Okay, I already hear the question: How can I “know” I will be cured? Simple. It is a choice. Do you want to be cured? Then decide that you are going to get what you want and decide that you will put up with whatever you have to put up with in order to achieve your cure. Simple…in theory. Difficult in practice. Why? Because Parkinson’s is a symptom of your life out of balance, and until you restore balance to your life, the symptom called Parkinson’s will remain with you as a reminder that you have more work to do.
Knowing you will be cured. In the beginning of my journey, I knew I would be cured one day. Sally knew it, too. Our children knew it, too. We just decided it would happen and none of us looked back. I was so confident in my recovery, never showing fear of Parkinson’s or concern over increasing symptoms, and as a result, they all were completely confident in my recovery as well.
Click here to see how my rigidity was one month prior to my full recovery. Of course, I had no way of knowing I was one month away from my full recovery. However, I already had accepted the symptoms as part of my recovery, so I was not consumed by them or afraid of them.
My fears had been in two places: 1. That the known path my mother had followed resulted in her being crippled in a wheelchair with barely any voice to speak, and that the Alzheimer’s and Dementia from 20+ years on medications had rendered her mindless three years before she died; and 2. Life. Fear of not being perfect enough or having all of the right answers or making everybody else happy or being in control of everything….
As you can see, fear of Parkinson’s was a luxury I could not afford. So what choice did I have? Decide I would cure myself and chart my own course…fearlessly!
Was my life out of balance at that point in time? Absolutely yes! (They call it Parkinson’s).
Is your life out of balance at this current point in time? If you have Parkinson’s, then absolutely yes!
Lets take a look.
Physically out of balance (not an exhaustive list):
If you cannot stand up straight and walk like you did pre-Parkinson’s, then physically you are out of balance.
If you are suffering from tremors (shaking), rigidity (stiffness), Bradykinesia (slowness), and/or fatigue, then physically you are out of balance.
If you are suffering from constipation, urgent urination, and/or chronic indigestion, then physically you are out of balance.
Mentally out of balance (not an exhaustive list):
If you think that you need to be perfect in all things, then mentally you are out of balance.
If you think you have to control everything going on in life including, but not limited to, all the other people’s happiness and feelings in general, then mentally you are out of balance.
If you cannot accept something you do not like when it is happening in the moment and you respond to it with the emotions of anger, frustration, resentment, stress, anxiety, worry, and/or fear and you are consumed by those emotions, then mentally you are out of balance.
Spiritually out of balance (not an exhaustive list):
If you love God, but you think that God does not love you, then spiritually you are out of balance.
If pre-Parkinson’s and/or now you did/do things unconditionally for others, but even in your physically debilitated current Parkinson’s body you are unable to fully and open-heartedly accept others unconditionally doing things for you because you do not love yourself or find yourself worthy, then spiritually you are out of balance.
If, instead of being in the present moment of what is going on in your life, you are looking at the past with regret and guilt instead of acceptance, and you are looking at the future with fear instead of faith, then spiritually you are out of balance.
As you can see, Parkinson’s is a symptom, a manifestation, of all of these imbalances in your life. Why does it manifest in such harsh physical symptoms? I will be the first one to step up and answer (admit) this one: Because if Parkinson’s did not provide me physical symptoms that lasted until the day of my cure, I would not have fixed the physical, mental, and spiritual imbalances in my life. I lacked the understanding and motivation to change…to change what? Me. The me I had become…that guy had Parkinson’s.
I had become the old me. It is what worked in my life, so I thought. I had to admit to myself that I was out of balance in my life. Did I do it on purpose? Of course not. It happened while I was living life that way I thought life was supposed to be lived. There is no shame, no blame, no finger-pointing, no fault, no guilt in getting Parkinson’s.
I knew the way I thought and felt had to change because the way I was thinking and feeling had helped me get Parkinson’s. So, I decided to do what was the complete opposite of how I thought and felt…I decided with full faith and no fear that I would cure myself from an incurable disease and I would tolerate whatever it had in store for me along the way, and that I would do it day-by-day, moment-by-moment, in the present, here and now. For me, that was anti-Howard, the Howard I had become. I knew it would work.
And, how did I restore balance to my life? By doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® day-by-day, moment-by-moment, staying in the present.
And, how will you restore balance to your life? By doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® day-by-day, moment-by-moment, staying in the present.
The Recipe is not about symptom relief. The Recipe is about recovery. Here is the difference:
Symptom relief: If your ceiling has a wet spot after it rains, you can paint over the symptom (the wet spot) and mask it. The next time it rains and the wet spot is larger, you can choose to use an increased amount of paint and paint over the symptom (the larger wet spot). If you do this again and again and again without ever addressing the cause of the wet spot, one day, the entire ceiling collapses and falls into your home.
The Recipe: If your ceiling has a wet spot after it rains, you look for the cause. You find the roof issues and you fix them. This is recovery. Then, when you actually fix the inside of the ceiling by replacing the part with the wet spot, you have cured the problem completely.
One way solves the problem, and one way leads to complete collapse…it is a choice.
