My Non-Negotiables
Just like everyone else on this earth, every day is different for me. Some days I wake up feeling excited to see my kid's smiles and unfazed by the minutia that makes up the daily grind, and other days just flat-out suck.
The difference between days when my symptoms overtake me and ones where I feel empowered to face them head-on is whether or not I'm using the practices that keep me moving forward—my non-negotiables.
When I was in my 20s, I grappled with the same stuff as most of my peers, questioning if I was on the right career path, whether I would find a partner, and what I was going to wear that Friday night. In hindsight, it all seemed pretty simple, yet I still needed therapy and antidepressants to support me. I now realize those were the years that I was also becoming an independent adult, which is not easy! By my early 30s, I began to take more control of the path forward. Although I kept my corporate job, I went back to school for health counseling and started to volunteer on weekends with breast cancer survivors. I learned Reiki and started going to weekly Buddhist classes. These were MY things, the things that I found filled me up in ways I hadn't ever felt. I loved helping people and learning how to improve my life, both mentally and physically, to be more present and natural. And then, as they say, I was in a flow and I fell in love.
These practices—connecting with others, healthy eating, moving my body, and spiritual practices—are the ones I return to today, the non-negotiables that keep me grounded. If I'm having a bad morning, I turn to yoga, a short meditation, a long walk, or a talk with a friend. It's not always easy, but I try to relax—watch a show or nap in a dark room. The most important thing for me is to remember to treat myself as I would a friend who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. This spring, after 25 years off antidepressants and 8 years into my Parkinson's diagnosis, I started back on antidepressants. I was hesitant to add another medication to the already long list of meds that I was currently taking. Still, I knew I needed additional support on top of my daily practices. I know there will still be dark days, but I am giving myself the support I need so that those times are fewer, and I can remember to go back to the practices that sustain me. These are ways I'm proactive in my own care, allowing me to find joy in everyday life.