I am a much different person now than I was when I was diagnosed eleven years ago. I don't view it as a bad thing. I don't know whether to attribute it to PD or finally growing up, or both.

Probably the change I like the most is that I am no longer a busy-body. Previously I had to know the 411 on anybody and everybody. Now unless it is something that affects me or my spouse and children directly (and it never is), I don't care. I would religiously read the gossip websites (esp. Page Seven.) Recently I bought a People Magazine to read on a long flight and I found myself just skimming through the pages, not caring to read about these people whom I don't know. It just seemed silly. As for friends, relatives and acquaintances, I keep the gossip-mongers and crazy-makers at a distance now. I don't want to hear the dirt on anybody. I don't let myself get sucked into their chaos anymore either. And I learned how to say NO to those people who thoughtlessly took my time, attention and energy away from my life and my husband and children. I can't get that time back, but I can stop it from happening ever again. To be blunt, I wasted alot of time on people who didn't deserve it. My life is quiet and settled now, which is necessary because so much of my energy goes into dealing with the advancing pd. They don't understand. They say I've changed, that I'm not the same person I was. And they are right.