Transcript
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Welcome to I'm Not Dead Yet with Judy and Travis, a podcast about living an extraordinary life with extraordinary circumstances.
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Welcome to the I'm Not Dead Yet podcast.
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I'm your co-host, Travis Robinson.
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I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 35 in 2014.
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And I'm your other co-host, Judy Yarris.
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My husband, Sandy, had Parkinson's disease for 18 years.
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I was his care partner.
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Today's episode will be looking back on 2024.
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And, of course, looking ahead to 2025.
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Hey Judy, how the hell are you?
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Hi Travis.
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Well, at the moment, I'm very good.
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I'm a year older I'm still here, no complaints.
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I mean I have a lot of complaints but I'm not really focused on complaints.
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I'm a year older I'm still here no complaints.
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I mean I have a lot of complaints but I'm not really focused on complaints.
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I mean I'm really into the gratitude part of my life.
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This is my gratitude time.
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I am grateful to be here, grateful to be your friend, grateful to be able to do this podcast with you.
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Regardless of some of the setbacks and things that 2024 brought on different levels, I'm pretty good and I'm sticking to it.
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Well, that's awesome to hear.
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It's awesome to hear myself have had a few challenges this year as well, but I'm still here and not dead yet, so I guess we'll keep doing the show, I think.
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So I think we have to keep it up and you still have to keep telling your story.
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And I mean, let's look at where we were a year ago, you know.
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I mean it was the end of 2023.
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2024 seemed kind of hopeful in some ways and I don't know.
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I mean, I think that we've there were so many advances in Parkinson's this year, so many research advances that are so cool, and there's so much more coming now in 2025 in terms of delivery systems and new drugs and all these amazing things that are happening.
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And I think you know the future looks good.
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But, just staying in the moment of how do we stay positive when the chips are down, you know, when things don't go the way we thought they were going to go or the way we planned it, and you, of all people, know that.
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You know that you had quite a few challenges this year, I know.
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Yeah.
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But through them all, you've continued to be positive and keep going forward, and so there's something to be said for that of the mindset, what our mind tells us.
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Yeah.
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So if you're listening to this show and you just don't want to hear two half-full people, we are the glasses that are half full.
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We don't go to the half empty right.
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So I think it's a testimonial and I'm acknowledging myself on this.
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I don't do this very often, but I am acknowledging myself for being willing to keep an attitude that I can always get through it, no matter what.
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No matter what the challenge is, I will find a way to work through it and keep myself positive to work through it and keep myself positive.
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That is true, Judy.
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You've always been a veritable ray of sunshine.
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Thank you, travis.
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I take that as a compliment because I think it's easy to be down and you know, I've had my moments where I have been down or I have felt sad and depressed, but I call them moments.
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I don't allow it to overtake me.
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I mean, I think it's normal for everyone to have those points where you just feel something just overtakes you and it feels sad and it's okay to feel that way.
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We're allowed to have some sad in our lives.
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Yes, but the difference is who we let drive the ship.
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Right.
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I think that's where you have been.
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Great inspiration for me and for many people, travis, is that you always try to work through it and find the positive in it, even if the challenge and we do call them challenges, I think that's that is what they are when something doesn't go the way you planned or you have a new symptom that is kicking you in the ass, you know it's, it's a challenge and the challenge is how can I work through this at this moment in time?
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Yes, because for me it's not about like oh well, I wish I didn't have BD, it's much more granular.
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Oh, I wish I could process my food regularly.
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Or I wish I wasn't falling so much Right, I wish that I could speak more clearly, and each one of those things is something that I can do.
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If I am applied and focused, I can speak a little clearer or maintain my balance just a bit more.
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I think it takes a lot of brain power to do that.
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Yes.
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So you're constantly working on it.
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You don't get a break when you have PD.
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I think this is the one thing we have to let everyone know you don't get a day off, right.
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No, ma'am, I sure as fuck don't.
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Yeah, there's no day off.
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So what ends up happening is that you still have to get through that day.
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You still have to get through those moments where maybe you're sounds a little more garbled or you're not as clear.
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You just can't get the words out.
