​​Your Parkinson’s Story Is Being Written — Are You Passive or Active?

Whether we realize it or not, our brains are always telling stories. From the moment we wake up—sometimes even before—we’re stitching together past events, present moments, and imagined futures to make sense of our world. That’s what human brains do. We are patterning machines.

Join us to learn how to rewrite your story with the Hero's Journey and Cinema Therapy.

When Parkinson’s disease (PD) enters the scene, it becomes a major character in that ongoing story. But here’s the critical question: are you writing the story, or are you letting PD - or those involved in your PD arc (e.g. doctors, care partners, family members) - write it for you?

Too often, people feel they’ve lost control after a diagnosis. Understandably so—symptoms, medical visits, and the fear of the unknown can take over the narrative. But here's the truth: your PD story is being written either way. The difference is whether you’re passive or active in telling it.

The Hidden Power of Story

When you become aware of the story you’re telling—what it says about who you are, what matters to you, and what your future might look like—you begin to reclaim agency. Storytelling isn’t just a form of expression; it’s an act of ownership. And ownership leads to autonomy, resilience, and often, healing - living the life you have the greatest influence upon. 

We don’t have to accept every plot point as written. We can revise. We can edit. We can make ourselves the active characters.

The Passive vs. Active Character

Think about your favorite movie or book. The characters that grab us are those who take action, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Passive characters—those who wait, avoid, or react—tend to fade into the background. The same is true in life. Active characters are more fulfilled, more resilient, and more interesting. They create momentum. They grow.

A Simple, Relatable Process

Here’s a quick way to engage your own PD story:

1. Notice the Narrative - What are you saying to yourself? (“I’m a burden.” “It’s all downhill from here.” “I can’t do what I used to.”) These thoughts are stories—often unconscious ones.

2. Name the Chapter - Give this part of your journey a title. Maybe it’s “The Fog of Diagnosis,” “The Unexpected Detour,” or “Learning to Dance with Tremors.” Naming helps you own the moment.

3. Choose the Next Scene - Instead of asking “What’s going to happen to me?”, ask “What’s the next brave thing I can do?” It might be going to a support group, trying Rock Steady Boxing, or sharing your story with a loved one.

4. Rewrite When Needed - Just because you’ve told yourself something for years doesn’t make it true forever. You can reframe the story—honestly, but with intention. “I’m broken” becomes “I’m adapting.” “I’m lost” becomes “I’m in the middle of becoming.”

Since we’re all storytelling, why not do it together?

At Yes, And, eXercise!, we offer Cinema Therapy classes that focus on storytelling. These are clinically-tested programs developed in a PhD program that we’ve been running for over five years. We recently partnered with Rock Steady Boxing and are taking sign ups for our new class featuring the film Rocky - a classic story of resilience against an impossible opponent. The class is open to everyone in the PD community and you can find out more here. 

We know isolation is a killer. In storytelling, heroes never achieve their goals by themselves. Just as Rocky needed Mick, Adrian, Pauly and even Apollo, we all need each other. 

Storytelling = Survival + Transformation

You’re not just living with PD—you’re becoming someone through it. Telling your story helps clarify who that is.

So… are you the main character in this next chapter? Or a bystander in your own narrative?

Choose the pen. Write the next scene. The story is yours. We all remain unwritten.