Find joy in every day, and other helpful advice
Written by Christine Scheer | April 24, 2026
On Monday nights, I am always busy on my computer — often working on this column and sending out reminder emails to my Tuesday walking group.
I started this group about three years ago, a couple years after I’d had deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. These emails provide basic information about the event: We usually walk for 30 minutes, then sit down, have a coffee, and talk for another 30. Over the past few months, I’ve introduced a different topic each week for us to discuss.
The reason for choosing a topic is that most of us in the group have Parkinson’s disease, so we have quiet voices and some of us speak slowly. In the past, it’s sometimes been difficult for us to join a conversation because we can’t speak loudly or quickly enough. It can be frustrating. With a specific topic to discuss, we can go around the table, taking turns speaking and listening to what everyone has to say.
The topics have included our favorite exercises, helpful hints for managing Parkinson’s symptoms, our sense of smell, travel advice, the use of walking poles, and whether or not we have more energy on a sunny day. With everyone sharing their perspective, the conversations have become more inclusive.
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