Does the Online World Give us the Liberty to be Mean?

I have been thinking about the title that  I have given this blog/thought/insight-of-how-judy's-mind-works and was wondering "does anyone else think people can be so very mean online"?  I mean, it doesn't matter if you are a Christian, so-called-Christian, a person who does not believe in any god or supreme being, karma, or else....wouldn't it be nice, civil or almost pleasant to agree to disagree with some semblance of respect to one another.

Case in point: Miss Colorado Talent for Miss USA 2015  if you go and look at the link you can see and hear a very nice monologue by Miss Colorado in the talent part of this year's Miss America contest.  She talks about being a nurse and an Alzheimer's patient who changed her view of why she became a nurse. If you scroll down past the adds and other links to other videos,  you can read a ton of vehement 'going-ons' (or the more commonly used term:  COMMENTS).  Yes, people claiming that 'nursing is not a gift --it is a skill',  and remarks by those who line up and support a young nurse who claims she does not believe in 'god-given gifts'  and others who line up and comment leading to a rather unneeded escalation of emotions.

It is almost sickening.  So would these people say the same thing if they were standing  in front of each other?  I doubt it.  But on the internet, we don't know those 'other people' who for some reason  just don't agree with our opinion or anyone else's opinion, and it seems that people just won't let silly things be just that.  And somewhere, whether it was intentional or not, the topic of the comments has nothing to do with the object first viewed or read.  Come on people.  Can we not even be civil?

And believe me...I am asking myself the same question.   Why do I let these people get my blood pressure up?  I don't know them.  I should  not even care what they say.  But  OH! I tell myself, how good it would feel to let someone know their comment was idiotic...or made no logical sense.  If I were standing in a group discussing their discontentment, I would not say a word.

Why is it we let that  feel of internet anonymity to allows us to 'spit words of hate' at others?  Rise above it, people.  Yes, that means me too..even my thoughts.  I want to live my life in such a way that it will speak volumes to others about loving our neighbors, being  tolerant, and even showing tough love sometimes. I will just admit this:  it is a daily struggle..... to try and be nice to un-nice people.   It is hard some days to think that you can even make a difference...when you read such mean comments people say to one another...or even you.  But just believe this:  God isn't worried about your worries, He just wants your all to be for HIM.  He wants to team-up with you ..... to overcome all the worries you may have!

And when when life gets you worn-out, maybe this little quote I saw this week will help  you out:  "WORRY brings STRESS,.  GOD brings REST." (guidepost reader Wanda McDaniel)  So when those comments leave you wanting to 'get em back'....just pray for them instead.  They may say they don't want you to..but do it anyway.  They may thank you when they get to know you in heaven!

Blessings,

Judy 9/15/2015

My Parkinson's Journey by Judy Hensley

               My name is Judy and I live in Northeast Tennessee. I am a mom, a daughter, a                    sister, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, and a woman determined to win in a fight with a                chronic, degenerative illness …Parkinson’s disease!

   I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in Nov 2002, after having soreness in my left thumb, shoulder and foot for about a year. I remember being so tired that summer. Just two years before that I may have had the first signs of something wrong when after taking Taekwondo for 3 years I was losing steam in class; it was harder to do those pushups; and my left hand would tremor when I held it out from my body. After going to an orthopedic doctor for 6 months and trying arthritis medicine, physical therapy, and a steroid shot in shoulder, he decided I should see a neurologist when I told him that people were asking me why I was limping on my left foot. Talk about getting scared really fast, that will do it to you.

  You know how they say turning 40 is the pits. I can relate. I had just turned 40 when a couple of months later I would have a CAT scan to see if anything was unusual inside my head. Everything in my brain “looked normal” so the neurologist said “I want you to try this little yellow pill”. Thanks to the services of internet searching, I had already read up on what illness I might be diagnosed with based on my symptoms. From reading about Sinemet, ‘that little yellow pill’, I knew if my symptoms were improved by that little pill that I had a problem …..and it’s name in capital letters was PD.

  Sure enough on my follow-up one week after taking Sinemet, my husband and I were told that I had young onset Parkinson’s disease. The doctor put the best possible spin on the diagnosis, but I’m not too sure I heard much after those words: Parkinson’s disease. My mind was racing, thinking “my life is over…I’ll be an invalid soon” and all I wanted to do was not cry in front of the doctor. I made it to the car and wept like I never had all the way home and for several hours later.

  After an easy transition to taking Sinemet and feeling almost like normal again, there were all the thoughts of “how long until…????” and “who do I tell and when????” “what about work????” I knew I had to talk to someone else who had been in this situation. .. In early 2004 I met Peggy Willocks, a lady who has Parkinson’s and who lives in a neighboring city. She has become a great friend, an inspiration, and a mentor to me. She started a local young onset PD group which I joined after meeting her. I’m learning though that support groups are not for everyone, but I find it to be a help and comfort as I can meet and discuss with others who have Parkinson’s how they adjusted to the diagnosis and that helps me figure out how am I going to cope with PD. I have made numerous friends online through some PD websites and have had the great privilege to meet several of them in person. These online friends give me hope and inspire me at almost any time of the day or night!

