Looking at the decibel-measuring app on my iPhone, I take a deep breath, and begin counting out loud: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5!” I take another breath, and continue: “6, 7, 8, 9, 10!” I look across the little desk at Paige for reassurance. She says, “That was awesome, Tim. I think some of them were over 90 db!”
Paige and Kaylee are my speech language pathologists. They are exhuberant and inspiring professionals. They spend a good part of each day helping children with various speech challenges and it shows. The TV in their cheery waiting room plays Netflix Kids. A little bunny named Gus Gus lives in their office. When I started therapy, I felt a bit self-conscious reading out loud and doing brain puzzles in the midst of a decidedly kid-friendly environment. Now I find it energizing.
We are quickly nearing the end of my 25 speech therapy sessions, and the results are in. My voice is noticeably stronger than it was before. I am encouraged and optimistic.
Learning to live with intent
People usually do not need to remind themselves to take a deep breath before talking, but I do! If I don’t remember to take a deep breath, I will run out of air as I near the end of a sentence. If I remember to breathe, my voice sounds as it should.
It turns out that there are two motor systems that allow each of us to talk, move around and function. The Pyramidal System allows us to learn new things, acting with intent. The Extrapyramidal System, on the other hand, allows us to do things automatically. Parkinson Disease is a disorder of the Extrapyramidal System. It impairs the automatic motor system through the loss of dopamine. The good news is that, even with PD, I can train myself to use the Pyramidal System to consciously bypass the automatic system and talk, do things, and live my life.
The universal can be found in the particular
There are some universal truths for everyone here. Who doesn’t want to live with more intention? The science checks out. By slowing down and acting with intent, we can break out of old habits and find new ways of doing things, resulting in more creativity. More positivity. Changing little things for the better. Getting out of old ruts and forging new pathways.
Sometimes, life can be extraordinarily simple. All we really need is a smile, some encouraging words and a deep breath. Then the possibilities are endless.