Retired prof uses humor to find the silver linings

Phyllis Deal, Ph.D.
Southern U.S.

Time of diagnosis: spring of 2020, but I can trace symptoms back 20 years.

Exercise of choice: I enjoy walking but do much of it on a treadmill these days. When I can, I like modest hiking in our mountains. We travel a good bit, and I enjoy new cities on foot. I wish I had more opportunities to kayak, which I used to do regularly, mostly lazy river but some lake time, too.

Favorite outdoor exercise: I’d kayak every day if I could.

Favorite place to hike: We hike the Roan Highlands between Tennessee and North Carolina.

Toughest hike and why: The toughest hike, I think, was up a ski slope during the off season! The steepness coupled with the altitude made for rough going.

Most proud of related to outdoors: Skirting the Bermuda Triangle in a kayak. I think it was toughest on me because I was in a standard two-seater — not an ocean kayak.

Exercise gear that is a must: These days I must have my treadmill. Being a Parky means exercising can’t wait for a pretty day.

Advice for someone recently diagnosed who wants to stay active: The best first start is walking your driveway for 15 minutes every day. Just get up and move!

Biggest challenge with Parkinson’s right now: fatigue followed closely by apathy.

How I try to stay positive: I stay positive by inflicting my annoying sense of humor on unsuspecting TikTok users. I am @Phearlesslyfacingmyfate. I share musings, scathingly brilliant ideas, and generally sprinkle it with just a bit of gallows humor.

Advocacy work for PD: My version of advocacy is intracommunity. I want to keep our community together and find the silver lining wherever it peeks through.

Career field: I am a retired college professor — a sociologist and expert on matters related to Peoples Temple & Jonestown.

Other interests/hobbies: I enjoy oil painting and I used to write, as well.

How to find me online: I am on TikTok (see user ID above). I duck in and out of Facebook under my own name.

Two women sit on a dock looking out at the sea.

Phyllis Deal takes a break with a friend from kayaking. She says she would kayak every day if it were possible.

Phyllis enjoys the outdoors, in both hot and cooler climates.

A woman wearing a hat is shown closeup with a glacier behind her.

If you have Parkinson’s disease and the outdoors and exercise are part of your life, share your story in Unshakable Voices. Email unshakablehiker@gmail.com for details.