Thanksgiving - the Joy of Long Lines

I don’t know how all of you celebrate the holidays, but at my house it is an all out, over the top affair. This sense of joy and love of the holidays was instilled in me by mom and grandmother many years ago. My mom and grandmom raised us to believe that Thanksgiving and Christmas was the best time of the year and it is. We were not a family of great means, but my mom always made it feel as if we were and always made this time of year special for me and my two brothers. The food, the lights, the glow of candles setting warmth and comfort for friends and family that have gathered around the table always bring back great memories.

The preparation and the build-up are started by Thanksgiving. A lot of people take this wonderful time of the year to remind us of what we have to be thankful for. I will give you some of my not so typical things I am thankful for, like going shopping at Costco with my wife. I love the crowds and the lines. Most people would consider this unusual, but I look at it as one more memory my wife and I share of another holiday and her telling me "put that back, you can’t have it". I am able to buy food when many cannot; pushing a heavy grocery cart is something we all need to give thanks for. I am thankful for the parents who drag their kids to the store so I get to see the joy and anticipation on their faces of the holiday soon to be. I love free samples of all the great foods and the smiles of the friendly seniors who prepare it. They look like everyone’s grandparents.... well, most of them are friendly. After the second round of samples it counts as dinner out with the wife, another treasured moment. The dessert section is a mandatory. The pecan pie at Costco is wonderful; just ask my black lab Duchess. Looking forward to my first piece of pie of the season last year, I was surprised to see the pecan pie was no longer on the counter. There sat Duchess licking her lips with pie remnants all over the top of her head. She was very thankful. I am thankful I get to see those same strange people as myself with happy looks on their faces because the long lines and crowds of Thanksgiving are here; the one time of year we can all meet and look inconspicuous.

The one day my family and I look forward to and most people avoid is Black Friday shopping. This is one of our great joys. We all jump into the car, find the radio station that plays Christmas music 24/7 for the next four weeks, and drive to the mall. Getting a great parking spot at the mall after driving around like a great bird of prey for a half an hour, swooping in and snagging a spot, triumphantly stepping out of the car to see the faces of my fellow shoppers with parking envy; all the decorations at the mall; Santa listening to wishes of children; the voices of carolers as they stroll amongst the festive throng of people; Victoria's Secret playing their video of their annual runway show in the store window right across from the bathroom that my wife always needs to stop at, all bring a smile to my face! The leaves - gold, red and brown - along with the crisp fall air of Virginia finish the perfect backdrop to the start of the holidays. What could possibly add to this holiday nirvana for my family and me?

This year my daughter being the kind and beautiful person she is has adopted a family in need. Caught up championing PD can be distracting at times. Thanks to her for reminding us that there are others in need. Along with her wonderful friends, we are pooling our resources together to make sure that this family does not go without this holiday. You make your dad proud!

We should never look at long lines and crowds of people who are preparing to celebrate holidays as a burden or an inconvenience. It is a blessing to be cherished. How many people would give anything to trade places with you? At the end of their line waits a bowl of soup and a night at the shelter, but I'm sure they are probably thankful to have that. If you can, please help those who go without food or gifts for the holidays. It is something you will be truly thankful you did.

From me and my family, have the happiest of holidays. See you at Costco.

I'm Pat Younts and I Move to Live.

Moving Forward

I first saw the video below on a Facebook posting by Enzo of Ten Mountains, Ten Days. This is truly one of the best inspirational videos that I have ever seen. Thank you, Enzo. That being said, it does have images of movie violence (boxing). If this is disturbing to you, look away and listen to the audio. If the movie, Rocky, did not bother you, you should be good to go.

I think this video speaks to everyone who has had adversity. It gives us the perspective that we are accountable for our own lives and that we have the ability to impact our situation whatever that might be.

Do not be afraid to fight back, I know it's hard. I know you hurt. Every day I have that one golden minute where I'm not asleep, but not quite awake and I am not shaking. Just that one moment reminds me of what it was like to be "normal", what it felt like before. Then the reality of day begins. That one golden moment reminds me of what I want back.

I know many people wake up and think where is the hope, who will help me. The hope lies in everyone of us. All great things ever done, all the achievements ever reached, every impossibility that was made possible, was done by one of us. I believe God built miracles into everyone. We need to stop looking at each other or up to the sky for a miracle to fall in our laps. We need to pray for the courage to unleash our own greatness and for the courage to move forward.