  I will admit, Parkinson’s disease is a very scary disease—you do not know how it is going to progress, or how many pills you will be taking a year from now, or if you will consider a brain surgery called DBS where and an electrode implanted in your brain may help your tremors, or if you would decide to try a clinical trial to help further research about PD. Then there are more questions like: Will my family help/understand/support me? Will my friends abandon me? Will I be able to make a difference in this world with a chronic illness? These questions with no fixed answers can drive you crazy. But as you live with Parkinson’s disease you ‘discover it’ and realize it is different for everyone, just as the symptoms can be different for everyone you speak to about it. I find a peace in the midst of all my uncertainties by praying in faith to God - who I know knows all the answers! I find a direction and contentment for my life with Parkinson’s disease through the everlasting love of my God. I look around when I get down and notice other lives in darker turmoil or pain and I’m reminded “I have no reason to complain, but every reason to keep on loving, laughing, and living!”

  Some tidbits of advise I would offer you and your family and friends if you have just found out you have Parkinson’s are: don’t retreat from reality, look for the good in every situation, find and hold on to good moral support, take this opportunity to look and learn about yourself, don’t ‘manufacture misery’ by looking too far into the uncertain future, stay active, explore new hobbies or tasks that you may not have considered before, find a cause you can support (like a cure for this illness) and ENJOY life in spite of the shadow PD may cast on your life!

  I have taken this motto to heart: “I WILL endure for a cure!” And I intend to do just that and do my best to help others with this illness find hope and encouragement to face each day!

  I would like to thank my family and many supportive friends for their daily

encouragement and faith in me and in the possibility of a cure for this illness someday. I love you and don’t know what I would do without you!

All the best wishes for you in your journey,

       Judy Hensley

POEM The Coat that Could (part 4 about da coat)

One day in 2005, I (judy) went into a discount store

my eye was caught by colorful coats by the door

I looked at the tag and gasped at the original retail price

and then I thought "at $15, this 90% discount is really nice!"

So I shelled out the cash and took the gorgeous coat home

and planned to wear it when I deemded that the time was right.

the day Carol left for church camp that  seemed a perfect time
for the coat to appear and help break any camp grind

and on that glorious day,the bright multicolored coat had it's debute
and a remarkable journey of smiles with family and friends began

But Carol did not share in the vision of fun of thisin the 15 dollar, bright and gaudy coati had found
and she would have nothing to do with me and this new 'da coat' as I shared it with everyone around! "

She begrudgingly took the coat to camp for all of them to enjoy for the week

and planned it's demise so that there would be no more coat repeats!

One day while Carol was away, I got a call asking if da coat might stay at camp Where it could continue the ministry it had started and was deemed a camp-champ!  
the counselor assured me that Carol's request was sincere
so I gave permission allowing the coat to stay, 
but as soon as i hung up the phone i regretted it and went to buy another one that day! 

off i went to to see if i could find another one of these incredible coats,
and with luck and good fortune ....I  found one marked at half off in another  BigLots store
and i was elated with a joy mixed with mischievousness that i danced with glee, 
 all the way to the register, to purchase another 'da coat....he he heeeee!

You should have seen my girl's face the day they returned to town, 
When she saw what i was wearing ,
Oh how quickly that smile turned into a frown, 
as i danced and giggled with joy as i wore another one of 'da coat I had found.

It became my mission to show my daughter

that 'da coat is special and she was the only doubter

so I asked many friends at church and other places

to join in some fun and put it on and make big smiley faces!

I soon began to wonder if my obsession with this coat could be due to my PD

so I took 'da coat on a trip to a PD conference to see.

Some of my Parkie friends were skeptical of it's power

but when they saw others put it on, their mind was changed in less than an hour.

This coat now has a life of it's own

if you get a chance to put it on, just do it and you'll see

it feels wonderful, it's so bright and cheery, you'll have to also put on a smile

and let me take your picture to show everyone it was worthwhile.

What once was "Judy's coat" is now referred to as 'da Coat

because it is no longer mine but it represents a community of mine

of family, friends, men and women with Parkinson's disease

who are not afraid of having some fun--thank you, try it on, please!

In July 'da coat will accompany Strong Feather Eileen of The Regulars

as a team climbs Mount Kilimangaro in Africa to raise awareness of Parkinson's and Alzheimers

I hope the coat makes it to the top, but if that should not come to be

the Regulars all are heros to people like me

You see they know that 'together we work for a cure'....

Me, you, kids, friends and many others who live ordinary lives

but make an extraordinary difference in our future

by being bold and courageous, tand helping all of us with PD to live with  hope and survive.

'da Coat has traveled near and far

it's been worn by people, animals, statues, and even a couple of preach'ars

and I've got over 400 pictures of others and such joy wearing the coat,
and although my daughter still does not like 'da coat, it will not stop my ploy

to sharing a little bit of joy along each of our pathways

Come along with me and da coat  and enjoy the little things each and every day!

If you have worn the coat and would like to tell how it made you feel, I'd like to share it with others in a selfish effort to bring awareness to Parkinson's disease!  

Thanks,

Judy Hensley ....a gal living in Tennessee diagnosed with Young onset Parkinson's disease, still determined to endure for a cure! 

judy 8/19/15