Hope in Motion

A friend of mine asked me if I had seen early signs that she and her long-term partner weren’t a good fit for one another from the start. Knowing that she and her partner had struggled for years, I had to think back to nearly 20 years ago, when two kids, barely old...

Life has a way of making us feel small, forgotten, or unseen. This time of year, we have the rush of the holidays, the burden of routines, the weight of… life. But here’s the truth: you are loved, even when you don’t feel it. Think about the people who light up when...

Stars complement the night in silver disguise, small quiet fires scattered without a sound. The way you complement the quiet parts of me, the parts I kept low, the parts I never showed around. Clouds accent the blue of open skies, soft brushstrokes drifting where the...

Earlier this summer I had the privilege of attending the World Parkinson’s Congress in Phoenix, Arizona. This was my first Congress. Yes, I was a freshman. There were so many sessions that looked interesting, but not enough time to hit them all. There were a lot of...

I used to be the most negative person. My life was full of controversy and complications. I was so negative and was always good for a snarky comment. In fact, I was known for them. And then... Parkinson’s. Something about this diagnosis prompted me to reverse my...

I've always loved to write, and when I was younger, I wanted to sing too. I had a pretty good voice back then, but I never really did anything with it. Life went in other directions. Then Parkinson's came along. Over the years, my voice got softer and weaker. At some...

I feel like the end of summer. Where the sun fades quickly and is more stubborn to rise in the morning. Where a jacket feels nice on the way into the office, but I wouldn’t dream of wearing it on the way home. The drying of the leaves from bright green to a subtle...

I was born into a big family with five older siblings, and when I was six years old, our family grew again with the birth of my little brother. In a house that full, it wasn’t always easy to feel seen or heard, but even as a child, I found myself standing up for...

We all carry something heavy. A feeling, a memory, a change in routine, an acceptance, a revelation, a reckoning, a reflection, a diagnosis, a journey.... Whether that be in physical form or solely in your mind’s eye.... we all carry the weight of this thing called...

I was diagnosed with YOPD 6 years ago. In 2020 at age 45. Something I have learned about myself is that I live better when I separate MYSELF from the DISEASE. I talk to my Parkinson’s like it is the unwelcome squatter I picture it to be. I tell it to stop. To leave....

When I was 23 years old, I walked into a neurologist’s office looking for answers. I walked out with Parkinson’s disease. Those words changed everything. I didn’t just grieve the diagnosis. I grieved the version of myself that existed before it. I grieved the future I...

I was 43 years old when I was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 2007. Like everyone living with Parkinson's, I've lost things along the way. I've lost the ease of simple movements I once took for granted. I've watched symptoms slowly change the way I...

Sometimes we use the word “hero” too loosely. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word “HERO” as: ”A hero is traditionally defined as a person or main character admired for their exceptional courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Unlike classical...

When we launched Hope in Motion, our goal was simple: to create a place where people living with Young Onset Parkinson's could share their stories—in their own words. What we didn't expect was how much those stories would teach us. Every contributor has a unique...

Sometimes, life throws us unexpected challenges that shape us in remarkable ways. Like a beautiful piece of pottery, our journey with Parkinson’s is a testament to resilience and the art of healing. We are very much like a broken vessel meticulously repaired with...

When I first heard the words “I think you have Parkinson’s” from a Neurologist back in 2021 I thought my life was over.  My husband and I sat in the parking lot outside the clinic and cried.  I didn’t stop there.  I cried for days, alone mostly, I...

“Do you have any questions?” Questions?! I’m not even sure what Parkinson’s is, let alone know what questions to ask. Yes, I have one: “Can I still be a mom?” I was 34 years old with three young boys, ages 1, 3, and 6, when I heard the dreaded words: “It’s...

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in June 2021, like many people, I worried about what the future might hold. Would I still be able to travel? Would I still be able to challenge myself physically? Would Parkinson’s gradually take away the activities I loved?...

“I don’t know what to say,” they inform me. I told them back, “you don’t need to say anything, just stay with me- because sometimes it hurts. “I don’t know what to do.” they tell me, wringing their hands, bowing their heads in defeat. I take their hand in mine, even...

World Parkinson Congress 2026 in Arizona was more than a conference for me — it was a reminder of the strength, resilience, and incredible positivity that lives within the Parkinson’s community, and the YOPD (Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease) community. Throughout the...

If I believed in me the way I believe in you— saw my own trembling hands as instruments of purpose rather than evidence of breaking, treated my stumbles like you treat them: as plot twists, not endings— If you believed in you the way you believe in me— recognized your...

As we move toward 2026, it’s okay if parts of your life feel heavy, unclear, or a little discouraging. That doesn’t mean you’re behind. It just means you’re human. Anything is possible — but it doesn’t start with doing everything. It starts with one small step....

I am the elephant in the room. The 300 pound gorilla brought to life via 113 pounds of humanity. I am the uncomfortable silence. The chupacabra. The boogeyman. That thought that comes to you in the wee hours of the night, the one you shake off and think no, not me,...

You cannot unburn the fire. You cannot unsee the wreckage. Perception is the witness. It sat in the front row and it remembers. The seat you choose the next time you walk in. That perspective Don’t let the wound write the final verdict. Don’t let the first angle...