Category: Creativity

Poetry by Laura Ding-Edwards

The Mountain Poem If the mountain seems too big today then climb a hill instead if the morning brings you sadness it’s okay to stay in bed if the day ahead weighs heavy and your plans feel like a curse there’s no shame in re-arranging don’t make yourself feel worse if a shower stings like …

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Sue Edge Finds Happy Place is Creativity

I don’t have a choice that I have Parkinson’s, but I do have a choice what I do with it. I want to go forward to my Happy Place. ~Sue Edge   Sue was diagnosed with PD in 2010 and was forced to retire for medical reasons in 2015. She had worked the previous thirty-seven …

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Creative Springtime Easter Tablescape

  During Parkinson’s Awareness month, I think it is important to consider that some people  live well with the disease for a long time and in some cases even decades. “Not everyone is affected by Parkinson’s equally,” Hubert Fernandez, M.D., director of the Center for Neurological Restoration at Cleveland Clinic, says. “It’s a disorder that …

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Finding Pleasure and Purpose in Parkinson’s

How It All Started “When I was five years old I overheard my kindergarten teacher tell my mother I am an artist. I knew from that moment on,” says Michele Keir. Mr. Robertson, who was her art teacher in both seventh and twelfth grades, was a graduate of Pratt Institute. He was the biggest influence …

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Robin Morgan Parkinson’s Poems

  When poet Robin Morgan found herself facing Parkinson’s disease, she distilled her experiences into these four quietly powerful poems — meditating on age, loss, and the simple power of noticing.  This Ted Talks presentation has over one millions views. My favorite is This Dark Hour at the 9:25 mark.  Here are a few of …

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Digital Dog Portraits by Artist Donna Krenicki

“Lively” “Full of personality” “The eyes are looking right at me” “Amazing eyes captured so expertly” “Follows my movement with relentless gaze” These reactions reflect appreciation for Donna Krenicki’s artistic talent and innovative digital dog art. Donna grew up in Connecticut, and she has been creative since a child. Her father encouraged her to paint, …

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Zentangle Calms Artist with Parkinson’s

  Frances Bertles showed her creative side during childhood when she made mud cakes with her brother. She was quick to make the distinction between mud cakes and pies. “You can decorate mud cakes, but you can’t cut mud pies.”  Later she was destined to decorate Zintangles and boxes. Frances grew up in Conway, a …

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Connections by Janice Rowan

Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you. ~ Augustine of Hippo I connected with Janice Rowan through a Parkinson’s Facebook group and knew I had to interview her.  Her unique …

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Creative Life of Poet with Parkinson’s

  The Positive Trade-Off Janice Rowan gave up her love of teaching preschool children due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. She turned retirement from her 26-year passion to what she calls the positive trade-off—when one is prepared to work with and not against PD. In 2009, she noticed her handwriting getting smaller, and she …

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Dear Parkinson’s Membership Chair

Dear Parkinson’s Membership Chair, You have done it again! You have recruited another new member.   I did not intend to join this group. Isn’t one million people in the United States with Parkinson’s enough? On May 13, 2014, you officially notified me. Not you exactly. But I suspect you were lurking in the neurologist’s …

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