There are so many ways to get involved and make a difference during a journey with Parkinson’s, from community building to advocacy, research participation to fundraising and more. Taking that first step toward involvement can be daunting, but many people say it’s a critical part of living well with the disease. In our new podcast episode, Patient Council members share stories of their own first steps, explore how engagement has impacted their journeys and offer advice and perspective to others who are looking for ways to make meaningful change. 🎧 Listen now: https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcast/how-engagement-helps-your-journey-parkinsons?os_cid=fb-a1bVL000004QJEP (fb)

“I fell in a grocery store yesterday. When I use a shopping cart, I find it slowly gains speed until I'm both pushing it and chasing it down the aisle. Of course, watching a man as tall as Michael Jordan but much heavier and less coordinated careening down the bread aisle and on a collision course with the dairy section may be more awareness for Parkinson’s disease than some shoppers are prepared for,” says Jim O’Connell, 66, a retired journalist and Parkinson’s advocate who was diagnosed in 2006. “That’s the thing about seeking support for our cause: we can't choose when we will be noticed and when we will be politely ignored. We have to accept, even embrace how we appear to others at our best and our worst times. We don’t have to wear buttons saying, ‘This crazy grocery cart is powered by Parkinson’s.’ But it’s a reminder of the power we each have in sharing our story. Using gatherings in your neighborhoods and community to work in conversation on the difficulties the disease poses — maybe leavened with humor — would be appropriate. After all, we’ve been diagnosed not shamed.” https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/mjff-guest-blogger-jim-oconnell-embracing-parkinsons-disease-without-shame?os_cid=fb-a1bVL000004QLUj (fb)