Fighting Parkinson’s, and the road not taken

In a few days, I will be 23 months with no Parkinson’s symptoms. If you have been reading the last couple of posts (April 30th and May 4th), you will see that the path toward recovery requires fighting Parkinson’s on a different path than the one our doctors point to. Their path includes medications, walker, wheelchair, falling down, no hope, and lots of fear, and no chance of recovery. My path, the Recipe for Recovery path, includes no medications, no walker, no wheelchair, no falling down, lots of love and joy and gratitude and happiness and faith and hope…and NO FEAR that we cannot overcome; and YES, a chance of recovery. This morning, it reminded me of a Robert Frost poem.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost

For me, when faced with the daunting news, “Yes, Howard, you have Parkinson’s Disease,” there were but two roads on which to travel. Like Robert Frost, “I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

All my best,

Howard

 

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7 Responses to Fighting Parkinson’s, and the road not taken

  1. Teri says:

    Congratulations, Howard, for taking the road less traveled. Oh my, what a difference it has made for you and for many others as well! Me, included!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
    Teri

    • Howard says:

      Thank you, Teri.
      You are welcome. I am happy to be on the road less traveled with so many others, you included! I am grateful to you for your dedication on your path toward recovery and for your continuing to share your journey with all of us.
      Blessings,
      Howard

  2. Leontina says:

    Draga Teri,entuziasmul tau imi face deosebita placere Dumnezeu sa fie cu tine pe drum sa ajungi cu usurinta la destinatie,la recuperare totala.La mine e greu si m-am oprit putin in drum ca sunt tare obosita,dar in curand o sa merg totusi inainte ca broasca testoasa Leo

    Translation:

    Dear Teri, what great enthusiasm. God gives me great pleasure to be with you on the road to easily reach the destination, the total recovery. To me it’s hard and I stopped a little along the way as I got very tired, but soon I’ll go along again like the turtle. Leo

    • Howard says:

      Hi Leo,
      Yes, like the turtle, slow and steady…sometimes so slow it looks like we are not moving at all…but we are…slow and steady, pointing forward, realizing that each day is a day to be grateful for the opportunity to be on the journey. Thank you for sharing your story.
      Blessings,
      Howard

  3. Marie says:

    Dear Howard,

    It has made all the difference, that is for sure, but I think you are
    Entirely too modest! To me it seems more like there was one road, well traveled . Yours was not just “less traveled by”; you had to clear the path yourself. Right now I imagine you, determined not to go down the road, saying “There has got to be another way.” You are in a pith helmet, breaking out your machete, and chopping your way through the thickets.
    Brave Howard! Thanks for clearing the way for us!

    With love

    • Howard says:

      Hi Marie,
      You are welcome. And thank you. Sometimes I think you may not understand how powerfully inspiring your journey to recovery has been for this entire community. I have been told by many that my journey following the Recipe for Recovery may have been a “special” thing that occurred, just for me. But then you went down the same Recipe for Recovery path and you fully recovered, which for many has been the “Recipe for Recovery proof of concept” that it works for others, and that it is working for them. Brave Marie! Thank you for following the path which has helped give those behind you the confidence that the Recipe for Recovery can work for them, too.
      Love,
      Howard

  4. bethany p says:

    Dear Howard, Marie and my parkinsons friends,

    I have read your inspiring words today and in the past without thanking you here and was compelled to write today. Thank you, Thank you.

    Howard, how can I ever thank you enough for discovering this path and your willingness to share and encourage us to follow it? Howard is so right when he mentions how inspiring your recovery is, Marie. It has been HUGE for me. Because of both of you, I know I can heal, too.

    I look forward to reading your comments and appreciate everyone that is bravely sharing their hope and journey.

    Love, Bethany

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