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You can't retrieve the words sometimes, but I think you always look at it as what can I do differently?
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Yeah, and I think that's your strength, and I think that's your strength and I think that's something that we can all learn from.
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Yeah, it is something that I have always looked at and, regardless of the situation, you know, what can I do to improve this predicament?
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And I think we all do that.
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I do that myself.
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I mean I don't have PD, but I've had some physical challenges this year where I am doing it for a much shorter time and hopefully eventually it will, my brain and the muscles will kick in and they'll actually work together.
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So you know and I don't know, it may never happen.
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I'm waiting to see.
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But you know, when you have PD you don't have that idea that oh, if I just concentrate on this, it's going to go away and I can make it better.
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It doesn't work that way.
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Right.
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But you still have to concentrate when you're walking.
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You still have to be in the moment, you still have to pay attention, you have to be mindful.
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You don't get to forget about that part of your day.
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Regardless of the situation is you know, what can I do to improve this predicament?
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You've still got to keep your mind on your gate and your walking Right.
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It's an important part of what you do, walking.
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Right.
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It's an important part of what you do in your day and it's the part that is so automatic for most people.
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But for people with Parkinson's it is not Right.
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Oh, I was sick Weird.
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Oh, I was sick earlier.
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I've had a pretty good year.
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Art I use.
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This year, yes, I learned how to paint and I've started watercolor painting.
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That has improved my drawing from stick figures to better stick figures.
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And I released two books on photography this year and I was very pleased with how they both turned out.
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That's amazing, travis, I mean kudos to you for doing that.
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That's pretty fantastic, and the fact that you're doing watercolors, which I know is so difficult.
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I have a good friend who's taking watercolor classes now and it's very challenging, so I'm amazed that you're willing to tackle that at this point in time.
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Well, I don't have any other mind in time that we can access.
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So, yeah, it's all about what can I do right now.
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Right, what can you do right now.
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I think that's a really good point.
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I mean, I like that saying what can I do right now?
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That's a really important way to look at things, rather than what can't I do right now, what can I do right now.
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And I know you well enough to know that when you go into these classes, you sort of go in with what I call an open heart and no expectations, am I right?
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Yeah.
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So you're willing to just see what happens with it.
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It's like throwing confetti in the air and seeing where it falls, and I love that.
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I love that you aren't hard on yourself and that you accept whatever comes out of it.
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For me, that is amazing, and I'm so impressed with the fact that you're willing to do it and I'm excited to see what it looks like.
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And just, I'm going to throw in a commercial here because it looks like we're going to be doing, because it looks like we're going to be doing Living Artistically the beginning of 2026.
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There's some exciting news that I'll get to share after the first day of the year about this, but the Living Artistically art show will probably happen in 2026.
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And so Living Artistically with Parkinson's is alive and well, and it will take on a different form for 2025.
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But in 2026, it will be right up your alley.
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So stay tuned, folks, for that one.
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And it gives you plenty of time to master what you're doing.
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Travis, you have a whole year Right.
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A whole year to practice A whole year to practice Something to look forward to, and so I think you know that's something that I think we forget about and that is having something to look forward to.
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As a little kid, I think they look forward to, like, the first day of school, they look forward to their birthday, they might look forward to Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, whatever they celebrate.
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I think as adults we forget to look forward to something because we get caught up in all the shit of daily life.
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That kind of drags us down.
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You know, the mundane things that we don't want to deal with, that kind of, are difficult for us.
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But I think if we can really focus on looking forward, looking forward to something special, it gives us the hope and the strength to pull from within and make that really important and make it really special.
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Yes, and it is so essential for me to have things that I look forward to starting classes again in the spring, visiting my friends this holiday season yes, it is really important for me to have things to look forward to.
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I think that's great, travis, and the fact that you're willing to go visit friends, you're willing to go put yourself out there, go to someone else's home, even though there might be some challenges there.
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But I know you well and usually you prepare for that.
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You know if you want to give some helpful hints to anyone that might be listening.
