Seven years ago, I began doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery®. Of course, back then it did not have a name…it was just what I was doing. At the same time, I began keeping a hand-written Parkinson’s Daily Journal. It is time to share my journal with all of you. Here is my October 12, 2009 journal entry, seven years ago today.
“10/12/09. Monday again. Up at 4…slow. Got to the kitchen at 4:08. I had woken up in the middle of the night as I felt like something was crawling on my back.
I got out of bed to use the bathroom and felt as if bugs were crawling all over me. Just remembering this makes me cringe. My legs hurt a lot and my back is tight, very, very tight. I noticed the internal tremors very much this morning as well.
It is the end of the day, and I am worn out, but I am looking forward to what tomorrow may bring.”
It is seven years later, and remembering this today still makes me cringe. I remember thinking about it and realizing that it probably was a release of energy and electricity at skin level that made me feel like bugs were crawling all over me…it is amazing how quickly the mind can jump to unpredictable conclusions when we wake from a deep sleep.
I ended this particular day much in the same way that I ended most other days, exhausted. However, as you can see, no matter how bad this day was, I put my head on the pillow to go to sleep “looking forward to what tomorrow may bring.”
As I mentioned last Wednesday, I had read about a handwriting test where a sign of Parkinson’s would be a shrinking signature as one moved down the page. As it turns out, I gave myself this test on September 28, 2009, the day I started the Recipe, and then every week through December 21, 2009.
What I am doing here as part of this series, beginning last week and continuing forward on a weekly basis, is scanning and publishing for you my September 28, 2009 along side the weekly handwriting. Then you can look at the September 28, 2009 sample (the baseline) and the one that will correspond to the date of the post from 7 years earlier.
Click the link below to access the pdf of the September 28, 2009 and October 12, 2009 handwriting samples. The next sample set will be posted next week on October 19, 2016.
parkinsons-handwriting-10-12-09
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Please note: I will be posting one post per day through the middle of November. If you subscribe to receive email notifications when I post new blog posts and you would prefer to not receive those daily email notifications, simply send me an email at howard@fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com, and let me know that you do not wish to receive a daily email with a link to each post. I will remove you from the list through the middle of November and add you back on the list after the middle of November. However, I still would recommend you checking the blog on a regular basis as it will contain very useful information for understanding my journey and helping with your journey.
Howard,
Everyday is proof that you just kept doing what you needed to do regardless of how you felt.
I’m loving reading your journal from way back when, Howard.
Thank-you.
Howard – Thank you for your perseverance in your recovery from PD for us to use in our own recovery. Best of all, your willingness to share this with the whole world. Thank you.
Howard thank you. You are a constant source of inspiration.
Dear Howard…this is a reflection I return to often.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, talented and strong?
Who are you NOT to be so?
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that others won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just for some of us, but it is in everyone one of us. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others the permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fears, our presence automatically liberated others”
( Nelson Mandela )
Veronica 🌺🌺
Thanks again Howard, for re-posting these journal entries. They are helpful!
Much love to you Howard.