As you know, on Saturday, December 1, 2012, I began taking my Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ on the road. The first venue was Seattle, WA, and the day was absolutely incredible! Imagine: 28 of us, some with Parkinson’s, some of their spouses and partners, one of my daughters, a few alternative health practitioners, some from Seattle and some from Canada, all in one place with one purpose…Parkinson’s recovery.
If you had walked into the place during the lunch break, you would have thought that the people there had been friends for years instead of a group who just met two hours earlier. There was a buzz that resonated through the Seattle Creative Arts Center, a buzz that said, “I have the power to heal myself. You have the power to heal yourself. Together we have the power to heal the world!”
There were so many memorable moments. I would like to share a few. Bailey is a wonderful artist and she helped me put together my manual. When she got up to share her Parkinson’s recovery story with the group, at the moment when she held out her arm to show that all that remained of her Parkinson’s symptoms was a minor tremor in her hand, her hand was still…no tremor. She let us know it would be back, and when I had lunch with she and her husband David the next day, it was back. However, in that amazing moment at the workshop, to her surprise more than ours, she had her moment of peace.
When we sat zazen for 5 minutes so people could get a feel for it, Dean and Dudley had brought their flute and harp and played beautiful music to soothe us all and enhance our meditation.
And, after going through the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ Manual and how to best use it, when I stood up and said, “let me begin by showing you how to do Medical Qigong for the Liver,” everybody stood. It was a unified, resounding feeling that spoke to me. It said, “we are doers..we are ready…we want recovery…we know we can do it, so let’s get started!” And we did. For the next three hours (yes, with breaks) we practiced the Recipe, discussed it’s nuances, answered questions, shared ideas, and modified the Recipe when necessary so that each and every person left the workshop knowing they could do the Recipe and recovery was theirs for the taking.
Mostly everybody was there at the end (some had other commitments and had to leave early). I asked the group if it would be okay if I took pictures with any of them so I could share them with all of you. Somebody said, how about a group shot for those who were interested. Here is the group shot of those of us who hadn’t made it out the door yet:
The Seattle group was a group of people not afraid of their Parkinson’s. The Seattle group inspired me. They were people filled with courage and hope and faith and gratitude and love and compassion.
The Seattle workshop was incredible…absolutely incredible.
I hope all of you can take some inspiration from this group and keep working on the Recipe on your path to recovery.
At the end of Saturday, everybody at the Seattle workshop had hope, real, genuine hope, that Parkinson’s recovery is attainable…and every one of them left the workshop armed with the tools to stay on their path toward recovery with the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ and with the firm conviction to not leave that path until they are fully recovered. They know they are worth it!
You are worth it, too!
All my best,
Howard
What inspiring and delightful news, Howard….I’m so grateful for the picture of the group…. it provides such a wonderful image of a PD community all committed to a like goal…heartwarming! Thank you!
YYYAAAAAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
You ROCK Howard, can feel the ripple of your healing work in Seattle all the way down here in Monterey (CA)! The waters ARE parting, a testimonial to your commitment and caring — you are a Saint — yes: “Saint Howard of Parkinsonian Healing.”
Howard,
I’m glad that you have started the workshops, and that the Seattle one was incredible!
Joe
Hi Penny, Barry, and Joe,
Thank you for your kind words and for your continuing support, inspiration, and encouragement of those who are doing the Recipe. We are all in this together, and I am grateful for all of you!
Blessings,
Howard
That’s exciting news, and what a powerful picture of brave fighters! Bravo Howard and all!
Thank you, Jackie.
Yes. It was a room full of brave, courageous fighters. I am so happy you were able to pull that feeling from the picture. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words.
Blessings,
Howard
It was inspiring to read about everyone’s success at the Recovery Workshop, Howard. It helps to know that others are going through the Recipe for Recovery It was a wonderful report.
Congratulations! Howard and all in Seattle. While over here in Northeast Washington I am spreading the word and people are in awe. I printed off your “Recipe” and gave it to my Physical Therapist along with Lori A. Newell’s exercise handbook for people with PD……I want to help “pass the word along” that it is curable, even though I began with an essential tremor (for 2 years) and have experienced many of the PD problems, i.e., vision issues, incontinence, drool, voice softening, hot flashes (which both men and women experience), posture & balance issues, loss of sense of smell, swollen ankles, frozen shoulder & so on ……… I accepted this, have faith I will overcome this adversity, am taking action and know like others I will recover!! Thanks Howard! Love to all, Trudy
Fantastic. The word is spreading Howard. Wonderful news. Thank you for your love and commitment and courage. Helen
Hi Paul, Trudy, and Helen,
Thank you all for your kind words. Yes, the Seattle workshop was quite wonderful. I am anticipating that as the word continues to spread, that the Atlanta workshop in January with be wonderful as well, and Tampa in February, and so on. We are gaining momentum, and I am inspired by all of you! Thank you for your words of encouragement to others.
Blessings,
Howard
Wonderful that the workshop went so well and so lovely to see the photo of our co-recoverers.Keep up the good work everyone!
Thank you, Christine. We appreciate your encouragement. Keep up the good work, too!
Blessings,
Howard
Wow, Howard, that is fabulous new! Congratulations! I am so happy for you and for all the participants.
And I am very happy to see that the awareness that YOU ROCK is spreading!
Love, Marie
Thank you, Marie!
I appreciate all of your kind words and support. And, those fortunate enough to make it to the Santa Fe workshop next summer will enhance their awareness that YOU ROCK, too!!!
Love
Howard
Hi Howard,
I am so excited to read about your Seattle workshop, and see everyone’s happy face. You are like a beacon of light to those of us sailing the choppy seas of PD. As more and more of us follow the recipe and begin to open our hearts, we will become beacons of light as well! As your message spreads there will be beacons of light shining all across the US! It is exhilarating to see this all unfold.
Thank you, thank you!
Blessings to you and all the workshop participants,
Anne
Hi Anne,
How wonderful to hear from you. You are welcome. We appreciate all of your well-wishes and encouragement. And, yes, it is wonderful to see everyone’s happy face. Thank you for the kindness you show — it sounds like your heart is opening beautifully!
Blessings,
Howard
Congratulations Howard and the Wondrous Group of Fighters for Freedom from PD. Looks like these events might become little mushrooms all over the world. Inspiring!!!
Hi Joseph,
Thank you for your kind words, and welcome to the blog. Always happy to see a new person jumping into our recovery community!
Blessings,
Howard
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