Parkinality columnist Julie Walker on how writing and painting helps her living with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinality columnist Julie Walker, of Bishop’s Stortford, writes not about parking, but about living with Parkinson’s disease in her 50s

Rabbits look like parsnips? Trees look like duvets? Unable to find a rhyme for neurodegenerative disease? Don’t worry, I haven’t lost the plot. Allow me to explain.

Lots of people are frightened of the blank page. They are concerned about putting pen or brush to paper. I hope I can go some way to alleviate those fears by reassuring readers that I, personally, have never been pursued through Aldi by a ream of A4.

Perhaps people are frightened of making a mistake. Errors are inevitable, however, even if you aren’t living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). I try to put a positive spin on mistakes by referring to them as moments of random creativity. I try to see these moments not as negatives but as opportunities to explore different creative avenues, which is not easy. Also, unless you choose to display your artwork on the walls of the world, a la Banksy, then you don’t have to show anyone.

Creativity is becoming more and more important to me as PD deteriorates. I increasingly feel the need to find new coping mechanisms and distraction techniques in an attempt to cope with the evolving situation.

I find creativity incredibly therapeutic. For example, putting fingers to keyboard and writing something in rhyme helps me work through my feelings. Likewise, painting brightly and boldly helps me briefly switch off.

The benefits of using creativity in mental health and wellbeing is highlighted by the work of Bishop’s Stortford charity Retune. Founded by Tom Ryder, their work takes them into schools where they hold workshops about wellbeing.

Their work centres around the strings of the guitar. The strings are used to explain the themes of sleep, creativity, active, listen, earth, social (SCALES). All of these need to be in tune for us to be balanced and happy. If even just one of the strings is taken out of tune and the guitar is strummed, then it just doesn’t sound right.

They also hold excellent quarterly music evenings. Find out more about their work at www.retunewellbeing.com.

With poetry books, newspaper columns, co-writing a play, a musical with the Wise(ish) Man and painting and designing accessories, new friends assume I have always been creative. Maybe it has always been within me, but it is only since my PD diagnosis that I have actually thought I’ll give it a go. I wouldn’t jump out of an aeroplane, but, apart from the odd paper cut, painting and writing has limited opportunity for injury.

I have always believed that creative people belong to an unattainable secret society. I have since discovered a group which is neither secret or unattainable - Herts Visual Arts. It’s a group of like-minded people who have got over their fear of the blank canvas. Find out more at www.hvaf.co.uk.

I am now not only a member of Herts Visual Arts but I am on the committee for organising the next Makers’ Fair on November 2-3 at South Mill Arts. There will be over 20 local makers selling original gifts. So if you are fed up with ordering from the faceless computer, come along and buy an original, quality gift for Christmas or treat yourself. Please put the date in your diary and start writing your gift list, confident that you could have done all of your festive shopping before the first Catherine wheel of the season is lit.

P.S. To those of you who used my last column as bunny bedding, it might be worth reading it over Thumper’s shoulder. However, anyone who tilts their head and touches my shoulder will get a hard stare from me. It wasn’t written for sympathy. I am not unique. As the Wise(ish) Man said in one of his wise moments, everyone has a story.

Evolution by The Parkinality Poet

A flourish, a glimmer, blank canvas and brush.

The hands slow, this is no time to rush.

The eyes seek, the senses find.

Feeling the way, freeing the mind.

Inspiration evolves, igniting a spark.

Deftly drawing, light out of dark.

Colours blend, lines define.

Shadows reflect, freeing the mind.

Never ending, from the start.

The ever evolving, work of art.