your time is now and you need to make the most of it.

Am I a philosopher, no. Is it possible I think too much, yes. Do I know when to stop talking/writing? Probably not.

So back to business, I thought the post from Spotlight YOPD looked interesting and took the first step or jump to respond and see what it was all about. What had I got to lose? Wow, to be part of a team to row the Indian Ocean. To say I was surprised would be an understatement, after a brief time to reflect I thought why not, I have always thought that with time and determination we can achieve anything. This is an opportunity for all to benefit, I want to show that life doesn’t stop with a diagnosis, I want people to know what Parkinson’s is and how it affects my life, I hope to show with determination mankind can achieve anything. I feel I need to do this to show it’s possible to all, including myself.

I truly hope you will join me on this journey, it will have highs and lows but I will try my hardest not to let anyone down.