I had the pleasure of talking with Eli Pollard , Executive Director of the World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC) , on Your Daily Dose of Dopamine . If you haven’t seen the interview yet, you can watch it here: What struck me most wasn’t just the breadth of topics we covered, but the genuine heart […]
Some songs are written. Others are lived. “Dad Was Here”, crafted with my long-time composing partner, Will Townsley, PhD (a.k.a. Brother Will ), grew out of miles on the road, long conversations between innings, and the quiet understanding that forms when a parent and child share something bigger than either of them. It sits at […]
If you’re caring for someone with a chronic illness, you’ve probably gotten very good at holding things together. You manage appointments. You anticipate needs. You stay calm when things feel anything but. And somewhere along the way, your own story can start to fade into the background. This Stand By Me Cinema Therapy class isn’t […]
There is only one time any of us truly have: now . No, it isn’t convenient. No, it isn’t fair. And no, despite all our planning, striving, and bargaining, we will never fully control what comes next. What we can do is influence this moment. And storytelling, if we’re courageous enough to work hard and […]
by Karen Patterson It’s time to unite. To shine our light. Yes, and join the fight To do what’s right With all our might. Yes, and time to cross that line— To admit we are not “fine.” With your stories and mine, Memories traced along the third base line. Unite is the word I’ve chosen […]
Vulnerability. I don’t like this choice because it threatens me. I know the power of the word. I teach it often in my improv and storytelling classes. I ask students to say the first thing that comes to mind, to put their characters in peril, to raise the stakes by increasing vulnerability. But making it […]
Life really isn’t fair. People in the Parkinson’s community know this very well. Most of us heard this truism early, but it never stops hurting when it shows up unexpectedly, cruel, and senseless. Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, being gone isn’t fair. And yet, here we are. I keep thinking about Stand By Me […]
I’m heart-broken. Like so many, the devastating news that Rob Reiner, whose work shaped how I see movies, storytelling, and life itself, was taken from this world along with his wife in a violent tragedy. My heart goes out to their family, friends, collaborators, and all who loved them. Rob’s work made us laugh, cry, […]
Empowering the PD Community Through Success Stories™ Parkinson’s disease has always been surrounded by stories—some helpful, many harmful. “It’s just tremors.” “You don’t look like you have PD.” “It’s not that bad.” These phrases, often spoken casually, can land with surprising weight. They erase complexity. They minimize struggle. And, perhaps most damaging, they silence possibility. […]
For many, the words “Parkinson’s disease” (PD) elicit fear. Decline. Stillness. A gradual shrinking of life. That’s part of the narrative people in the PD know and subscribe to—the one dominated by stigma, misunderstanding, and hopelessness. But that isn’t the whole story. It ’s not even the most important one. Success Stories™ were created […]
