Finding my ‘swingtime’ is helping me to manage transitions with ALS
It's all about using the momentum in my routine
My recent holiday season was overall fun and festive. It did, however, offer a pointed lesson in living with ALS.
It began one morning as I was getting ready for a special lunch with relatives. I sat on a folding chair, struggling to put on a sock, and from my vantage point, the sock was winning.
It was the second day in a row I’d found myself in this frustrating wrestling match. The harder I tried, the clumsier my fingers became. As I broke into a sweat, I immediately blamed my anger on my ALS. That is, until I paused and listened to my body.
In the past, I approached big events with the intensity of mounting an invasion. My routine was strict: detailed preparations, a rigid get-ready schedule, total mindfulness during the event, and two to three days of restful recovery afterward. This was how I reset my nervous system — similar to letting the little white flakes settle after shaking a snow globe.
But I didn’t have a plan for back-to-back events.
Finding the rhythm
In December, holiday gatherings were smooshed too close to a rescheduled haircut and a no-other-days-available physical therapy visit.
I sat there staring at my bare foot, longing for the “good old days” when I could be out the door in 45 minutes or less. Now, that same sequence takes three hours.
At that moment, a memory surfaced from summer gymnastics camp. I was a youngster learning backflips on a trampoline. It was pure joy: flip, bounce, bounce, bounce, and flip again. Then the instructor said, “Now, do it in swingtime.”
“Swingtime” is an old circus term for performing stunts one after another without a “free bounce” in between. Once I tried it, I loved it. Using the momentum of one flip to rebound into the next felt powerful and smooth.
As I sat on that folding chair, my body remembered the ease of that rhythm. I realized I could apply swingtime to my current life — not by moving faster, but by moving with momentum. I decided to visualize my crowded calendar not as a series of individual obstacles, but as a slow, continuous routine. By accepting the “swing” from one task to the next, I stopped fighting the transition and started moving with it.
Swingtime isn’t about rushing — impossible with ALS — but about the mental shift of using momentum rather than starting from zero energy every time.
Of course, once my calendar finally cleared, I spent several days in generous downtime.
Looking back, I have wonderful memories of time spent with family and friends. More importantly, I have a new strategy for managing ALS-related stress. Moving in swingtime is how I am learning to live well. I invite you to try finding your own rhythm, too.
Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.
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