Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 6, 2026 ~1 min source read

My dad’s determination to choose life despite his cruel illness has taught me gratitude | Nomi Kaltmann

When we help others we are reminded that we are more than our suffering Making sense of it is a column about spirituality and how it can be used to navigate everyday life My dad, Max, is in his early 60s. More than 15 years ago he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease.

My dad’s determination to choose life despite his cruel illness has taught me gratitude | Nomi Kaltmann

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When we help others we are reminded that we are more than our suffering Making sense of it is a column about spirituality and how it can be used to navigate everyday life My dad, Max, is in his early 60s.

More than 15 years ago he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease.

Since then his illness has progressed, affecting his mobility and making ordinary tasks, like walking, increasingly difficult.

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The useful part

When we help others we are reminded that we are more than our suffering Making sense of it is a column about spirituality and how it can be used to navigate everyday life My dad, Max, is in his early 60s. More than 15 years ago he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease. Since then his illness has progressed, affecting his mobility and making ordinary tasks, like walking, increasingly difficult.

How it works

  • Growing up he was taught that people don't get to choose the hardships life places before us but we can choose how we react to these challenges.
  • We can't control what happens to us – only how we react to it.
  • My dad is softly spoken and endlessly kind but beneath his gentle exterior is a steely determination.

Details worth keeping

Nomi Kaltmann is an Australian lawyer and journalist. She is a proud member of Melbourne's Jewish community Continue reading...

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