Challenges, Obstacles, and Determination

Challenges, Obstacles, and Determination

The sight of these long, curved stairs great me each weekday morning about 5:00AM.  I traverse them on my way to the second floor of my local Lifetime Athletic Club.  Each time I am reminded of the fact that for many people with Parkinson’s, these are an OBSTACLE that sends them looking for the elevator around the corner.

Once I get to the top and into my exercise, I have often thought about the many CHALLENGES that Parkinson’s has given me.  A short list is muscle rigidity, fatigue, lack of arm swing, left side limp, lack of smell, and facial masking.  Climbing steps is not yet a CHALLENGE for me.  But I am aware that one day they may be a CHALLENGE.  As I progress in my fight that CHALLENGE may become an OBSTACLE.

Having Parkinson’s has given me a unique perspective, and challenged me to think a bit deeper about things.  What is a CHALLENGE?  What is an OBSTACLE?  How are they the same?  Or different?  Dictionary.com defines a CHALLENGE as, "something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc."  It defines an OBSTACLE as, "something that obstructs or hinders progress."

You could say that for people with Parkinson’s, the stairs call them to a special level of effort so that they don’t fall and injure themselves.  Once they reach a certain point it will hinder their progress enough that they will need to choose the elevator.  Although I can still walk up them just fine, I know that there is likely a day in my future where the elevator will need to be my route to the second floor.  Parkinson’s gradually kills the Dopamine producing cells in my Brain until I will lack the balance, agility, and coordination to climb them safely.  At that point, the elevator will be my chosen route.

How will I know when this CHALLENGE becomes an OBSTACLE?  In my current situation, climbing the stairs is not even a CHALLENGE.  So, I choose to make it one.  Each morning at 5:00AM you will see me not only walking up those steps, but charging up them two at a time, fists pumping and arms swinging defiantly.  I do this for a few reasons.  I do it to honor many of my friends with Parkinson’s who can no longer climb them.  I do it to get my workout started a bit early and get my body moving.  And, I do it to look Parkinson’s square in the eye and defy it to try and slow me down.  I say a phrase under my breath, repeated twice, once for each flight of steps.  “F-U Parkinson’s you woosie little disease. You’ve got nothing!”

Dictionary.com defines DETERMINATION as “the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose.”  How does this factor into the current discussion of CHALLENGES and OBSTACLES?  I believe that too often, people accept OBSTACLES into their lives when a different level of DETERMINATION could lead them to a different decision.  This applies to people with or without Parkinson’s.  I do not want to suggest that a lot of people with Parkinson’s should start tossing their canes aside and follow me up the stairs two at a time.  But sometimes, all it takes to change an OBSTACLE into a CHALLENGE is simply deciding that these stairs are not going to stop me.  It may be a significant CHALLENGE to overcome.  Your challenge may be Parkinson's, or something completely different.

I am reminded of the great Muhammad Ali when he said, “I have Parkinson’s Disease, but Parkinson’s disease doesn’t have me.”

I vow that in my struggles, the difference between my CHALLENGES and OBSTACLES will not be decided by a lack of DETERMINATION.  I invite you to defy your challenges to stop you.  Join me December 8th and together we'll take it two steps at a time.

https://apdaiowa.salsalabs.org/C4WorkoutforParkinsons