Finally, be patient. The journey you are on is life. When you cross the final finish line in your life, it is death. I haven’t heard one person say they are in a hurry to reach the final finish line in life. Slow down, and please be patient and enjoy the journey of life. Feel your recovery in your zest to be alive, in the joy in your heart, in your compassion for yourself and others, in your love for yourself and others. And be grateful. It changed my life the day I became grateful for being alive, even in a Parkinson’s body. I cherished the breath of life and was grateful. I still am.
Know you will be cured. Do the Recipe. Make it happen. Be your own cure!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Brilliant Howard!
Thank you.
Thank you so much Howard.
Faith and not fear.
Ainsley
Immense gratitude for these inspiring words. What an incisive delineation of the
dis-ease, the manifestation of the imbalances. Gratefully living my recovery by listening to the harmony of my essence. Being present in the present.
Thank you Howard. Love and Blessings to All.
Howard, your characterization of your 2nd fear – re. Life – was such a familiar theme for me, i.e.: “Fear of not being perfect enough or having all of the right answers or making everybody else happy or being in control of everything….”
How humbling? And how humiliating — to see and feel this so close up through your blog. And, strangely, I feel a sense of optimism, as I know humility (not humiliation) is within my reach.
muchas gracias por tu valioso apoyo Howard , es un baño de energia positiva en mi vida, eres un ser maravilloso, seguimos firmes con la receta.
Translation:
thank you very much for your valuable support Howard, is a suite of positive energy in my life, you are a wonderful human being, we stand firm with the recipe.
Good morning Everyone,
Thank you Howard for a beautiful most helpful post. It is good to be reminded of the areas in my life that need changing.
I am very faithful in getting the physical exercises done everyday. I know that this is a good thing as it demonstrates to myself that I have the faith that I will get better. I am physically doing something that will help me to gain back my health. It improves and balances out my physical self. This is very important; however I feel I need to be just as diligent in knowing how, and then working on the mental and spiritual me, while showing compassion and acceptance for my lack of perfection……. This post was perfect in reminding me of the great progress that I have made in these areas of my life, while allowing me to clearly see that there is more work to be done.
I am working on a permanent fix for my roof (my health and being Parkinson’s free). Thank you Howard for addressing issues that needed to be address, that needed to be worked on, and that needed to be changed in my own personal life.
I am grateful to God for my life and for the love and guidance I constantly feel. I am grateful for the knowledge that Howard so fearlessly found and now so freely shares with me. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to express myself on this blog. I am grateful for each of you who share with me. I am very grateful that I have the tools and the ability to put them to use, to be Parkinson’s Free.
Enjoy the day,
Doing the Recipe
Love and Blessings
Debbie
What a beautiful comment Debbie. Thank you for the gratitude you share. Susana
Hi Howard and fellow warriors, beautifully said Debbie. I agree, fabulous reminder of the list of ” out of balance”. I was pleased as I read each list that there was many that I have dropped from the list. It brought a smile to say ” yes Karen you’ve healed from that and that” but equally was fab to be reminded of the areas I still need to work on.
Howard Shifke, you are one of Gods finest gifts to me, and fellow warriors, I walk the walk with you with love, affection and compassion. We truly are warriors because we all have strength and courage and are aiming for ” the way of the peaceful warrior” in finding that peace, love, joy and happiness in our hearts. I know it is sitting dormant for each of us, we just have to gently tap our way into it, and we will.
Happy happy Easter to all.
With Big Love and Gratitude.
Karen xxx
buna fratii mei de destin ,karen vreau sa ramai asa de optimista ca atitudinea ta conteaza si ne ajuta si pe noi cei mai avansati in boala ,suntem in urma broastei testoase .dar avem in visele noastre,[[tulburate de insomnii rebele]] linia de sosire.IMBRATISARI LEO
Translation:
my brothers good destiny, karen want to remain so optimistic that your attitude counts and helps us and us most advanced in the disease, after turtle .but we have in our dreams, [[troubled by insomnia rebel]]. hugs LEO
Hi Leontina,
I had terrible insomnia for years. It is now much much better and I consider myself a good sleeper. I am so grateful. I hope that as you work at your own recovery, your sleep habits will improve. I feel like it is a sure sign that the body is balancing out. Hang in there ! I hope that you will find, as I did, that there is life after insomnia. Have a wonderful day, doing the recipe, while remembering that ” Your best is always good enough .”
Debbie
Oh, how familiar those Parkinson’s traits are to me. I have to constantly remember to forgive myself for fixing the leak instead of finding the cause. I’m so grateful for you Howard and for the community you have created. Thank you so much.
Love and blessings to all,
Lohren
Dear Howard, thank you so much once again for your latest post – as usual you are spot on. I too am working on the areas that brought Parkinsons upon me and reversing the way I’ve been to become that shiny teapot!
