For those of you who have been reading this blog for a while, periodically you will see a comment from a woman named Margriet. Margriet is from the Netherlands, and she has been Fighting Parkinson’s Drug Free for two years by doing the Recipe. She had a wedding to attend in the States, and she contacted me a couple of months ago to see if she came through Tampa on her way to the wedding, would I be available for in-person coaching. Of course I said yes! This post is written with her permission.
Margriet arrived in Tampa a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening. The following day, Sally and I picked her up at her hotel to go to lunch. When Margriet opened the door to the hotel room, my first thought was “this woman must have reached her full recovery on her plane flight.” Although this was our first meeting, we hugged like old friends, and then we walked to the car to head to lunch. Other than a “less-than-perfect” walk, I saw no Parkinson’s in Margriet, particularly as she walked down a flight of stairs.
The three of us had lunch, and it was a delightful time. To an outsider, I feel that we would have appeared to be friends for 20 years getting together to chat about life. I have written in the past that although it is Parkinson’s that brings us together here on this blog, it is the sharing of our lives that brings us closer to each other. And that is how lunch was with Margriet…meeting this woman from the Netherlands for the first time, and just sharing our lives over lunch…feeling like long-time friends even though we met in person just 20 minutes earlier.
After lunch, Sally headed home, and Margriet and I spent the rest of the day working on her Parkinson’s recovery. We covered all of the aspects of the Recipe, the complete soul, mind, and body healing. The more time we spent together, the more I felt what I feel during the time I spend with those of you I am coaching, including those of you I have met in person…we all are the same in our Parkinson’s.
It is why I know that if you do the Recipe with full faith in yourself, in the Recipe, and in your Higher Power, you can achieve the same full recovery as me, and Marie, and Pratima, and Betty. I know it. We are the same. You know it, too. How many of you have read what I have written, or read the comments that others have written, and said to yourself, “Wow, I am reading about me. This is how I feel, soul, mind, and body.”
So, whether you are Margriet in the Netherlands or Howard in the States, you are one of us…the connection of Parkinson’s and sharing our lives that brings us close to each other. We are the ones who understand each other better than anybody because of the connection we share.
How much more clear could this be than to spend parts of a couple of days with somebody I never have met, never have spoken to, never have Skyped…only have exchanged emails…and we instantly knew each other and were friends. Sally was there, and she, having held my hand through the journey, felt the connection as well. Three of us like old friends. It was real, and it was delightful. It was recovery. Our time together is cherished.
Here is an excerpt from my May 1, 2013 post, Fighting Parkinson’s, and our recovery community keeps growing:
Recently, Margriet sent me an email and said the next time I mentioned the tortoise would I post a picture and share with all of your these words: “Keep up the Faith! Don’t hurry, be happy.” Of course I told her, “Okay!” Here it is:
So, to my dear friend Margriet, and my dear friends, all of you, I say, “Be the tortoise. Take the Recipe with you for your journey to full recovery and do not let it go. Take your time, and be kind and compassionate…to yourself and to others. Life is too short to hold grudges, lack forgiveness, be angry, feel stress. Do your Qigong. Calm your mind. Open your heart. Keep up the Faith! Don’t hurry, be happy. Each step forward that you take is recovery in and of itself…one step closer to your full recovery! Don’t just think about recovery. Be recovery, and be it in everything you do!”
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
What an awesome message and what an inspiration for all of us. Thank you again for everything you do and I do agree..we are a family…we are all heading in the same direction ..on the road to recoveryville. 🙂
Hello Howard, This is Wonderful news about the tremendous progress of a other one of our community! I love reading your reaction to seeing Margriet for the first time: “this woman must have reached her full recovery on her plane flight”! The recovery bond we all share is amazing, and your description of what it felt like to meet for the first time after knowing each oth through emails is so beautiful. And also, of course, something I know well firsthand from getting to meet you in person this summer; we were already such dear friends, remarkably close. At the end of my daily qigong practice when I thank my teachers, I always name you and send love and gratitude to you.
Margriet , I am hoping that your full recovery may come on your return flight! But if not, I know that you will be steady on course, happy and unhurried as you make your way to recovery. It sounds like you are very close and doing great!!! My very best wishes and prayers are with you. I have faith in your recovery.
Love, Marie
what a wonderful story howard and margriet
thank you so much for posting it
its so inspiring to read about your meeting’and the things you have shared via emails
and to read the truth of your words that we are all together and all the same in our ups and downs
Margriet, i sincerely wish you the joy of a full recovery and please know that you have inspired me in my journey to recovery
love, linda
Howard,
Thank you for another boost of motivation………..just when needed the most!!!!! Your timing is amazing and serves as a literal lifesaver. I often recite a quote when struggling through tough times. “Success is often nearest when defeat seems inescapable”. We are all on the same path together and a family of sorts! I read once that we go through certain struggles so that we can be more understanding and compassionate of others experiencing the same thing………having walked in those shoes! It creates such a bond! Thanks Howard for always being there for us!
Much Love and gratitude for all you do!
Melanie
Thank you Howard for sharing this beautiful story. Good on you Margriet. Thank you for the tortoise picture and your faith. Good on us all love you all Helen wishing you all a hug
Howard
Thank you for this stimulating post with the reminder of the Tortoise approach which is so important and so easily neglected. My thanks to Margriet for sharing her experience with us all as we journey to full recovery.
I was becoming a little too impatient and this has reminded me there is nothing to fear and much to gain from the challenges ahead.
Paul
Dear fellow travellers-
..on the road to Recoveryville. I was off- line for a few days and just checked in and read Howards account of our meeting and your comments, wonderful. I have returned home, invigorated and determined to continue my road. We all take our individual and different roads, some are shorter, others longer, some of us may take a detour, yet we are all heading for the same destination.
It makes all the difference when the other person knows and feels what you are talking about. To have met Howard and his wife Sally en route to my destination was awesome, the instantaneous recognition and knowing each other. I am tremendously grateful for the experience. They are such wonderful human beings. So, I don’t know how long I will be on the road still before I reach my destination, I know for sure I am on the right track. I wish you all a blessed journey. Thank you Howard, Marie, Pratima and Betty for showing us it is possible to get there. Lots of love to all of you, Margriet
Thank you Howard and Margriet for great inspiration. So special. Wonderful! Love, Jane
Dear Howard, Dear Margriet, Dear Marie and all our fellow travelers …. I am so very grateful for your collective wisdom, direction, support, and companionship. It may seem odd, given the nature of the challenges we often face with PD…. but I am grateful for this journey and determinedly committed to the road in front of me. I like being the tortoise… so much easier to witness the beauty…. and of course you all are very much a part of that!
Thank you, Howard and everyone in this community! It’s so nice to know that I’m not alone on this journey and that there are others out there who don’t think I’m crazy for choosing this “road less traveled”!
Margriet, thank you for reminding me about the turtle!
Howard,
Sit down. I played 9 holes of golf Sunday. Not totally pain free or PD drug free yet, but out there not giving up!
Pam T
Ditto to all the other comments and best wishes to us all. We all get impatient. Its a good lesson to learn as the book named The power of slow. Thanks to Howard for your encouragement.