Hope in Motion

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...

LEGO has been in my life for a long time. But when I was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at 41, I did not realize how much it helped—not only mentally, but with fine motor skills as well. It is also my way to find zen (well, most of the time—anyone who builds...

During Parkinson’s Awareness Month, it’s important to recognize that early-onset Parkinson’s isn’t only represented by well-known advocates like Michael J. Fox. It lives much closer to home—in our communities, among friends and neighbors, former classmates, young...

My name is Tim Lockard. I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s in October 2021 at the age of 44. This was devastating as a young man with three sons. Your initial fear is that you really don’t know how many more quality years you have left to live. Would I be...

That was the sentence I was told in 2019 after having uncontrollable movements, dystonia in my face and neck and seizures that were disabling. I refused to give up, kept my faith strong and now 7 years later, I no longer have seizures and doing well on carbidopa...

Nobody folds a map anymore. Nobody traces a finger down the crease and counts the little squares D4. B9. Page twelve, cross the state line, grab the second atlas from the glove box. Nobody does that anymore. We are GPS people now. We go to work. We go to school....

It has been said, “if you have seen one person with Parkinson’s, you have seen just one person with Parkinson’s.” The Parkinson’s community is diverse, presenting an opportunity to learn about the diversity of how each of us, physically and mentally exhibit...

I won’t pretend to be an off-roading enthusiast, but I have been on a dozen or so excursions with some seasoned veterans.  Along the way, I’ve picked up a few useful nuggets to keep things safe and fun on the back roads.  Interestingly, some of these...

"Living well with Parkinson's" can sound like an oxymoron, but it can be done. Since my diagnosis, I have explored three continents, became a dog dad, met the love of my life, got married, won a Super Bowl ring, bought my dream house, and somehow became a model at age...

Please remember that, yes you can. You may not want to, you may need to, but you can. Sometimes one foot in front of the other is the ONLY way we can get there. This is the nature of the beast that is neurodegenerative disease. But here’s the part we don’t talk about...

I’ve always considered myself cucumber-calm. Cucumbers have a high water content, causing them to feel cool to the touch, even on a hot, sultry day. I am calm as a cucumber. I’m not easily riled, upset, angered, or surprised. My moods don’t fluctuate wildly. I’m...

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in my 40s, that first year felt disorienting and uncertain. Two unexpected anchors helped me find my footing again: practicing gratitude and connecting with the Parkinson’s community. The people I met — individuals living...

Parkinson’s is not one story — it’s many. On Shrinking, Harrison Ford shows the vulnerability and grit of living with the disease, while Michael J. Fox stands as living proof that a diagnosis doesn’t define a life. For the Young Onset community, moments like this affirm what we know to be true: movement matters, visibility matters, and hope is always in motion.

It’s easy to believe that optimism is the most important thing we can carry through a hard life. A good attitude. A positive mindset. The ability to look on the bright side and keep smiling no matter what. Young onset Parkinson’s cured me of that belief. Living with...

Every time he shifts from Clark to cape, there’s a tremor he can’t escape. The body fights what used to flow. What used to be as easy breathing is now a struggle riddled with panic and anxiety He tries to figure it out. Reporter brain kicks in, investigates his own...

Most people don’t hear the words “You have Parkinson’s Disease” and associate it with silver linings. I didn’t either at first. Symptomatic at age 37 I sought answers.  I was diagnosed with everything but Parkinson’s.  In 1994 physicians didn’t look at a...

Whether you have Parkinson’s, cancer or another disease/disability, there comes a time in your journey in which you need to gather yourself and decide to fight. For me this came 5 years after my diagnosis. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, only therapies to...

That’s right—I said it. For me, giving up became a key to learning how to live with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. Before I explain what I mean, let me give you some background. I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in February of 2021, after about a...

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in March 2023, just weeks before my 43rd birthday. I attended the appointment alone after a long drive, completed a series of tests, and was told matter-of-factly that I had Parkinson’s. I left with information, medication...

I am not who you think I am.I am an imposter.I’m not even who I think I am. I’m somebody else, sometimes on a daily basis. When you live with a shadow of disease as insidious as Parkinson’s, you learn that having a fluctuating ideal of the best you is the kindest and...

Dream. Believe. Achieve. Succeed. This is my mantra. I have these words mounted above a window in my home. I live by these words, even more so now, since I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). I am someone who dreams big, sets goals, puts a plan in place...