Hi Kelly,
First of all, thank YOU for being a moderator and chatting with others living with Parkinson's Disease. To answer your question, YOU are a HUGE part how me, as a caregiver to a loved one with PD, and others stay hopeful. Knowing that there is a caring ear on the other side of my laptop with loving answers and insightful knowledge and experience helps to shed light on my darker days when his symptoms are making us feel cloudy and dark. For this, I am grateful because as I listen to your comments either here or on other media, I also feel encouraged by the conversations shared.
Also, my personal light in the darkest hours of PD comes from a strong relationship with God who guides me in the middle of the night when I fall back to sleep after a terrible cramping episode, who leads me to a calm in the middle of the day when medications don't ease the symptoms and there are a million things to do for the kids, who directs me online to find others in the same situations online that understand, and who provides for our large family. Initially, it knowing He would take care of our needs and provide comfort and direction not only gets me through another day but gives me hope.
I can't wait to hear more from others! It's funny that today I see your question because I just read an awesome quote yesterday concerning this notion. It is from one of my favorite characters read in my house many times over the past decade:
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. But only to those who remember to turn on the light." -- Albus Dumbledore
love,
Angie Hott