In Suzuki’s Not Always So, in a section entitled, “Caring for the Soil,” a passage struck me a particularly important for Parkinson’s recovery: “Usually we are not interested in the nothingness of the ground. Our tendency is to be interested in something that is growing in the garden, not in the bare soil itself. But if you want to have a good harvest, the most important thing is to make the soil rich and to cultivate it well.”
Following Suzuki’s theme, think about this:
The conventional method of treating Parkinson’s is to minimize the symptoms, all the while proceeding under the premise that the cause is not known. The “interest” is in what appears to be growing in the garden; cultivating the soil is of no concern.
With the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®, our method is to treat the causes. In doing so, you must cultivate the soil. And, how do you do that? The Recipe makes the soil rich and cultivates it, or, in non-garden terms, the Recipe lays the groundwork for Parkinson’s recovery, and then sets forth the path to recovery.
Looking back over a decade, in 2004, Florida had four hurricanes. After that time, we have had long periods of drought. In the drought times, my vegetable garden and herb garden have suffered. Years ago, Sally mentioned that our best opportunity for better herbs and vegetables would be to prepare the soil. I looked at her like you look at me when I tell you that you may be doing the Qigong exercises for a while and see no results on the outside….
So, we broke up the hard soil in the gardens, mixed in some organic soil rich in nutrients, covered them with a tarp, and covered the tarp with mulch. Sounds like as much fun as doing 10 sets of Medical Qigong for Liver. And, it has the same apparent outcome — you are tired and can’t really tell if you have accomplished anything because you cannot see the soil cultivating under the tarp or see your liver healing deep within.
But something tells you this Parkinson’s recovery is working even though you cannot see it happening…you can smell scents you hadn’t noticed in a while; your bowels are flowing regularly, even though you hadn’t realized there was a problem; you have a little more energy; your medications are working better and/or longer. If you are paying attention, you will know that something is happening deep inside you, and it is good — really, really good — you are beginning to feel the effects of your fertilized seed of recovery.
In the garden, it may take weeks or months of nurturing the seed under the ground before it breaks the surface. But you marked the spot and you watered it every day or so, and you had faith that somewhere beneath the top soil your seed was going to grow into a plant. Imagine that…faith that something you could not see and could not feel, and in some ways did not understand, was getting nurtured and fertilized, and was eventually going to break the surface and grow into a plant.
This is the faith you need in yourself and in the recovery process of which you have embarked. Faith that something you cannot see and may not feel, and in some ways do not understand, is getting nurtured and cleansed and strengthened, and will eventually break the surface and grow into a full recovery. I know you can do it. You need to know you can do it!
If Sally and I hadn’t cultivated our soil and nurtured the seeds, we probably would not have had years of eating tomatoes from our backyard and Sally wouldn’t have been using half a dozen herbs from our backyard in her cooking. If I hadn’t cultivated my recovery day after day after day for nine months, I wouldn’t be writing this post nearly six years after being cured from Parkinson’s.
So, the next time you are uncertain about doing the Qigong exercises, think about all of the love you give that little seed you place in the ground, and give that kind of love to yourself.
You are worth it!
All my best,
Howard
On the buton for me Thank you Howard
What a beautiful way to be reminded of the power of faith. Thank you, Howard.
Just what I needed, Howard. Thank you.
Howard thank you for the encouragement. It is just what I needed.
After four months of not doing the recipe due to a back injury, I’m started back again doing a modified version of the recipe and I don’t feel like I’ve lost any time. I feel like I am healing in spite of it all. I’m on my way to the finish line I’ve been feeling inside and I am getting stronger and stronger every day. I feel that I am not sick, PD has no power over me any longer and I have several symptoms I’m working on one by one to complete healing! I feel I no longer have Parkinson’s, but meriod of symptoms and I can work towards getting rid of. Thank you Howard for all your help.
I love you, Howard. Your commitment and dedication to all of us is awe-inspiring, as well as your love. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart.
Bless you Howard, sweet post.
Big love to all warriors and here’s to blooms of recovery rocking up for all of us. 🙂
Karen xx
gracias Howard es usted la puerta que abre nuestra fe, llevo 2 años y medio haciendo la receta dia tras dia y tengo fe inquebrantable que la recuperacion dara el fruto, deseo lo mismo a mis compañeros
Translation:
Thank you Howard is the door that opens our faith , I have 2 and a half years making the recipe day after day and have unwavering faith that the recovery will give the fruit , I wish the same to my fellow companions.
Thank you, Howard for the beautiful reminder of patience, support, and surrender. I’m going to hoe both gardens..the outer, though grateful for recent watering from above, could do with some mulching to retain its vibrancy…and the inner…my dear little soul longing to be seen and nurtured. It’s time for me to be myself…huge gratitude for your patience in coaching me. And gratitude, too, for the transparency, wisdom and fortitude of our PD group..we are formidable and courageous…much more so than if we were traveling this path alone.
Another great post by Howard! I believe the more we concentrate on Qigong, the more we are going to get close to our recovery. We should work on our soil until its fertile with faith & patience. Though, it’s difficult in the beginning but as Howard says it’s going to pay in the end. Hard Work + Patience = Success
Thank you Howard for your unwaivering commitment. It makes me wonder what exactly has God made you from to have this kind of dedication so that you can do what it takes to make each one of us get to the finish line.
I say thank you but it seems a very small word to honor what you are doing for all of us.
We all feel deep within your time and relentless effort that you put to see each and every one of us recover.
Deep gratitude,
Leena
Thank you Howard for the great post. This will definitely help us all to keep the faith!
So grateful to read this, Howard, after a terrible day of symptoms: they are just that, and not the cause. Thank you for all your posts. If you can have this much dedication towards us, we can surely be dedicated to doing a few exercises each day!
Thank you Howard for that great post. The timing is as always, perfect. I love the spring time watching everything grow, the smells and the beauty all around us. The soil is the key in creating the beauty that God has so freely given us ! I am grateful to be working on the cause of Parkinson’s, knowing that as I correct the cause beautiful things will happen. Thank you to each of you for your comments. I hope you all will enjoy a beautiful day.
With Love and Gratitude
Debbie