How I Refocus My Feelings of Positivity Through a Frank Sinatra Song

The Memorial Day weekend was rained out. Thunderstorms canceled the festivities. I was feeling a little bit down so I put on some Frank Sinatra music. The CD that I came across was of him singing, "The Impossible Dream" from The Man of La Mancha.

I’ve heard the lyrics many times over the years, but this time the song’s words sang out to me with a different and personal meaning for my life with Parkinson's disease (PD).

I listened to each word and anchored it to my thoughts at the time. Now, when I am feeling somewhat low, I will think of this song to cheer me up and help me re-focus my thoughts to be me more positive and hopeful.

The lyrics

This song became my "anchor song" to cheer me up and encourage positive thoughts. These are the Frank Sinatra lyrics:¹

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To be better by far than you are
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest, to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To be willing to give when there's no more to give
To be willing to die so that honor and justice may live
And I know if I'll only be true to this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.

My Parkinson's interpretation

My goal is unattainable at this time, despite my high hopes of being cured of PD.
My wish is to defeat PD which is currently not possible.
I cannot deal with this unacceptable and anxious life I am living with PD.
Even the bravest people would not choose to fight this opponent, without a chance to come out the victor!

How can I fix this unjust position I am in?
I try daily to be the best I can be living with PD, by following my doctor’s plan of treatment, taking my medicines, eating, and more.
I will try to persist in activities that are hard for me to do, whether it is apathy, fatigue, or exercising. I need to push myself further in my battle.
I wish not have Parkinson’s in my life, but I will continue having a laser-like focus.

I am focused on doing everything in my power to reduce my symptoms of PD.
No matter how hopeless things look now, or how far away the cure is going to reveal itself, I will be eagerly waiting that day ...
I will continue pushing through, working hard on exercising, taking my prescriptions, and following my doctor’s orders until the very end when I can give no more.
I think about joining a PD trial, so that researchers may eventually find a cure to help others.

I know that if I continue listening to the professionals that are helping me with this horrendous disease, I can be successful in my fight.
That when I die, I know I’ve tried everything there is for myself and others that may suffer from PD and be at peace with myself.

In the future, I may have made a difference for those people with PD by having my doctor report on how they treated my reactions to different medical and therapeutic approaches.
I am only an average man, not a superman.
I will keep on fighting with everything I got.
To that day, when they find a cure for PD.