If you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, how far would you go for the cause?

Yesterday, I had face-to-face conversations throughout the day with about 15 different people—both individuals and small groups—using my painted nails as a conversation starter to talk about Parkinson’s. It worked!

I approached two ladies as they had their afternoon wine and said “how do you like my nails?” I followed with “I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April.” 

☝️ That approach led to a meaningful conversation about Parkinson’s. Each of them shared about two people ( four total ) they knew who had, or were still living with, the disease—including one woman’s father and her sister-in-law, who was diagnosed in her 40s. The conversation ended with one of the ladies saying, “You’ve got this.”

The red nails worked really well—great, even. Except for one interaction.

One lady, in a one-to-one conversation, became so fixated on the fact that I’m a man with painted nails: “I’m having a hard time looking at your nails” …. “men should be men and women should be women” – the noticeable look of shock on her face. She couldn’t see the bigger picture: Parkinson’s disease. She couldn’t embrace my creative marketing. 

You do you.

You can’t please everyone.

Most Will Get It – Some Won’t – So What – Next

Parkinson’s is a progressive disease. 

I can’t sit around while I’m able to make a difference.

I genuinely enjoyed every conversation except that one, and that one won’t change how I choose to fight Parkinson’s or start meaningful conversations. 

It was a great day.

In addition…

…The barbershop put my fundraising flyer in their front window, facing the sidewalk right above their hours. 

…The shake shop ( no pun intended ) next door to the barbershop is planning a fundraising sponsor day with me after the first of the year.

I had a great morning run, an OMT session at the doctor and an awesome afternoon swim.

Life is good.

“You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I’m an easy target. Yeah, you’re right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you… but I don’t like to hurt people’s feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I’m not changing. I like… I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. ‘Cause I’m the real article. What you see is what you get.”

Del Griffith (John Candy)