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Yeah, reparation is a lot, and now, if you care about that, I always make sure mine is stocked with extra meds, extra clothes, extra food and some sort of bubbly beverage that's great, that's really good A bullying beverage, extra meds with them when they're going somewhere, even if you know you're just going for an afternoon.
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But it's a good idea to have extra things with you when you're out.
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Yes, because if you become the light, well then the trouble.
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That is my thought, and so I don't leave the house without a few extra pills to get me through the next two or three doses.
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That's really smart.
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That's a great way to approach it.
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Do you prepare, like when you're going to someone else's house?
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Do you prepare other people for if they haven't seen you for a while?
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Do you give them a heads up about how you're doing, or do you let it be a surprise?
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How do you approach that?
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Um, it really depends on what I expect them to do about it.
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Like, if I am really ball-prone, I give them a quick heads up, but if I'm just having trouble talking, then I don't usually.
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Uh-huh.
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Okay, that's fair enough, so that if you're going to someone's house I think that's a great idea Let them know that you've been falling a lot, that it's not for them to be too concerned about.
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If you take a fall at their house and also do a little homework Like I always did homework if we got invited somewhere, how many steps are there, you know?
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Is it kind?
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of right Kind of rugs?
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Do they have lots of area rugs, like, what are the things that could be a problem or be problematic for for using a walker be problematic for using a walker, you know, or even someone that maybe is using a cane, or maybe someone who doesn't want to use either any kind of assistive device?
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But you're going to have pitfalls at this house, and so I think it's good to do that Also, letting people know that it's not that you're insulting them by not eating certain foods, but certain foods may be difficult for you from a choking standpoint, right, so you cannot attempt them, and that that's okay too.
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I mean, all of those things can be really helpful when you're going to someone else's home.
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Right.
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And I think even when people would come to our home for holidays and things, when we would have a party or something, I would just sort of give everybody a heads up that was coming.
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Oh, sandy's had sort of a bad week.
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He may be really great, be really great.
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He may not be, and it's okay.
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We want you to come, he wants to see you, but don't be concerned if you see that he goes to lay down for a few minutes, or if he's not as talkative or you know whatever.
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I think that's important.
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Yes, and it helps people to feel more comfortable when they're around you.
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I notice that for me when I have real trouble and I have real trouble and it is useful to call out the elephant in the room Like say oh damn, I fell again and make a joke.
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That is much better than everyone being all nervous and sad about it and now it's going to happen, and it's much better if you don't panic.
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Right, that's the part is so that people don't panic.
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Right, that's the part is so that people don't panic.
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I also think it's helpful, you know, if you know that you're doing a lot of falling and you're really fall risk at this point, wear some knee pads, wear some elbow pads under your pants.
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You know, no one knows, no one cares, it protects you.
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There we go.
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Travis is holding up Knee pads right now.
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I mean, I think that's a good, it's a good safety measure for you.
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And who cares, you know?
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Yeah.
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I mean, do the things that protect you, do the things that are safe for you.
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Be responsible for yourself, and then other people will be able to adjust to it on a much better level if you take responsibility for yourself.
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I think that's the way to go, because there is no one out there that I am where the box stops.
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That's absolutely right.
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So, travis, you know, I think that you've given a lot of people this year a lot of inspiration through your mountain climbing, through your art, through your willingness to share the good and the bad of what your life has been this year, and I think it's so wonderful that you've given people an opportunity to understand what it's like to be a young onset person.
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It's a little bit different than being an older person with PD not that the symptoms are necessarily different, but I think the challenges of life where you've gone back to school, you're trying to be social.
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You like to play pickleball, there are certain things you like to do.
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You like to play pickleball, there are certain things you like to do, and someone older might not want to do those things, but as far as I'm concerned, for any age, you can go back to school, you can take up a hobby, you can do so many different things.
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It's really good for everyone to sort of focus on this and accept the fact that when you have PD, you can find really great ways of living your life.
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Amen.
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And you certainly have done that, travis.
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So Yep, I certainly have done that, travis, so Yep, and so that's all for now.
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You can look forward to more episodes of this show in 2025.
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Yes, sir, all right, Travis, wow.
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Happy New Year.
