We were taken with this advice on how to build resilience by Linda O'Connor, LCSW. Resilience involves the ability to "bounce back" from a difficult time feeling strengthened and more resourceful. The good news is that no matter what your age, your life circumstances or your PD symptoms, you can take steps to build your resilience so you can "weather" life's challenges and still remain in one piece.

1. Make connections. Lots of research and common sense tells us that people who have some social support do better both physically and emotionally.
2. Set achievable goals. Make them small and realistic. Figure out what you can change and what you need to let go of.
3. Take action! Act on your goals; it gives a sense of accomplishment and capability and that feels good.
4. Locate your strengths. How did you overcome challenges in the past? What skills did you use? Everyone has strengths; you just sometimes have to remind yourself.
5. Express gratitude. It reminds you that something is good and changes your focus.
6. Maintain hope. Give yourself permission to be hopeful; hope is justified (there's lots of PD research underway).
7. Keep things in perspective.  Avoid blowing things out of proportion. Focus on what you CAN do instead of what you can't.
8. Utilize your faith/spirituality. Having a connection to a community of faith, having a sense of something larger than yourself can bring comfort and peace.
9. Give to others. Attend a support group, volunteer with PSCKY, get involved in a community group....it's all good and changes your perspective.
10. HUMOR WORKS. Laugh at the silliness of life, find the humor in struggle...it really does lighten the load a bit.

Changes in Shelbyville "Moving On" Exercise Group for January

Dyna Zehnder has graciously agreed to offer a second "Moving On" group in Shelbyille. Please note a time change to the MONDAY group as well, starting January 4th.

SHELBYVILLE MONDAY GROUP: Starting January 4th, meets Mondays evenings at 6:30pm, Jewish Hospital Shelbyville Community Room (rear of hospital); Hospital Drive off Hwy 60. SHELBYVILLE THURSDAY GROUP: Starting January 7th, meets Thursday evenings at 6:30pm, Family Activities Center, Clear Creek Parks. To register, e-mail call 502-377-7562 or dynazehn@myway.com. There is no cost for this group.

Louisville Chair Yoga Reminder

We know you get very busy around the holidays, so here's a quick reminder for you to let us know if you will be participating in Chair Yoga in January. Classes are on Tuesdays at noon and are led by certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor Kathleen Geile. The dates for the January sessions are the 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, and 26^th.  Please call Katherine Autin at 426-0888 or 314-8307 to register or drop her an e-mail. A monthly donation of $10 is requested, but full scholarship are available for the asking.

The Louisville Asset Building Coalition is offer free tax services to those in need in Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby Counties starting January 2010.

AARP Tax-Aide both offers help with taxes for low- and moderate-income folks and needs volunteer help providing these services.

We were happy to see this lovely article in "Business First" on our friend Lynn Harrelson. Lynn spoke at the Lunch & Learn on Medicines. She has been so generous in donating time to PSCKY to help educate folks about managing multiple medicines; we are glad to see her receive this positive attention! Congrats, Lynn!

PSCKY is now on Facebook! Please "become a fan." Thanks to everyone who's joined up so far!

Save the date! Soon after the holiday break, PDF will hold its third PD ExpertBriefing, entitled "Understanding Legal Issues for People with PD." The free event can be attended by phone or on-line. It requires pre-registration.

We enjoyed learning more about stereotactic radiosurgery, sent to us by Mary Kay Flege. Here's a news article on the subject, and information from the Mayo Clinic on their trademarked "Gamma Knife" stereotactic procedure.

Karen deGraaf sent us this link to a fascinating article on how the hormone ghrelin may be used to boost resistance to, or slow, the development of PD. Thanks, Karen!