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

We can’t control what happens to us – only how we react to it. And 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.

My dad is softly spoken and endlessly kind but beneath his gentle exterior is a steely determination. Perhaps this comes from being the son of a sole survivor of the Holocaust. 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.

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