Three years ago today, I began this blog. Much has happened over these last three years, and I thought it would be helpful to go back to the beginning as a point of reference for today’s post. Here is my first post, March 25, 2010.
“Hi.
I turned 49 years old two days ago. In November of 2009, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. My mother had Parkinson’s for 24 years before she died, and a couple of months before receiving my official diagnosis, I was pretty much certain I had it.
My mother was not diagnosed with Parkinson’s right away, and she had been put on drug treatments prior to her Parkinson’s diagnosis. She responded well to the initial Parkinson’s medications, and hence received her diagnosis. She fought a long and valiant fight, but in the end, it seemed like the drugs took their toll and played as much a part in her passing as did the disease itself.
I am fortunate to have learned from her experiences and her courage, and I am fortunate that her Parkinson’s specialist is located in my city — he is my Parkinson’s specialist now.
I am doing my best to fight this drug free. Admittedly, my movements are slow, my balance is not good, I have regular nagging pain, and I tire much more easily than before. However, I have decided to listen to these messages my body is sending me and work toward a long-term solution from a holistic perspective. I am interested in sharing my experiences to help others and I am interested in hearing others’ experiences to help me and anybody else who reads this blog.
All I can do is share what I am doing…what works and what does not. Everybody who suffers from Parkinson’s suffers in a different way. Obviously, if something I am doing looks like giving a try, let your doctor know what you are thinking about doing. I am not a doctor, and I am not advocating you do anything that you and your doctor have not discussed. My doctor is fantastic and has given me the green light to explore the approaches I will be describing in later posts.
I would not be able to fight this fight if it were not for the love of my wonderful wife and children, as well as my extended family and friends. I have many blessings in this life, and I feel that Parkinson’s is just a roadblock…not an immoveable object.
I look forward to a meaningful dialogue.”
For today’s discussion, I would like to focus on one thing I wrote three years ago:
“I am doing my best to fight this drug free. Admittedly, my movements are slow, my balance is not good, I have regular nagging pain, and I tire much more easily than before. However, I have decided to listen to these messages my body is sending me and work toward a long-term solution from a holistic perspective. ”
The reason I bring you to these words is simple. At the time I wrote this post, I had been doing the Recipe for six months. I did it every day. I gave it my heart and soul. I did not lose faith…and after six months, where was I in my recovery from a symptom perspective? I wrote, “Admittedly, my movements are slow, my balance is not good, I have regular nagging pain, and I tire much more easily than before.” Of course, when I wrote this, I had no idea I would be fully recovered three months into the future.
From most people’s perspective, many of whom had no hesitation about sharing their perspective with Sally or me, I was failing…not just failing, but failing miserably. That is where faith comes in. And action. And attitude. And progress. And faith. My faith needed to be stronger than other people’s opinions. That is really it in a nutshell.
Your faith needs to be stronger than other people’s opinions. And, your faith needs to be stronger than your fear.
You can do this! Choose faith over fear, bail fear from your boat, and open your heart so your Dopamine can flow freely again.
We have come a long way together these last three years. I am grateful for all of you!
You can do this! You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
I wish the blog a super happy birthday, Howard!! Thank you once again for the reminder about keeping faith, even in the face of symptoms and other people’s opinions about how we are doing. While I was lurching around yesterday (with a fair amount of fortitude and bravery, if I do say so myself), a well-meaning, but oblivious friend said to me:”You look terrible. Are you going to end up in a wheelchair?” Well, maybe, but… healing is happening deep inside.
With gratitude, Jackie
I’m appreciating your willingness to share Jackie… and your words of wisdom…much treasured today…. thank you…. and thanks always to Howard too..
Penny
Thank you, Penny! Wishing you all the best.
Howard
Well done on a great three years and the possibility of recoveryville for people all over
the world.
I just love the mantra “action, attitude, progress and faith”.
I continue to find the blog helpful and inspirational.
I am working toward recoveryville. Bring it on!!
Regards to all
Ainsley
Howard, I do so appreciate these blogs. They keep the flame of indomitable faith going… Like Jackie, oblivious others get “antidoted” by your posts, Howard: you are a bright angel of light. And… I didn’t know it ‘only’ (!) took you nine months of the full Recipe to get well. That is awfully inspiring to a slow (and slothful) tortoise! (New resolution to restart 100% tomorrow.) Blessings on us all!
Happy Belated Birthday, Howard!
I am a blog follower although, gratefully, not afflicted with PD. Your encouragement and stick-to-it-iveness are inspirational. Your philosophy of being “worth it”, “okay”acceptance, explanations of how to handle FEAR as well as countless other aspects of your Recipe are transmittable into my every day life. Issues surrounding adrenaline, worry and negative thinking are hardly unique to PD. While my struggles are very light in comparison to those who have PD, I, too, gain much from your sharing. Thank you for stepping out on the limb, for daring to challenge mainstream methodology and for incorporating Eastern modalities in your work to improve the lives of so many people.
Congratulations Howard on your personal recovery from pd and your limitless kindness to inspire us and guide us. I am still hanging in learning and growi ng from this experience. I have felt great faith I will recover. I had a fall off a roof 2months before I was diagnosed so they say I have two things to heal maybe this is why it is taking longer? I do believe I will recover thank you for your continued help you light my way as do the others and great spirit love helen
Mary! How insightful are your comments!! Those of us with the PD diagnosis can gain much from your very valuable perspective. Thank you for taking time to share! And, as for your comments, Howard – Hallelujah!! Heart and Soul, huh? I believe that’s a song!
Happy birthday to Howard and the blog! May your message continue to reach those who are in need of your inspiration and wisdom.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Howard’s blog.
we wish you more and more success in inspiring others and helping them to recover.
Bhavna
Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and for sharing your personal journeys with the rest of us.
With gratitude and love,
Howard
Hi Howard,
I just chanced upon your video today and I am very impressed by what you had done and your kindness in sharing the information with others.
My mum had PD for decades. She is very old now and had been on long term medication for years. We had seen the various side-effects of the medications and the poor health. I had also been interested in natural remedies for years due to own health issues and the specialist could only prescribe pain-killer (that was almost 20 years ago). Had attended different types of classes and met different people and read about people who recovered from conditions that doctors and specialist could not fix or who had even contributed to the side-effects. Your experience gives other people further confidence to embark on empowering ourselves to take better care and not being a pawn in the drug-based medical regimes.
Thank you
Lawrence