Impossible is just another word used when someone is to scared or tired. It is the word that gives you permission to quit even before you make an attempt. There is nothing wrong with fear, apprehension, or anxiety. It is what the rational person feels before something great is attempted. Some of our brothers and sisters can no longer fight this battle, but we can and if a cure was not meant for us, then for our children and our grandchildren.

Every day Parkinson's pushes me and every day I push back. Every day I ride my stationary bike or walk with my wife, work out at the gym, go to the driving range, or golf. You must ask your doctors what is safe for you to do, and then let them help you make a plan, diet nutrition. Don't forget to exercise your brain, play games like backgammon, chess, poker, things that challenge you mentally. Sad or depressed? Who would not understand that? Go to YouTube, watch something that makes you laugh or call someone and tell them you need some cheering up. Read a book, something uplifting and positive, or read a blog by one of my fellow bloggers. Their links are listed to the right of this post. There is a great three part article at POSITIVELY PARKINSONS on staying positive. It's a wonderful, well written blog that you should add to your favorites. 12 Paws and Frogs -- Kj's wonderful photos and posts always inspire. She is a great example of someone living life with joy and style despite PD. If you do read our blogs, please leave a comment, question, suggestion, or an idea of a subject you would like us to blog about. We take the time to do this for you and letting us know in our own small way that we helped, inspires us.

We need to come together and support each other, get active in this fight. I know it's not easy, not easy at all, but don't sit and do nothing. The only thing that I ever did that was easy, was doing nothing at all.

"I may shake, but my resolve is steady."

I'm Pat Younts and I move to live.

MOTIVATION - Be Great, Powerful Beyond Measure - Best Inspirational Vide...

Life's purpose

History tells us that at the end of Alexander the Great's campaign to increase the real estate holdings of Greece the Macedonia looked at all he had accomplished and wept because there was no more world to concur. I actually think there was, but without GPS, Google maps, or a good woman by his side giving him directions, what's a guy going to do? Pull over and ask directions, I think not. Alexander believed he reached the end of his life's work and on the way home from the ultimate road trip he died, perhaps from the empty void left from achieving his goals and having nothing more to live for.

From time to time we all wonder what our purpose in life is. Prior to my diagnosis a year and a half ago I found myself getting a little anxious about what I was doing with my life. Often I would tell my wife that I was not using my abilities. I felt stagnant and frustrated. I was looking for my own world to conquer. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing up to this point to complain about. I have a great life. I am married to my soul mate, have great kids, and over the last decade have what I consider a very relaxed lifestyle, blessed with great clients who also happen to be dear friends in my personal training business. I love all of my people and would keep on training them even if I won the lottery. This did not solve that little voice in the back of my head asking me what great thing are you doing? Are you using all your talents? It was an itch that was not getting scratched. I bought one of those self help books that help you discover what it is you are supposed to do with your life. I know some might consider self help books a little hokie, but I was getting really frustrated. I prayed at night for guidance toward my purpose -- that's how frustrated I had become.

Okay, I have not told this to anyone except my wife, so let's keep this between us. I read the self help books, but nothing was clicking. What to do? My life's calling was still a giant question mark and then the diagnosis came -- I had Parkinson's. I am a sick person, that's my new career? To hell with that, like good old Alexander the Great, a world conqueror, had shown me. I now fight a desperate battle against an undefeated opponent. With no army at my disposal, how was I to fight this battle? I recall someone once telling me that you can fix most problems if you throw enough money at it. What weapons would I need for my first battle to raise funds to fight Parkinson's? Golf clubs, some tee's, and lots of golf balls, and my battlefield would be the Kastle Greens Golf Club. The First Annual PY Vs. PD Golf Tournament would be the first step in a long journey to conquer Parkinson's.

It dawned on me at some point during the event that I was doing exactly what I had been searching for. All the things I have learned, all my modest talents came into play to create this event. My prayers in an odd way had been answered. I prayed for a purpose, a direction, and that moment of reckoning came in the form of PD. I do not question the way my now life's work has been given to me. I simply accept the challenge and use what skills and talents I have acquired through my life and put them to work to face this challenge.

It was a wonderful feeling to see the idea take shape and exceed expectations. So many people came together to support all of us battling PD. Their generosity and effort was amazing. I wish all of you could have been there. A golfer walked up to me after the tournament and told me he had a great time and would definitely be back next year. His golf partner said, "Not if they find a cure." The thought had not occurred to me that everyone's fundraiser might be the last one ever needed. Unlike Alexander I will not weep. There are still more worlds to conquer and causes to champion.

Do not let your situation distract you from your dreams and goals. Find your purpose and live your life.

PY Vs PD 2010 Golf Tournament

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