Perhaps, today you find yourself in a precarious position, your health is not the best, your family is not around, or you have not been able to do the things you wanted to do? You may feel like there is not much to be thankful for especially when a chronic illness seems to be winning at times. Or how can I find joy in my present circumstances? Believe me, I understand your trepidation I have asked myself those same questions at times. And have spent holidays in the hospital or in bed at home so I get your pain and frustration. But I have found that as long as we are alive there is much to be thankful for even for the small things we often take for granted. Simply give thanks because you are alive one more day, you can talk, you can move you can breathe, you can smile, that you have friends, that you are not alone. Faith in God and hope in a better tomorrow you too can find harmony and give thanks in the midst of adversity. As the late Stephen Hawking quipped once (with his artificial computerized voice having lost his ability to speak or move at all, “however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do. All that matters is that you don’t give up!”

As the years go by, I find 2 things to be true that we all can do something no matter what our circumstances are and that as long as we are alive there is hope. Because of this I try to be grateful even in the small things. Having a grateful heart opens us to enjoy the in life the things that truly matter. It is these things that make a life worth living and worth remembering – so this thanksgiving season, I like to express my gratitude for the small things that punctuate my life. There is nothing more wonderful to a mother’s ears than to hear a child express their gratitude for making their return home from college a warm and welcoming one. To see your children enjoy their food and exclaim can’t wait for the next day to come just so that I can eat left overs again! And before going upstairs to sleep with a kiss so gentle and loving on your forehead say ‘I love you mom’ and by the way ‘thank you for making the house so pretty for the holidays.’

Suddenly, all the tiredness and fatigue of running around wild cleaning, decorating, buying things for a special meal along with the 10 hours of drive time to retrieve from college disappear. All is well in my world with my 2 loves safe at home. A mother’s heart is never full unless her children are nearby and safe. We are all grateful that this year I am doing well and able to cook and help with the festivities making the meal extra special this year. We laugh and think about the last 2 seasons when my health was not the best and spent all day sleeping during the thanksgiving holiday forcing my husband and daughter to prepare the meal I had bought. Of course they agreed unanimously that it was one of the worst meals even though I had pre-order a cooked turkey since I knew I could not prepare a meal in my state. But we are making time up in quality singing Christmas carols (a little ahead of time just because we love the season) as we cook and drive around together always ending in laughter because I cannot sing or keep a beat. But hearing my daughter play the piano once more after several months of being away bring great joy to my heart. Even the cat who usually wonders off to sleep somewhere does not miss a beat of the conversation and looks upon our lively discussion expectantly purring from beneath the Christmas tree (his new favorite place to chill).

I am also extremely thankful and grateful to God for all the wonderful people in the Parkinson’s community I have had privilege to meet and work with this past year. I am also elated for the steps that are taking place all over the world to bring better understanding to issues of women with PD and for Hispanics all over the world, with this I can’t wait to go to Barcelona for the next World Parkinson’s Congress 2022.

Happy thanksgiving from Parkinson’s Diva – from my family to yours!!!

@copyright 2019

all rights reserved By Maria L. De Leon MD