Realistic Standards, an Environmental Group

Dr. Flapan’s article presents a challenge to each one of us: to value ourselves, to pursue meaningful interests and goals, and to develop as people. Think about all we can still accomplish if we set realistic standards for ourselves. Think about undertaking a hobby, whether it is mushroom hunting, ham radio, or amateur astronomy. Think about helping to better the world: join Amnesty International’s letter writers and write to governments on behalf of unfairly imprisoned or tortured individuals. Lend your weight to an environmental group that is trying to curb pollutants and toxic chemicals. Tutor a youngster who needs help with reading, or just offer to let him or her read to you once or twice a week. Set up an international student exchange plan in your local high school. Join a Parkinson’s support group to help (and be helped by) other people with Parkinson’s and to share activities. The possibilities are endless.

I want to end with an excerpt from a piece titled “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall,” by Ellen Levin, the eighteen year old granddaughter of someone who has Parkinson’s (it was published by Parkinson’s Educational Program [PEP USA] in Newport Beach, California): I want you to move closer to the mirror, until all you look at are your eyes. I want all of you with Parkinson’s to look at your eyes and realize that your eyes have helped you to see life and happiness, and no matter how your outer body appears to others, you’ve got an inner body. An inner soul that no affliction could ever cause to tremble, a soul that can store all the happiness you want out of life. And it is a soul, your soul, that won’t give in to depression.