As you know, on Saturday, April 20, 2013, I had my fifth workshop in taking my Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery™ on the road. This fourth venue of 2013 was New Paltz, NY, and the day was filled with healing! Imagine: 18 of us, some with Parkinson’s, some of their spouses and partners and friends, some from Upstate New York, some from Long Island, and some from Pennsylvania, all in one place with one purpose…Parkinson’s recovery.
The room was filled with healing. Early in the workshop, there was a sense of vulnerability and compassion that came upon the room. There were smiles, and tears, and hugs. We were a family of people, most meeting each other for the first time, and we were united in our fight against Parkinson’s. Stories were shared, and nobody felt alone. People listened as others shared their journey, and each person had the feeling, “that sounds just like how I feel…physically, mentally, and spiritually.” It was immensely healing.
As we neared the end of the day, everybody had this sense that they were in a room with their recovery support group. Nobody wanted to leave when it was over. A list was started to make certain I had everybody’s email I could put a global list together whereby they all would be able to stay in touch. Yes, Saturday was filled with vulnerability, compassion, and healing.
We did not have somebody outside of the workshop to take a picture. I am presenting two pictures so everybody, including the picture-taker of each picture, can be shown here.
The Upstate New York workshop group was a group of people not afraid of their Parkinson’s. They inspired me. They were people filled with courage and hope and faith and spirituality and gratitude and love and compassion. And, now, they knew they were not alone.
And, when you have a room full of people not afraid of their Parkinson’s, their Parkinson’s becomes afraid of them! Yes, Parkinson’s is nefarious, but on April 20, 2013 in the New Paltz Community Center, in a room filled with love and compassion and vulnerability and gratitude and healing, Parkinson’s did not dare show its face…at the end of the day, this was very healing for all of us.
“I have the power to heal myself. I am recovery!” The people in Upstate New York felt it, and then they knew it. Please take inspiration from this group and feel it, and then know it in yourself.
You are worth it!
All my best,
Howard
What a powerful-looking group! They now know we have the power to heal ourselves!
I went to College in New Paltz! Back in ’68, keep up the good work, Howard!
Congratulations, Howard and to all the people in the group too!… Together, we are making a difference ….we are creating a wave of mutual support and lasting change as we continue this journey together. My gratitude to all for your fortitude and openness to new and different possibilities.
I have been wondering what information I will take tomorrow to our local PD support group and now I have the answer. I am hearing Joy, Peace and Love coming right out of the photo, filling me up too.. If ever there was a time that your message was needed it is right now. Thank you Howard for leading the way, being the spark, giving of yourself so freely and honestly. Gratefully, Marilyn
Howard,
Congratulations. Thank you for your contagious enthusiasm and inspiration.
Woah, now there’s a good adjective for Parkinson’s – nefarious. Especially after looking it up for an accurate and complete understanding 😉
And after my experience with getting off Amantadine, I’d say Parkinson’s is eclipsed only by the heinousness of drug withdrawal. HOWEVER, from the other side, now that I feel so much better, I see that it has absolutely resulted in taking away my fear of Parkinson’s. You are right, Howard, when “people (are) not afraid of their Parkinson’s, their Parkinson’s becomes afraid of them!”
Also, in reflection, I realize that much of that fear is needlessly perpetuated by those around us who just don’t know!
I hope everyone reading this blog doesn’t pass over the keys of “love and compassion and vulnerability and gratitude and healing” as trite words, but ones of power, truth and victory.
Blessings to all!
Pat,
Thanks for your comment. I was very inspired by your getting off Amantadine. As someone who only tried Sinemet for 3 weeks and Azilect for 1 week in the 9+ years since I was diagnosed, I know I’m on the right path staying drug free when I read your comment! The drugs are just not an option for me. Let’s all heal ourselves the way Howard and Marie and Pratima did – drug free!
It’s so great to see the photo, read your strong words Howard, and everybody’s comments, because it’s the road less travelled that leads us home. And that road has more and more people on it. The old paradigm for healing isn’t working now in this time, we are all seeing through this . Taking the courage to find what works, naturally, truthfully, spiritually and taking responsibility for our own healing with the support and guidance of others. Thank you once again Howard for your strength, vulnerability, truth, courage, kindness and humanness. What a world we live in.
Helen, your comment brings to mind the lyrics I’ve been using as a sort of mantra through my recovery. They are lyrics from the Nickleback song “If Today Was Your Last Day” and they are “…each day’s a gift and not a given right. Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind, and try to take the path less traveled by…” Thank you Howard for this wonderful, one and only, path!