Cynthia, I love that you remember the shiny teapot 🙂 one of my favourite analogies that Howard uses. 🙂 xx
Thank you so much for the post and inspiration again Howard. I know I could do more of the physical exercises. Sometimes I just go out without doing them and I notice the difference. I realised after reading Howard’s post that I need to, want to embrace my self. I choose now to come out to myself sexually. That my sexual , partnership preference is for a woman. Although I have experienced this and told my family and friends. I have held some shame about it due to comments from my sister and associates years ago. I need to accept myself re visit the conversation with my son who’s been the reason I kept it under wraps although he and his wife know. I choose now to be fearless, happy and real. To heal this Parkinsons symptoms Thank you everyone I hope this helps me and others. Helen Australia
Helen, I applaud your honesty and courage in honouring yourself. Well done my friend, well done! 🙂 xx
Good luck and may you be happy. Jane
buna prieteni.multumsc Debbie pentru interesAm sa fac cateva precizari referitoare la viata mea .Cand am descoperit aceest blog eram in stadiu 3 destul de grav ,luam levodopa din 3 in 3 ore,convulsii,tremur. oboseala, depresie,spitale.Am inceput sa fac reteta ca ultima sansa,era logica reteta dar pentru starea mea imposibil de facut in totalitate
asa ca m-am axat pe partea spirituala.Dupa ce am simtit o stare de bine in sufletul meu , am inceput sa reduc medicamentele [cu un sfert pe saptamina }pana am ramas la 2 pastile pe zi,500 mg.Rezultatul afost ca eram calma ,dormeam mai bine si mi-a revenit muschii fetei.dar tremuram foarte tare dupa cele 3 ore,dupa un timp am observat ca tremurul s-a diminuat,aminceput reteta fara acupunctura. nu am cabinet decat departe.Medicamentele le luam tot mai rar chiar daca mergem greu si tremuram,imi disparuse teama ,frica ca voi muri fara pastile.DIETA VEGETARIANA NU AM URMAT-O FIINDCA IMI ERA MEREU FOAME SI SLABISEM MULT SI SA FIU sincera numi permiteam unele produse.Va plictisesc?In concluzie fac reteta pe jumatate.rezultate,pastile lla 2 zile 5oomg levodopa ,dureri musculare reduse ,fara stari depresive,accept limitarile dar ma bucur si de viata.Pentru voi cei mai tineri vad vindecare vad linia de sosire,pentru mine…………CU DRAG LEO
Translation:
hello my friends. Thank you for your interest Debbie to make a few remarks concerning my life I discovered this hugely blog. When I was in stage three bad enough, we levodopa 3 in 3:00, seizures, tremors. fatigue, depression, hospitals. I started doing last chance recipe that was my state logic recipe but made entirely impossible
so I focused on the spiritual. After I felt a good feeling in my heart, I began to reduce medication [the fourth week} I was up to 2 pills a day, 500 mg.Rezultatul was that I was calm, I sleep better and I got back my facial muscles. but very strong shaking after 3 hours, after a while I noticed the tremor diminished, I started acupuncture without prescription. I practice than on. Medicines you take more rarely even go hard and shaking, my fear disappeared, afraid that I would die without pills. NOT vegetarian diet I followed here because I was always hungry and lost weight and to be honest afford some products name. You bored? In conclusion make half the recipe. results in two days 5oomg levodopa, reduced muscle pain without depression, but I am and accept the limitations of life. For you see healing youngest see the finish line for me ………… WITH LOVE LEO
So inspiring! Congratulations! Jane
Thankyou Howard for taking the time to answer all of my questions and for your constant support and encouagement! I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel! Yeah!!!!!! I finally feel I am on the home stretch
Slow and steady wins the race ! We can do this! Much love to all!
Hi Warriors, I have to say I am having a really challenging time but I feel so inspired when I check back here daily and today read on Helens courage and Leontinas courage in reducing her meds and I truly feel honoured to be part of this community of true warriors. Everyone sharing their vulnerability and their challenges. We are all truly blessed to have found Howard and each other. Thank you to each of you who take the time to share and be vulnerable and equally to share the inspiring achievements aswell. It helps us all in knowing we are not alone and Spurs us on that we are all healing on so many levels. With love to all. 🙂
Karen xx
🙂 🙂 Have a great weekend and keep on keeping on !
Sending love and blessings your way
Debbie
Bless you Debbie, our little Ms Sunshine! You are always so warm and encouraging to us all. Warm wishes back to you my friend.
Karen xx
hola karen, se que estas pasando por momentos dificiles al igual que muchos de nosotros, mi apoyo moral para ti KAREN que eres muy valiente es un verdadero reto, hagamoslo.
Translation:
Hi Karen. You are going through difficult times like many of us, my moral support for you KAREN you’re very brave is a real challenge, let’s do it.
Bless you Jimmy. We ALL have our challenges my friend and we will all get through them. Happy Easter Jimmy. Karen 🙂 xx
Dear Howard, It feels so reassuring that rigidity arrived one month before you were completely cured. Thank you for another heart-warming and encouraging post. Huge gratitude and blessings, Jane
Thank you Karen and Jane for your support and kindness. And to everyone warm love. Helen Australia