What has your journey been like since your diagnosis?
After my diagnosis, I sought out a Parkinson’s support group and finding none, decided to organize my own called the Davis County Parkinson’s Support Group. Since then it has flourished. I now have over 120 people on my email list and between 35 to 45 people who attend the monthly meetings.
I try to provide a comfortable and relaxed setting where people with Parkinson’s, their caregivers and local providers can meet and socialize. I frequently invite subject matter experts to present about health and wellness topics to help all of us learn how to maximize our strengths and quality of life as much as possible.
With each meeting, I not only learn how Parkinson’s has affected others, but I also learn more about myself and the importance of “living well” every day.
If there’s a silver lining to this cloud called Parkinson’s, it’s the wonderful people I’ve met by starting this support group.
How do you live well each day?
For my body, I stay active and exercise as much as possible. For my mind, I’ve rediscovered my love of writing. And on those days when my symptoms are most acute, writing allows me to escape into a world of my own creation.
Recently, my desire to write has helped me reach a significant milestone: I released my first novel titled The Device. It’s a science-fiction/time-traveling thriller about a person with Parkinson’s who is given the opportunity to use a time machine to go into the future and bring back the cure, but behind the scenes, malevolent forces are gathering to stop him.
What do you wish you would have known when you were diagnosed that you know now about living with Parkinson’s?
I wish I would’ve known about all the resources (like the Davis Phinney Foundation) that are available and that are geared toward helping people cope with Parkinson’s.
Dale George’s Philosophy
What do you wish everyone living with Parkinson’s knew about living well?
I wish they realized that while Parkinson’s is no picnic, it also has the power to bring wonderful opportunities, experiences and relationships into their lives.
Share Your Victory
Each month, we spotlight individuals from our Parkinson’s community who embody living well today – what we call Moments of Victory®.
Your story, like Dale’s, could be featured on our blog and Facebook page so others can learn from your experiences and victories.